KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion Fall 2024 Magazine

LIFESTYLE + FASHION

ON THE COVER

PHOTO BY ABBEY CUTRER, “DAWN”

KRNL OUR MISSION

The mission of KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion is to promote the individuality, creativity and uniqueness of storytelling by University of Kentucky’s students utilizing all of our publishing platforms.

KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion strives to bring awareness to the stories that inspire us — through art, human interest, enterprise, investigative, health and well-being or recreation — on and around campus and throughout our community.

Whether through words or pictures, our diverse staff invites, welcomes and embraces all perspectives, allowing us to bring to life a variety of stories that we want to tell.

Produced and distributed in the fall and spring semesters on the campus of the University of Kentucky and throughout the city of Lexington, KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion aspires to be an important voice for our community.

PHOTO BY SILER BARGO

Editor’sNote Note

I’m from a western Kentucky river town called Paducah, known to many as the Quilt Capital of the World. Out of all the places on Earth, a small town on the Ohio is every quilter’s dream destination. We, Paduchans, know this all too well. Every year during “Quilt Week,” thousands of quilters take over.

In 10 years of living there, I’ve never once been to the National Quilt Museum, but it’s still the first thing I tell anyone when they ask me about the place I grew up. It’s a good story and I’m proud of my home.

That’s what this edition of KRNL is all about — our old Kentucky home and all the stories it holds. Featuring stories of some of the homes people have created here, the state’s natural beauty and no shortage of horses, our Fall 2024 magazine is a love letter to Kentucky.

I can’t talk about home without mentioning the home KRNL has been for me this semester. I started my student media journey being more heavily involved at the Kentucky Kernel, the University of Kentucky’s newspaper and KRNL’s sister publication.

It wasn’t until recently that I shifted my focus to KRNL, and I was extremely nervous to take on this kind of leadership role for the first time, especially with a staff who did not know me well. I feared having to fight for their acceptance on top of learning how to run a publication.

A few minutes into our first Fall ’24 executive meeting, I realized I had nothing to fear. I was embraced immediately by the kindest and most talented team I could have asked for. They helped ensure we achieved the goals I had set for this magazine and became some of my favorite people I’ve met in college while doing so.

One way I sought to set this edition apart from the rest and elevate KRNL as a multimedia publication was to place a greater emphasis on producing videos. I am proud to publish KRNL’s first lifestyle video packages alongside some of our written stories, in addition to videos for each fashion shoot.

From rock climbing to rock ’n’roll, I hope our video content helps you become more immersed in KRNL’s visually rich stories and shoots than ever before.

After months of creative collaboration and dedication from our staff, I believe we have successfully highlighted the beauty of the Bluegrass and the connections fostered here, with a little piece of home on every page.

I hope this edition of KRNL inspires you to take

IN FULL BLOOM

Embrace the overlap between fashion and nature with KRNL’s blossoming seniors.

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS WITH KENTUCKY CLIMBERS

Rock climbers talk about what the sport means to them right here in the Bluegrass.

ROCKIN’ REVIVAL

Travel back in time to the golden age of rock ‘n’ roll and jam out with Lexington band Topsoil.

AN INSIDE LOOK KRNL L +

A BREAK FROM THE SILENCE: SISTERS HONOR THEIR LOST SONS WITH BROTHERS’ RUN

Sisters Angela Wiese and Erin Hawley share their stories as they honor their sons and daughter and raise suicide prevention awareness through an annual 3K run called Brothers’ Run.

8

BREWED WITH AUTONOMY: MCLEOD’S COFFEE HOUSE CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEXINGTON’S SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY

McLeod’s Coffee House in Lexington, a non-profit establishment that employs individuals with special needs, aims to create an inclusive environment that goes beyond the typical coffee shop experience.

28 WILDCATS ‘STIRRUP’ PASSION WITH UK RODEO TEAM

From barrel racing to bull riding, the University of Kentucky’s rodeo team has made a deep commitment to the sport beyond just competition.

TAILORED FOR SUCCESS: BUILDING THE FIRST KENTUCKY FASHION HOUSE

Albert Lukonga reveals his journey from challenging beginnings in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to establishing a luxury fashion house in Lexington.

14

TIME WARP TRADITION: LEXINGTON’S ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW CULTIVATES CONNECTION AND EXPRESSION

The Kentucky Theatre’s monthly showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show fosters a welcoming space for self-expression and queer culture through the dedication of its shadow cast and community.

DAWN

Saddle up for a western awakening at Three Crowns Farm.

66

OLD KEYS DON’T OPEN MODERN DOORS

Houses in northern Kentucky’s river towns are being revived as new owners embrace the history of the homes, breathing new life into them.

52

HEALING THROUGH HORSES

Central Kentucky Riding for Hope is a non-profit organization that offers therapeutic equine activities for people with disabilities, including Julian Clark, a 27-year-old with autism and cerebral palsy.

