Franklin County Wildflowers at West Sixth Farm - Owen County Almanac

By Josh Rodamer

Sweet Owen Contributor

Nestled among the rolling hills of northern Franklin County, about 30 minutes from Owenton, is a farm born from corporate citizenship and serving as a catalyst for outdoor community. West Sixth Brewing, best known for its Lexington-based brewery, operates West Sixth Farm on Shadrick Ferry Road. The farm not only showcases some of the ingredients used in the company’s beverages, but also features a taproom, mixed-use trail system, disc golf course, catch-and-release fishing

pond and hiking club.

Readers of the Owen County Almanac will recognize my affinity for hiking, so it should come as no surprise that a hiking club caught my attention after moving to Owen County. The West Sixth Farm Hiking Club, formed in July 2019, is a partnership between West Sixth Brewing and the Woods and Waters Land Trust. Heather Housman, executive director of the Woods and Waters Land Trust, spoke with me about the hiking club at West Sixth Farm.

Housman explained that West Sixth has long been a strong community supporter. In 2019, as the brewery worked with the Kentucky Mountain Bike Association to build trails at the farm, she envisioned something more.

“I thought about how I hadn’t been getting out in nature each week like I wanted to — and that other people would enjoy getting out and connecting in nature,” Housman said. She reached out to West Sixth about starting a hiking club at the farm, and the vision soon became a reality.

The hikes themselves are informal, Housman said, though guided hikes are occasionally offered in partnership with West Sixth. While hiking, the group may stop to observe plants such as the endangered Braun’s rockcress, animal tracks or aquatic wildlife, including blue crayfish among the riffles of Steele Branch Creek.

Throughout the year, there is always something to appreciate on the farm. Each season brings fresh elements to the hikes, whether it is the quiet solitude of winter or the second-to-none wildflower display in spring. Most of the year, hikes vary based on foliage, trail conditions and appropriate footwear, but in spring the same trails are covered for nearly six consecutive weeks for one reason: wildflowers.

Like children on Christmas morning, hikers bustle through the sprouting forest, hoping to catch a first glimpse of Erythronium americanum, commonly known as the trout lily. “There is a big section of really high-quality forest that has an amazing spring wildflower display,” Housman said. “It’s shocking how nice it is.”

Perhaps the most striking are the wild hyacinths, which blanket the forest floor like natural glitter, their white flowers popping against green leaves and stems.

“It’s important people get out to experience what nature has to offer,” Housman said. “Not everyone is fortunate enough to have their own forest or farm. We want people to enjoy it, appreciate it and understand it.”

According to a November 2022 Cleveland Clinic article titled 9 Benefits of Hiking, hiking can boost mood, improve sleep and reduce the risk of heart disease. The hiking club maintains a family-friendly atmosphere and, when the West Sixth taproom is open, often concludes with the option to purchase a beverage or enjoy a food truck when available. Frequent hikers can earn a badge after completing five hikes and a water bottle after 20.

Housman said she cannot overstate how supportive West Sixth has been, allowing the farm to be used even when the taproom is closed.

Each week, a core group of regular attendees is joined by newcomers for the hourlong hikes through the forests and fields of West Sixth Farm. It is not uncommon to see visitors from out of state or first-time hikers looking to jump-start a health journey.

Beyond brewing, West Sixth offers public access to outdoor space and opportunities to enjoy the Commonwealth’s natural resources. More information about West Sixth Farm is available at westsixth.com/farm. Updates and photos from Friday afternoon hikes can be found on Facebook through the West Sixth Farm Hiking Club. I hope to see you on the trails this spring — and be sure to share your own spring hiking photos with Sweet Owen magazine.