When a 1000-year flood hit Letcher County and others in the southeast of the state, agricultural producers took a significant hit. Most all of the industry is located in bottoms along the small, narrow valleys the region is known for. High-Tunnels, horticultural crops, beekeepers, livestock and others were decimated. Without assistance, there would be no future production.

Working to boost morale, give producers contacts to the various agencies that offer assistance, to allow producers to investigate other crop opportunities, and to share their experiences, the Letcher County Extension Service partnered with colleagues from the University of Kentucky, Kentucky Division of Water, Kentucky Office of Ag Policy, the Kentucky Department of Ag, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, Grow Appalachia, and the City of Whitesburg/Letcher Co. Farmers Market, among others. Attendees were specifically market producers, and those whose operations were impacted by the flood. Participants visited reclaimed mine sites in a nearby county, where reforestation efforts were demonstrated. Others learned about options for nut crops and non-timber forest products. One of the most useful presentations was conducted by UK's Dr. Amanda Gumbert and other specialists concerning stream-bank restoration and how best to live an operate along a Kentucky waterway.

As a result of the program, nearly 100 participants received support services, learned about new opportunities and reported plans to renew their operations. Those attending the tour to the reforestation project, overwhelmingly reported a desire to focus some of the land towards growing white oak, chestnuts or other nut crops on similar sites. Others reflected on the stream restoration talk and expressed plans towards improving absorption potential, restoring wetlands, and planting soil stabilizing species and pollinators in flood-prone sites.