74

TURNING DREAMS INTO REALITY AT THE LEXINGTON DREAM FACTORY

10-year-old Grayson Piatt got his dream vacation to Disney World after being diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of three. After multiple hospital visits and piling medical bills, his family got a break, all thanks to the Lexington Dream Factory.

19

TURNING TRASH INTO TREASURE: HOW TWO KENTUCKY ARTISTS CHAMPION ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS THROUGH ART

Kentucky artists John Andrew Dixon and Carrie Johnson use their creative talents to promote environmental awareness by transforming discarded materials into art and functional objects.

63

A STAGE FOR EVERY STORY: THE LEXINGTON THEATRE COMPANY’S IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY

The Lexington Theatre Company, founded by a husband and wife duo, transforms lives through its commitment to high-quality theatre and education.

WRITTEN BY ALEXIS BAKER | PHOTOS BY SILER BARGO

The air smells of freshly roasted espresso and the entrancing hiss of a milk steamer echoes throughout McLeod’s Coffee House, which has found a way to offer a unique experience for the typical coffee enthusiast.

A customer may notice the workers taking their order, brewing their coffee and curating the coffee house experience, are differently abled from themselves.

McLeod’s is a non-profit that specifically hires what they call “VIPs,” which are members of Lexington’s special needs community.

Brewster McLeod, the owner and founder, said the coffee house was his “brainchild.”

He said he had the idea after working in youth ministry at Southland Christian Church for 20 years. Around nine years ago, McLeod was teaching a class of 85 to 90 individuals with special needs, ranging from 9th grade to 70-year-olds, at the church when he got the idea for what he wanted to do when he retired. It took a while for McLeod to transition from youth ministry to opening the coffee house. A motivating factor behind this career shift was his class and listening to their wide range of needs, one of these being employment.

McLeod said that while companies like Kroger, Chick-fil-A and Goodwill have their “token one or two” employees with special needs, his class was struggling to get hired. Unlike the other companies, McLeod said almost everyone behind the counter is a VIP.

With 35-40 paid and volunteer VIPs working at the coffee house, McLeod said he gets most of the disabled community's interest in employment at McLeod’s by attending “Jesus Prom” at Southland, which is a party that celebrates the local special needs community. McLeod said he started this yearly event in 2000, which typically hosts 800-1,000 people with special needs and most of the coffee house’s VIPs have attended.

Similar to the goal of Jesus Prom, McLeod said his class at Southland Christian Church cultivated a sense of acceptance among each other and the main goal of his coffee house is to do the same.

harley

shelby

joshua

brewster & shelby

Brewster McLeod sits at a table in McLeod’s Coffee House on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Lexington, Ky.

“When you think about this place, the big ‘I word,’ inclusion, is so important,” McLeod said. “That's what this is all about. This place is all about inclusion, for you to include, for the customers to include, for the VIPs to include you.”

Rather than running with what he knew worked for other shops in the area, McLeod wanted to offer a sense of originality.

“It’s not a competition. We’re not trying to be Starbucks and Starbucks doesn’t want to be McLeod’s,” he said.

McLeod stations VIPs at the door to greet everyone who enters, but guests can also get greeted by McLeod himself.

McLeod is in the coffee house multiple days a week. He can be seen encouraging the VIPs in their daily tasks, introducing them to guests and creating warm interactions with visitors. Within the first 10 minutes of

“visiting the coffee house, some may already feel like a regular.

Samantha Miller, one of McLeod’s VIPs, said she has been working at McLeod’s for over four years and has had a “wonderful” experience.

Miller said she is borderline autistic and has a borderline personality disorder. She said she struggles with social cues and will either “extremely love you or will extremely hate your guts. There is no in-between.”

“Relationships are extremely tricky with me … I struggle connecting with people, so those that I consider to be close, I will take them in,” Miller said.

She said her coworkers are understanding of her personality and the environment feels like a family. Recently, Miller has been experiencing an “emotional storm” and said her coworkers have been there for her through her difficult time.

I’ve become a huge advocate for this community. I think that they are a community that is often undervalued. People assume they don’t have the capability to do the things that you and I do every day.”

— SHELBY GROW MCLEOD’S GENERAL MANAGER

Jonathan Smith and Elshaday Maaf talk at McLeod’s Coffee House.

Miller said she intends to stay at McLeod’s as long as she can, but her plans have shifted a bit after getting engaged. She met her fiance while she was taking food service classes at trade school, which she said she would never have attended without the support of McLeod.

“Working here has been a major impact not just for me, but for my parents. Because they actually see me work,” Miller said.

Miller will be planning a wedding within the next couple of years, but for now, she plans to continue welcoming customers from behind the counter at McLeod’s Coffee House.

Adding to the one-of-a-kind experience is the decor. Expecting a typical coffee house experience, guests may be used to a modern scene with black, white and wood tones. To most’s pleasant surprise, McLeod’s is more akin to a second-hand thrifting experience. Almost every item in the coffee house is for sale.

