Kentucky farm grows food — and community — at Need More Acres

A family farm is turning fields into more than just food

HALFWAY, Ky. – Michelle Howell calls her farm Need More Acres, but the name means more than land. For her, it’s about feeding people, training future farmers and making healthy food accessible year-round.

Michelle and her husband, Nathan, started farming in 2013 on just two acres in Warren County.

“We became full time farmers in 2013 on those two acres,” Howell said. “We kept having these dreams of being able to do more and grow more and serve our community more. We would joke that we would need more acres, and that’s where the name came from.”

Today, the family farms 20 acres in Halfway between Bowling Green and Scottsville. But Howell says the farm’s mission has expanded far beyond crops.

“Our philosophy is that we need more healthy farmers growing fruits and vegetables,” she said. “Our communities need more acres of healthy food being grown.”

The Howells have become known for winter farming, producing greens and vegetables even in the cold months.

“We’re really passionate about growing all year long, making locally grown food available to people just like the grocery store would be,” Howell said.

For Howell, access and equity are deeply personal. Growing up with a single mother who had disabilities, she remembers struggling to get to the grocery store.

“Having that limited access to transportation and food really impacted me,” she said. “But what really impacted me even more were the people who, with kindness and compassion, provided services to me. That’s what we want to do, not just give out boxes of food, but make people feel loved and cared for.”

That philosophy has shaped programs like Food is Medicine and farm-to-school partnerships. Each October, thousands of elementary school students visit the farm to harvest vegetables and taste healthy food.

“They don’t just get off the bus and hear us talk about being farmers,” Howell said. “They get to be a farmer for a day.”

The farm is also a family affair. Howell’s oldest son Carter, 21, is now farming full time. Her daughter Lila launched her own market stand at age 9, selling healthy snacks for kids.

“All of our kids are involved on the farm,” Howell said. “We just feel like there’s nothing more valuable than knowing at the end of the day that you contributed to your community.”

Still, farming comes with obstacles. Land costs have soared, making it harder for new farmers to buy property. Weather extremes are another challenge.

“June was the wettest on record. August was the driest,” Howell said. “It just shows how unpredictable farming can be.”

Looking ahead, Howell hopes the farm can grow its reach and inspire others.

“We made the decision from the very beginning that we weren’t going to overwork ourselves,” she said. “I hope that years from now, people remember we were able to be successful farmers while also being deeply embedded in our community, serving others, and working really well with other farmers.”

For Need More Acres, the work is about more than food – it’s about building a healthier, more connected community.