Jim Coleman speaks on the Coleman Crest Farm legacy

Lexington, Ky. (WTVQ) — In honor of Black History Month, Jim Coleman the owner of Coleman Crest Farm spoke about his family’s legacy and how proud he is of his great-grandfather.

“Well my great-grandfather James Coleman, he was born 1845, and he was born on this little farm here and in this community,” said Coleman. “And he was born of course as an enslaved person, he was born into slavery that was going on at the time. Well he got his freedom by joining the union army.”

After joining the Union Army and fighting in the battle of Milliken’s Bend, which was a turning point in the Civil War, James Coleman returned home.

“Now think about it he was only 19 years old when he went into battle, so when he came back he was about 22 to 23 years old. Then he met and married Lucy and they raised a family to later buy the land that they had tilled as slaves on March 27, 1888.”

After purchasing 15 acres, James and Lucy raised their six children on the farm. Their son John took over in 1910 and John’s son, Sam, took over the farm in 1949.

Jim Coleman purchased the farm from his mother in 2001, becoming the fourth generation owner. And after the passing of his wife Kathy in 2020, Coleman turned it into the first black owned organic farm in Kentucky.

“It has just been a delight. I’m here with all the spirits, I have a graveyard here where my great grandparents and my grandparents are resting. And I just feel their spirits and my parents spirits and Kathy’s spirit everyday here.”

When thinking about his great-grandfather from where he started to the legacy he created, Coleman is grateful.

“I think about how persistent, and how strong he was, and focused and his ability to seize the moment. During a time that was very difficult. And it inspires me every day to keep myself focused that anything can be accomplished, because the opportunity that I have today and other have is just a thousand times more than what my great grandfather had.”