Calling himself a “treasure hunter,” McLeod said he often shops locally and in Louisville second-hand stores to supply the coffee house with a rare selection of goods. McLeod’s sells vintage chairs, tables, artwork, VIP handcrafted lamps and various trinkets. He said he even “dumpster dives” on the occasion, which helps add to the store's quirky reputation.

One team member directly involved with the day-to-day operations and training of the VIPs is McLeod’s general manager, Shelby Grow.

Grow said she has been with McLeod’s since the very beginning.

She said she worked at Starbucks throughout high school and college. Then, her Starbucks manager, Juanell Spotts, became the general manager of McLeod’s Coffee House. She asked him for a job and was hired as a shift supervisor until she took over as the general manager this past July.

Jonathan Smith serves a customer at McLeod’s Coffee House.

Shelby Grow helps employees prepare an order at McLeod’s Coffee House.

Karsyn Bates and Harley Cannon talk at McLeod’s Coffee House.

Grow said working at McLeod’s has been a learning process as she had never worked with the special needs community before. Over the years, Grow said listening to the staff has been crucial to her relationships with the VIPs as she learned how undervalued some of them feel.

She said it’s liberating for the VIPs to gain their independence.

“I think I learned a lot about patience and stepping back and allowing them to learn, and only stepping in when I’m asked for help,” Grow said.

Grow said she considers McLeod’s lucky to employ a group of VIPs who are willing to educate each other.

“It's been very cool to learn how to work with this group, such a patient group of people who are willing to let me make mistakes,” Grow said.

In her five years at the coffee house, Grow said she learned how much of a need there is for special needs representation and just how capable the VIPs are of doing anything abled body people can do.

“I’ve become a huge advocate for this community. I think that they are a community that is often undervalued,” Grow said. “People assume they don’t have the capability to do the things that you and I do every day and I think in my five years here it has proven to me that they can do almost everything you and I can do.”

“When you think about this place, the big ‘I word,’ inclusion, is so important. That’s what this is all about. This place is all about inclusion, for you to include, for the customers to include, for the VIPs to include you.”

— BREWSTER MCLEOD MCLEOD’S OWNER AND FOUNDER

Samantha Miller is interviewed at McLeod’s Coffee House.

The pay-it-forward wall at McLeod’s lets customers buy drinks for others in advance. When someone matches the description on one of the drink sleeves, they can take it off the wall and use it to redeem a free drink.

Time Warp Tradition Time Warp Tradition

WRITTEN BY KRISTEN ROBERTS | PHOTOS BY SILER BARGO

Eli Abernathy and Katie Feeback wait for the show to start at the Rocky Horror Picture Show in the Kentucky Theatre on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Lexington, Ky.

Marquee lights shine down on a crowd of people, many dressed in black, sheer stockings, short skirts and eccentric makeup, outside the Kentucky Theatre. Inside, tucked away from the crowd, Katie Feeback draws the letter “V” in bright red lipstick on the center of Eli Abernathy’s forehead. It’s almost midnight and the show is about to begin.

This scene is familiar to anyone who’s attended the Rocky Horror Picture Show, hosted by the Kentucky Theatre on the last Saturday of each month. The cult classic movie released nearly 50 years ago is still screened nationwide, often with “shadow” casts who act out the entire film as it plays.

“Folks, they dress up, or I like to say dress down,” Mills said. “Maybe they like to see, in a few cases, maybe the least clothes that they could wear — but it’s all in fun.”

LeAndra Longoria, cast director of the Kentucky Theatre’s shadow cast for Rocky, commented on the outlandish fashion seen at the show.

“There’s no wrong answer, because surely what you’re going to wear is probably not going to be even the most outrageous thing that you see,” she said. “And it’s all okay, we’re all very accepting.”

Fred Mills, general manager of the Kentucky Theatre, said he remembers when the film first came to Lexington around 1975.

“This film comes to Lexington and it was one of those films, no business at all, just a few people in the theatre,” Mills said.

About a year later, he said the film had gained a cult following. For about two or three years, it showed every Friday and Saturday night

“before transitioning to monthly showings.

“Back in the day, when we first started Rocky Horror, there was 1,100 seats there, and we’d fill up every Friday and Saturday night,” Mills said. “[It was] very popular, if it was New York City, if it was Atlanta, wherever, you know, there was full houses that was happening, no different in Lexington. It became a real phenomena.”

When the movie first came out, Mills said, more people dressed up as the characters. Now, their attire loosely draws from the sequins, corsets and fishnets worn in the movie.

Mills said people were a little more into the movie in earlier years. They knew just about every line and would spout it out and talk back to the screen. That still happens, but some of the things they shout out now have nothing to do with the movie.

The interactive experience of dressing up and attending Rocky Horror has become a Lexington staple for many. Feeback, who has attended before, was eager to introduce her friend Abernathy to the excitement. The “V” on Abernathy’s forehead signifies that he is a Rocky “virgin,” attending for the first time.

