A native of Lexington, KY, Ashley C. Smith graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. She is the co-founder and CEO of Black Soil: Our Better Nature, a statewide agritourism company with a mission of reconnecting Black Kentuckians to their legacy and heritage in agriculture. Smith has worked for brands such as KentuckyOne Health, Bluegrass Hospitality Group, Community Ventures, NetGain Technologies, Smiley Pete Publishing, The Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center, and Fayette Alliance. Smith’s other professional involvement, leadership, and accolades include: Ethical Redevelopment Salon member under the leadership of Theaster Gates, Secretary for Kentucky State University’s Extension and Research Advisory Council, and 2016 Scholarship Chair for the Bluegrass Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
In addition, her leadership also includes serving on the Management Team for the Crave Food + Music Festival and Steering Committee member for the Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange. Ashley has been doing fantastic things around Lexington, and she’s also the proud mom of twins Caroline and Trevor, Jr. Under Ashley’s leadership, Black Soil KY has launched various initiatives to provide access to fresh, healthy foods in underserved neighborhoods. Additionally, the organization hosts workshops and educational events to promote sustainable farming practices and entrepreneurship among Black farmers.
For more information on Smith’s foundation, Black Soil KY, visit www.blacksoilky.com.
