CheyAnne Fant receives statewide Innovator Award

GLASGOW, Ky. – Barren County Schools director of nutrition services CheyAnne Fant has been named the recipient of the 2026 Kentucky Farm and Food Champion Innovator Award.

The award, presented by The Food Connection at the University of Kentucky, recognizes individuals and organizations that have made “significant contributions to advancing Kentucky’s local food systems through creativity, leadership and innovative solutions,” according to the district.

Barren County Schools says Fant is being recognizes for her efforts to “strengthen connections between local agriculture and school nutrition programs.”

According to the district, this has resulted in partnerships with local farmers, producers, educators and community organizations to grow opportunities for students to learn about agriculture while increasing access to locally sourced foods in Barren County Schools.

The award was presented during the Kentucky Local Food Systems Summit, where leaders gathered to celebrate those making a positive impact on the state’s food and farm systems.

Brandi Button Johnson, WKY Value chain coordinator at The Food Connection, stated, ”I have had the honor of working with Cheyanne through a couple of roles. My career path has been in the field of KY local food growers for going on 15 years now. When I came to her in 2023 as WKY Value Chain Coordinator with the idea to start procuring locally grown produce into their summer feeding program, Cheyanne was always open minded and listened and trusted that the way it has always been done isn’t necessarily the way it always has to be- that my friends is the definition of an INNOVATOR- it is not someone who settles for mediocracy or the status quo- not someone who relies on AI to “think” or create solutions and ideas FOR them- it is those who question and have brains that are wired in such a way they have to create and imagine and push forward and collaborate and build relationships with others who they trust to create with them- without her and others like her many may never see the value in our own creative thought patterns and solutions- she has not only shared this encouragement and innovation with me, but has built it with her staff and the community of KY food farmers I serve: relationships that sustain and nurture so many people and programs.”

“I am honored to receive this award,” said Fant. “This recognition reflects the support of our schools, community partners, local farmers, and the Nutrition Services team. I’m grateful to be part of work that helps connect students to agriculture and provides them with healthy, locally sourced food.”

For more information on the Kentucky Farm and Food Champion Awards, click here.