We are a very good safe haven and a good introduction to our queer community around here.”

— HARLEE RAMONE CO-CAST DIRECTOR OF THE KENTUCKY THEATRE’S SHADOW CAST

Audience members take a group photo before the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

“The movie itself is not the reason I come, it’s just … so fun,” Feeback said. “Everybody’s so free, I love it. It just feels so Lexington, and I’m from here, so it makes me really happy to go somewhere that feels so much like home.”

The Rocky Horror Picture Show feels especially like home to the Master’s Affairs, the name the shadow cast has given themselves.

“With a film that’s 50 years old, you need a little bit of extra something to keep things going and keep interest,” Mills said, referring to what the Master’s Affairs does for the picture show.

“

It’s about having fun and being authentic to who you are, just letting loose and having a good night.”

— ERIN WHILES SHADOW CAST MEMBER

He said the group has been together for a long time, and he thinks the strength of the cast is more evident than ever. None of them get paid and all of the funds they make go directly back into the theatre.

“This is entirely a labor of love,” Longoria said. “It really just takes a great team of committed people that really love Rocky Horror and really love performing, and really love this event.”

The cast’s dedication and

acceptance of one another reflect the culture of Rocky itself, rooted in embracing the queer community since the self-proclaimed “sweet transvestite from Transexual, Transylvania” Frank-N-Furter first graced the screen. Released at a time when the LGBTQ+ community was not widely accepted, the cross-dressing main character and his band of quirky companions captured the attention of the queer community and have held it ever since.

“It’s always been there, and it’s always been a symbol for, I think, the queer community,” Longoria said. “The Rocky community is the reason why it has persisted this long. Because I think it has always been a safe haven. Now as time has gone on, obviously the spaces that exist have grown, which is fantastic, but I think this being one of those, like core classic spots where you know, you can come to a Rocky show and not feel different and judged.”

Harlee Ramone, the co-cast director, said that Rocky provides an outlet for young LGBTQ+ people to participate in queer culture.

“It’s a great place for, like, the people that aren’t going to drag shows, because a lot of them aren’t 21 and up,” Ramone said. “We are a very good safe haven and a very good introduction to our queer community around here. It’s a good place to learn about other stuff and that’s what I really like — is it gives that little section that doesn’t have a home, because they’re not old enough to go out,

they have a home here.”

Erin Whiles, a shadow cast member, said she believes the love in the Kentucky Theatre during Rocky is contagious.

“I feel like people respond to passion and people respond to authenticity, and the movie itself is such, I mean, just like watching it, you know it was a passion project. What we do, where we devote so much of our time and our weekends to this, that’s a labor of love,” Whiles said. “It’s so much about having fun and being authentic to who you are, to how you express yourself, and to just like letting loose and having a good night.”

This environment of selfexpression and joy is what entices Nick Burgos and other regular attendees to return.

“I just love the atmosphere, like,

LeAndra Longoria, Harlee Ramone and Erin Whiles before the Rocky Horror Picture Show. FALL

Turning Trash into Treasure:

How Two Kentucky Artists Champion Environmental Awareness Through Art

WRITTEN BY LILLY KEITH | PHOTOS BY HOLLY NETZLEY & ALEXIS BAKER

When designer and selftaught illustrator John Andrew Dixon sits down to paint, it’s not at a desk or in a workshop. He said he prefers to work exposed to the outdoor elements, whether painting the scenery of the Kentucky Palisades or using discarded materials to make a collage.

He must consider everything around him, how the slightest breeze could move the paint on his canvas, or how his materials could be blown away if not safe in his hands.

Dixon said painting “en plein air,” French for “in the open air,” was a challenge he began in 2017.

“It took longer to maybe evolve it (painting en plein air) towards more of an awareness of how I could offer it as a new way of looking at our relationship to all this cast-off material,” Dixon said.

When working outside, Dixon said he must keep his work small.

“Sometimes, people, when they

see them, they’re smaller than they expected, but what that does is it draws people towards the work. I found that a lot of people think my work is a conventional painting,” Dixon said.

Upon first glance, Dixon’s scenic collages look similar to paintings. But as his audience gets closer to

together to create this effect, a method he feels everyone is familiar with from an early age.

“I like Norman Rockwell or all kinds of artists and things, but I couldn’t understand how they could

“On the Kanta-ke” by John Andrew Dixon.

Sawyer Public Library, Woodford County Library in Versailles and the Lexington Public Library.

“We didn’t miss a beat as far as gathering and doing art outside,” he said. “That’s when I started thinking more formally about proposing for a grant. So that was through the Kentucky Arts Council and with federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.”

With the funding he received, Dixon said he aims to educate his audience on how prevalent the issue of littering is in the modern day.

“Littering is an issue rooted in

at libraries and galleries on creating collages to show how to repurpose materials in artistic ways.

