2025 Appalachian Foodways Practitioner Fellows:
- The New Opportunity School for Women – Sam Cole, Development and Communications Coordinator, Berea, KY
Gardening, canning, nutrition, and health education in Eastern Kentucky - Chris Smith, Leicester, NC
Seed saver, permaculturist, author of the James Beard Award-winning book The Whole Okra, and Executive Director of the Utopian Seed Project - Ronnie Marie Tartt, McDowell County, WV
Homemaker, grower, cook, entrepreneur, keeper of traditional foodways knowledge, creator of “Mama’s Meat Sauce,” available through Appalachian Gold. - Marcus West, Franklin, NC
Farmer, butcher, and keeper of his family’s legacy caring for the land in Western North Carolina’s Cowee West’s Mill Community.
Learn more about the Fellows here. The 2025 Appalachian Foodways Practitioner Fellows will be honored at an awards ceremony and are invited to present at the 2025 Appalachian Studies Association Annual Conference in Cookeville, Tennessee.
2024 Appalachian Foodways Practitioner Fellows:
- Jim Embry, Richmond, KY
Social and environmental justice activist, farmer, Founder and Director of the Sustainable Communities Network, and James Beard Foundation Leadership Award winner - Dr. Mehmet Öztan, Reedsville, WV
Seed keeper, farmer, scholar, and Founder of Two Seeds in a Pod Heirloom Seed Company and the Anatolian Seeds Recovery and Preservation Project - Bea Sias, Logan County, WV
Gardener, home gardening educator, advocate, and Grow Appalachia Coordinator at Step by Step WV
Learn more about the 2024 Fellows here. The 2024 Appalachian Foodways Practitioner Fellows were honored at an awards ceremony and invited to present at the 2024 Appalachian Studies Association Annual Conference in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Each Fellow also received a fermentation crock created by clay artist Clarence Hayes of Bobtown Arts.
2023 Appalachian Foodways Practitioner Fellows:
- Femeika Elliott: Knoxville, Tennessee
- Sergio Herrera: Mifflintown, Pennsylvania
- Jason B. Tartt, Sr.: Berwind, West Virginia
Learn more about the 2023 Fellows here. The 2023 Appalachian Foodways Practitioner Fellows were honored at an awards ceremony and invited to present at the 2023 Appalachian Studies Association Annual Conference in Athens, Ohio. In addition to $4,000 monetary awards, each 2023 Fellow received a unique physical award created by Berea College Student Craft.
2022 Appalachian Foodways Practitioner Fellows:
- Yawah Awolowo: Knoxville, Tennessee
- Travis and Rebecka Fugate: Emmalena, Kentucky
- Wayne Riley: London, Kentucky
Learn more about the 2022 fellows here. Each 2022 Fellow received a unique physical award created by West Virginia ceramicist Joy Bridy.