Blueprint Kentucky student fellows program helps reimagine one local community

This summer, five University of Kentucky students brought fresh energy and creative vision to Trimble County, working to revitalize the town of Bedford as the community’s vibrant center. The effort was part of the Blueprint Kentucky (formerly CEDIK) Summer Fellows program, a multidisciplinary initiative that places students in rural Kentucky communities to develop strategies for economic development, tourism and improved quality of life. 

The program is a nine-week, multidisciplinary internship administered by the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, uniting students from various majors across the university, such as landscape architecture, product design, geography and environmental science. The ultimate goal is to work together to create development plans for rural Kentucky communities. The program is funded by a nearly $400,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative — “Building Prosperity in Rural Communities summer fellowship program.” 

The internship was guided by Carolina Segura Bell, a senior lecturer from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Dan Kahl, associate professor from the Department of Community and Leadership Development and associate director of Blueprint Kentucky. The team partnered with the Ohio River Way, local county officials and residents to create a phased plan for revitalizing Bedford’s downtown and better connecting the county’s cultural, historical and natural assets. 

“Bedford has the history, the landscape and the community spirit; it just needs the right tools to bring those elements together,” Segura Bell said. “Through this program, students work directly with communities, listening to their needs and helping them envision what’s possible. It’s about creating realistic, actionable plans that honor each place’s character while giving local leaders something tangible they can use to pursue funding and make improvements.” 

The fellows began by researching Trimble County’s history, economy and environment. Next, they conducted an “Internet first impressions” review as well as in-person assessments to understand how both residents and visitors perceive the county. They also studied how other small towns have revitalized their economies and public spaces, then applied those lessons locally. 

“It was a great opportunity to get out and practice in the real world, in a real scenario,” said Ben Wolff, a UK landscape architecture junior. “In class, we’re often given projects about places we have no real connection to, but this time we started by actually going to Trimble County, talking to folks, learning what they thought, what they wanted, and what they needed. That hands-on engagement, seeing the place for ourselves and then moving into the research phase, gave me a much deeper connection to the work.” 

To deepen their understanding of the county’s connection to the Ohio River, students embarked on a three-day canoe trip from Milton to Louisville, camping at the historic Payne Hollow homestead and on 18 Mile Island. Along the way, they read and discussed writings by Kentucky authors like Harlan Hubbard, whose work celebrates the region’s landscapes and river life. 

For College of Design student Aubree Hay, the experience reshaped her understanding of design’s role in community development. 

“You start to notice the simple things like the lack of shade, seating or gathering spaces that keep people from spending time downtown,” said Hay, who studies product design. “Design thinking can address these gaps in ways that bring people together and strengthen the local economy. And it was eye-opening to see how my skills could be applied to a project that directly impacts a real community.” 

The team’s recommendations included improving walkability in downtown Bedford, adding shaded seating and green infrastructure, creating flexible public spaces for community events and enhancing tourism promotion through branding and signage. They also suggested ways to build on the potential of Payne Hollow as a cultural and educational destination. 

“I’d never done anything like a phased plan before,” Wolff added. “Laying things out so the community could manage tourism growth over time, while still improving life for people in Trimble County, was really rewarding. That’s something I can definitely see myself applying in the future.” 

Local leaders attended the fellows’ final presentation, expressing enthusiasm for the plans. Segura Bell said the visual nature of the work is especially valuable for small communities. 

“Our work sparks and initiates a vision for the future, and we believe our fellows provide that first step — a set of ideas and designs that help residents see the possibilities and give them tools to move projects forward,” she said. 

Hay noted that working in a multidisciplinary team also broadened her perspective. 

“We had different strengths and approaches, but that made our solutions stronger,” she said. “It taught me how much you can learn when you work alongside people from other fields.” 

The Summer Fellows blueprint 

The Trimble County project is the latest in a series of community-focused initiatives supported by the Blueprint Kentucky Summer Fellows program. Funded in part by a USDA Workforce Development Grant, the program emphasizes immersive engagement.  

Past projects have focused on small towns across the state, with results often used in grant applications and long-term planning efforts. For students, it’s a hands-on learning experience that builds skills in research, design, community engagement and presentation. For communities, it’s a chance to gain a professionally informed vision tailored to their needs. 

“The Fellows program is mutually beneficial,” Segura Bell said. “Students gain experience they can carry into their careers, and communities receive a foundation they can use to make meaningful change.” 

Blueprint Kentucky plans to share the Trimble County project documents and visuals with local stakeholders, who can use them to guide next steps and apply for funding. 

For Hay, the experience was as personal as it was professional. 

“It’s easy to overlook what’s right in front of you when you live in a place every day,” Hay said. “We came in with fresh eyes, and hopefully our work will help the people of Trimble County see new opportunities in the community they already love.” 

This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative under award number 2021-68018-34622. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Department of Agriculture. 

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This story originally ran on the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment's website here.