I guess I’m trying to create a bit of beauty from a bit of ugly or a bit of worthless material, and maybe help people see things in a new light.”

— JOHN ANDREW DIXON DESIGNER AND SELF-TAUGHT

John Andrew Dixon teaches a class on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Lexington, Ky.

Photo by Alexis Baker.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JOHN ANDREW DIXON

Dixon hopes his students will share the belief that Kentucky’s landscapes need its inhabitants’ care and attention to preserve the space for generations to come.

“I guess I’m trying to create a bit of beauty from a bit of ugly or a bit of worthless material, and maybe help people see things in a new light,” he said.

Carrie Johnson, a current graduate student at the University of Kentucky, does something similar with her trash-to-treasure business.

Johnson is pursuing a Ph.D. in biochemistry and researching Alzheimer’s disease on sex differences. She balances this with running her small business, Nerd Babes Co., which focuses on upcycling materials to keep trash out of landfills.

“I’m a giant hippie. I’ve been picking up trash since I could walk,” Johnson said.

The idea for Nerd Babes Co., which was established in 2016, came to her after she and

“I just hope people see stuff and actually think ‘Wow, maybe I shouldn’t throw away everything.’ We can repurpose, reimagine, reuse, upcycle.”

— CARRIE JOHNSON DESIGNER AND OWNER OF NERD BABES CO.

her friends collected empty alcohol bottles throughout their undergraduate years at UK. While trying to figure out what to do with so many bottles, she saw a Pinterest idea about making tiki torches out of them.

That year, she made them for her friends as Christmas gifts.

Now, she creates soy candles out of materials you might not expect. She thrifts beverage bottles, cans and food containers and transforms them into items like lamps and tiki torches. Johnson’s talents also include making artificial sea glass and earrings out of old pottery and matchbooks.

“I just hope people see stuff and actually think ‘Wow, maybe I shouldn’t throw away everything.’ We can repurpose, reimagine, reuse, upcycle,” she said.

Johnson said she is very

conscious of the products she’s making and how they could impact the environment.

“I think more of, like, the lifestyle of a product. From where I’m getting the materials to where my product is going to end up afterward. I basically try to add as few extra pollutants, trash and waste as possible,” Johnson said.

Her ambition for protecting the environment extends to those around her.

“People ask me how to make something, I just tell them so it’s not another piece of trash in the landfill,” she said.

Johnson said she partners with local businesses to source her materials, like wood from a local sawmill and collaborates with local stores to sell her products. The only packaging material she’s ever purchased is tape.

“Getting to actually be involved in the local beer scene, the local community and just working with all these other small businesses has been awesome,” she said.

Johnson sells her art through places in Kentucky such as Revelry Boutique in Louisville, Completely Kentucky in Frankfort and collaborations with breweries.

Though Johnson has faced difficulties with arthritis in both hands and a back injury she got when she was 13, she said her satisfaction after seeing the end result of a long day keeps her in motion.

I see a batch of 70 dried candles, I’m like ‘Hell yeah,’” she said. “It’s nice to actually see a quantifiable amount of trash I’m keeping out of the landfill, making it an object with purpose.”

Her craft has taught her to use

Carrie Johnson holds up a freshly cut glass bottle after a demonstration on Aug. 21, 2024, in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Holly Netzley.

various tools that society generally considers “manly.”

“You wouldn’t believe the amount of times I’ve had someone come up to me and be like ‘Oh does your husband cut these for you?’’’ she said. “It’s just kind of cool to learn. I don’t even know that many people that know how to use a tile saw, men or women.”

I see a batch of 70 dried candles, I’m like ‘

Hell yeah,’”

— CARRIE JOHNSON “ DESIGNER AND OWNER OF NERD BABES CO.

Johnson also knows how to woodwork and sand her work by herself.

“I always feel very satisfied and like this is actually art,” she said. “I get to put a lot of different skills to use.”

She said her art has allowed her to work through her mental health during trying times.

“The average American graduate student, I’m obviously gonna have mental health issues,” Johnson said. “I think a lot of times it’s been nice to have something creative that I can do outside of like my actual job.”

Having her small business has forced her to get up and get it done, even when she doesn’t feel like it.

“A lot of the time it’s also working out of the house when I would have just isolated myself,” Johnson said. “I’ve never been upset about going out and seeing all my friends [at events].”

People approaching her booth at events where she sells her upcycled art and complimenting her work has done more than the average customer could imagine.

“To have people like come to my booths and be like ‘This is so cool,’ it’s nice for your mental health to hear that other people like what you’re doing and think it’s cool and of value,” Johnson said.

Carrie Johnson demonstrates how she prepares and washes glass so it can be turned into seaglass. Photo by Holly Netzley.

Venture into the woods with our sublime seniors, draped in rippling lace, satin and silk and bathed in golden sunlight. “In Full Bloom” celebrates the inspiration fashion can take from the beauty of nature. Lustrous fabrics emulate how light dances on reflective pools and down trickling streams. Long, flowing dresses sway with each gentle breeze. With a color palette plucked from spring, KRNL’s graduating class channeled their most ethereal selves. We know they will bloom wherever they’re planted next.

WRITTEN BY LAUREL SWANZ TO WATCH THIS SHOOT’S VIDEO, SCAN THE QR CODE ON PAGE 77.

PHOTO BY LILY FOSTER

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH SOLIE

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH SOLIE

PHOTO BY GIANNA MANCINI

PHOTO BY LILY FOSTER

PHOTO BY GIANNA MANCINI

PHOTO BY LILY FOSTER

Wildcats ‘stirrup’ passion with UK Rodeo Team

WRITTEN BY ALE SCRIVNER | PHOTOS BY KARSTEN VANMETER

California native Amelia Torretto has been riding horses since she was five years old but didn’t start rodeo until her senior year of high school. Just learning how to do barrel racing and pole bending, her peers had a head start when she joined her school’s junior rodeo team.

“I don’t come from a rodeo family so everything I learned, I learned on my own or with the help of my friends and trainers. I felt like I was always a little bit behind and had to work twice as hard to get to where I am,” Torretto said.

Now a junior at the University of Kentucky, Torretto is the vice president of the rodeo team, where she does barrel racing and team roping. When she joined the team her freshman year, the rodeo team

was still relatively new and had few members. This season, 15 barrel racers alone have joined the team, according to Torretto.

Torretto said one factor that drew her to UK was Lexington being considered one of the “equine capitals of the country.” She said rodeo members come from all across the country, where they practice to compete in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA).

According to UK rodeo team president Matthew McGee, schools in the West have rodeo programs that are comparable to Division I basketball programs. He said some schools have multi-million dollar facilities, offer scholarships and recruit members.

A UK Rodeo team member jumps over a barrel obstacle on horseback during a practice session at K Bar C Ranch on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024.

While UK is not on this level when it comes to rodeo, McGee said he wants to work to get the rodeo team’s name out there.

“We don’t really have a big name for ourselves in the region or in college rodeo, so I want to send some people to College Nationals Finals Rodeo (CNFR) and put us on the map, and hopefully if that happens, we can get funding from the university and maybe … get a couple more glances,” McGee said.

One of the club’s driving principles is to promote and develop rodeo. Even if they can’t garner more attention and members, McGee said he’s happy to educate others and help his team develop their skills.

While some members like Torretto join the team as seasoned riders, not all have the same story.

Gabe Martin, a senior bull rider, came to UK from Delaware. Growing up watching rodeos on TV, Martin said he’d always wanted to ride bulls but the lack of access forced him to brush it off as a childhood dream.

Years later, during freshman orientation, Martin said he was about to leave but instead turned back around and saw the rodeo team’s booth.

“I was like ‘do I need to know anything?’ and she was like ‘nope, we’ll teach you everything,’ I haven’t looked back since,” Martin said.

“Now one of the team’s few traveling members, Martin travels to compete against schools in the Ozark region, the closest one being Murray State University, a four-hour drive from UK. Martin said he’s lucky to have had understanding professors but sometimes has to attend a Zoom class while on the road to a competition or do homework in hotels.

Martin said when he started competing, he quickly learned that UK doesn’t endorse the rodeo team, leaving the financial responsibility up to them, but Martin doesn’t let this stop him from riding.

“It’s kind of like a motivator really, like you don’t think we’re anything, I’m about to show you we’re something,” Martin said.

Since day one, Martin said he’d been itching to get on bulls, but his coaches told him he needed to practice and build up the muscle to prove he was ready.

Martin said his first time on a bull was at a weekend rodeo during his first semester of college.

“There’s so much adrenaline you blackout. I remember being face down in the dirt and getting up and being angry with myself, but I was ready to get on another one,” Martin said.

More than just a sport to Martin, he said he feels it’s “divine intervention” that allows him to walk out of the arena safely.

“I owe a lot of what I have through rodeo to God.

It’s like ‘okay, you don’t think we’re anything, I’m about to show you we’re something.’”

— GABE MARTIN SENIOR BULL RIDER

Mathew McGee walks along a fence at K Bar C Ranch on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024.

I feel like I was very lost when I came to school, and it was a God send that he put me on the rodeo team and … I’ve been able to see how blessed I truly am to be able to go and do this,” Martin said.

McGee also joined having never ridden a horse or been around livestock. He joined the rodeo team his freshman year after riding a bull one weekend in Ohio and has spent the last year training and trying to educate others on rodeo.

McGee said that while some people think it’s “animal cruelty,” the barrel racers adore and care for their horses and do everything they can to keep them healthy.

“Within rodeo, what a lot of people don’t realize is the animals are treated like athletes, so they’re very respected, they’re treated well whether that’s at home or in the arena. It’s really a congregation of people that love animals,” McGee said.

Torretto, who also owns her own equine therapy business, emphasizes the importance of maintaining the horse’s health in rodeo. To succeed, riders have to know what to feed their horse, take them to the vet regularly, perform bodywork and massages on the horse.

Torretto said that some members struggle with affording the care a horse needs, yet another financial responsibility that could be alleviated by school funding.

Despite rodeo being all about competing, oftentimes for a cash reward, Toretto said that’s not what she rides for.

“I’m in it for myself and to break my own personal records and to make sure my horses are happy and healthy, and build a good reputation for myself,” Torretto said.

Torretto said it’s nice to be surrounded by people with the same goals and morals as herself, that the environment has always been welcoming and being a woman in rodeo has never been an issue.

While bull riding may be the skill most commonly associated with rodeo, barrel racing is made up of mainly women. According to McGee, out of the team’s almost 30 members, over half are women.

Ava Vrany, a senior team roper, has been doing rodeo since middle school and joined UK’s team her freshman year.

An equine science and management major, Vrany said that while she hasn’t faced challenges due to her being a woman in rodeo, she has felt the impact in her professional life in the agriculture field.

“I’ve seen how it’s been a male-dominated sport in the past, but I believe changes have been made … women have been a part of the rodeo world since the beginning. I think the future has so much to hold for women in the rodeo industry,” Vrany said.

One thing is clear with this team: their passion for rodeo is unlike any other sport. Bull rider Martin said he was able to find a place close to home in New Jersey to ride when he’s away from school.

“If you’re really ate up with it, you’ll find somewhere to ride. Whether it’s an hour away or ten hours away, you’ll find it,” Martin said.

Torretto hopes to continue to make a name for

UK Rodeo team member Riley Winton walks with a horse at K Bar C Ranch on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024.

herself and build up the business that she started her freshman year. Though she’d never planned on becoming a barrel race trainer, Torretto said that as she continues to win shows, more and more people are reaching out to her to train their horses.

“It’s interesting now to have a lot more eyes on me, having people counting on me, looking up to me. I remember being younger and being that girl that would look up to the other ones and be like ‘that’s what I want to be when I’m older’ and now, I’m her,” Torretto said.

With the rodeo team’s season just beginning, these riders will be spending their time practicing for competitions and training the influx of new members. At practice, Martin and McGee show new bull riders how to mount a horse, while Torretto helps when needed and lends advice to new barrel racers. Torretto said she tries to teach the girls that showing up and putting in the work is how they’ll see results.

Martin said that despite rodeo being a very individual sport, the camaraderie in it is like nothing he’s ever experienced. When traveling, members and coaches from schools he’s competing against will support and help out. Torretto said the rodeo team is where she found all her healthiest friendships in college.

“Rodeo is bigger than winning or losing. It’s definitely a family and the deeper you get into it, the more you feel it,” Martin said.

“

Within rodeo, what a lot of people don’t realize is the animals are treated like athletes, so they’re very respected, they’re treated well whether that’s at home or in the arena. It’s really a congregation of people that love animals.”

— MATTHEW MCGEE RODEO TEAM PRESIDENT

Amelia Torretto poses for a portrait while leaning against a gate at K Bar C Ranch on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024.

The stables at K Bar C Ranch are covered in golden light during sunset on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024.

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS WITH KENTUCKY CLIMBERS

ASSISTANT LIFESTYLE EDITOR ALEXANDRIA LANDGRAF TALKS WITH BLUEGRASS ROCK CLIMBERS ABOUT WHAT THE SPORT MEANS TO THEM, HOW THE SPORT PROVIDES PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CHALLENGES, CREATES COMMUNITY AND ENHANCES PERSONAL GROWTH. PHOTOGRAPHED BY MATTHEW MUELLER.

TO WATCH THIS STORY’S VIDEO, SCAN THE QR CODE ON PAGE 77.

Heath Rowland hangs onto the side of the rock wall after reaching the peak of the route on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at Red River Gorge in Slade, Ky.

From the resounding sandstone walls of the Red River Gorge to the countless crags the state offers, Kentucky is a sought-after region where climbing scales new heights and its community is as diverse as the terrain.

Sport climbing, which involves scaling prebolted routes with fixed anchors, has gained international recognition, making its official debut in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. It was featured for a second time in the Paris 2024 Games, and climbing fans eagerly anticipate its return for a third time in the Los Angeles 2028 Games. This esteemed global spotlight calls attention to the budding popularity and interest surrounding the sport, bringing additional attention to Kentucky’s climbing scene and its role in the future of climbing at the highest level.

“Climbing is still a relatively new sport, but now that it’s getting older, there’s people of all different ages and backgrounds doing it,” said Jordan Arsenault, a 26-year-old climber. “It’s a cool way to bring people together from a lot of different places.”

Originally from Texas, Arsenault used to plan weekend or even week-long trips just to reach outdoor climbing spots. Now in Lexington, she values the convenience of being so close to the Red River Gorge.

“The Red River Gorge is world-class,” Arsenault said. “It is awesome to have the Red all the time, especially coming from a place where that is something I did not have before. I find myself

Kentucky is to climbers like Vegas is to gamblers.”

— CAMERON CARTER CLIMBER

devaluing it because you forget how cool it is since it is right there.”

The Red River Gorge, in eastern Kentucky, has over 1,000 established routes and breathtaking natural beauty, from the abundance of high sandstone cliffs and arches to the waterfalls and natural bridges. The canyon system provides an outdoor playground for climbers of all levels, from beginner-friendly routes to challenging climbs even for seasoned professionals.

“The Red River Gorge is definitely the epicenter of climbing in Kentucky and kind of a sport climbing mecca for the entire world,” said Billy Simek, executive director of the Red River Gorge Climber’s Coalition (RRGCC).

In this role, Simek, 29, implements programming for secure access to rock climbing, educates climbers on outdoor ethics and oversees 1,100 acres of RRGCC-owned property through sustainable development and maintenance practices.

Climbers look up at the rock shelter on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at Red River Gorge.

Michael Molony holds onto a crack in the rock on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at Red River Gorge. FALL

“Our mission as an organization is to protect open public access to rock climbing in the Red River Gorge and then promote conservation on those same lands,” Simek said.

Simek also organizes and executes Rocktoberfest, an annual four-day climbing festival. The event features a variety of activities including sport climbing competitions, expert-led clinics on technique and safety, gear demos and social opportunities such as live music performances, food vendors and sponsor booths.

“I always encourage people to come out to Rocktoberfest even if you have never climbed before,” Simek said. “It is a nice way for everyone in the climbing community to come together and to showcase the Red River Gorge.”

Rocktoberfest happened this year from Oct. 9 — Oct.13. Climber Griffin Appel, who grew up nearby and started climbing at the Gorge in college, was happy to return to one of his favorite climbing spots for the festival.

“You know, it’s just so beautiful, and then being able to do something active and more like interactive with the environment, it’s really cool, just chasing really cool rock,” Appel said.

Michael Molony stretches his arm out while on the rock on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at Red River Gorge.

Cameron Carter climbing on some of the bouldering routes on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, at LEF Climbing in Lexington, Ky.

Climbing, there’s nothing like it. It is more than just a sport to me. Every time I get on the wall, it is like one giant puzzle to solve.” “

— MARA WALLACE CLIMBER

“The features are unlike anywhere else, just like beautiful overhanging rock, cool colors of rock. It’s one of the most special rock climbing places for me, for sure, especially growing up here. I love it.”

42-year-old Heath Rowland, who sells climbing equipment, said the Gorge is a “hub” for climbers from around the world, not just eastern Kentucky locals like himself and Appel.

“I’ve climbed every major climbing area in the United States. And you know, Red River Gorge is still the center of the universe,” Rowland said at Rocktoberfest. “On a busy fall weekend, you could walk through the parking lot and see license plates from Canada and every other state out West. And you know, you’ll hear people speaking French and speaking Spanish. This is where everybody wants to come.”

Through events like Rocktoberfest, the RRGCC provides an inclusive climbing community while emphasizing the importance of protecting public access to climbing for all, as well as conserving the beauty of a premier natural climbing environment like the Gorge.

“Climbing as a whole, we see a lot more people coming in, and I think it’s a really good thing that people are being exposed to the outdoor form of climbing and that more people are enjoying it,” Simek said.

Venturing outdoors often presents a new set of challenges and opportunities, especially for climbers looking to deepen their connection with the sport.

“Making the transition to outside the walls of the gym was crazy,” Cameron Carter said. “My friend just said ‘Hey, we’re going outdoors,’ and he kind of threw me into it.”

Carter, 25, began his climbing journey when friends introduced him to the rock wall at the Johnson Recreation Center while he was a student at the University of Kentucky. Six years later, Carter has continued to climb passionately, transitioning from his indoor roots to embracing the Red River Gorge as his new home base for outdoor climbing.

Heath Rowland begins his ascent on the first route of the day on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at Red River Gorge.

“Kentucky is to climbers like Vegas is to gamblers,” Carter said.

Carter described climbing as a full-body workout that combines endurance, flexibility, coordination and cognitive skills, making it both a physically and mentally stimulating exercise.

“It’s been really nice to let go of any expectations I’ve had of myself,” Carter said. “I can still aspire to climb something hard, but no matter what, you are getting stronger and better. Any climb is good climbing.”

With the sport of climbing on the rise, collegiate climbing teams and competitions are becoming a recognized norm within several universities. These events, covering disciplines like bouldering, lead climbing and speed climbing, offer students a chance to compete.

“Collegiate has been my own personal journey,” Mara Wallace, a 23-year-old climber, said. “I am not a part of a team; I represent myself at different competitions across the country with other college climbers.”

Mara Wallace has been dedicated to climbing ever since she started in middle school, eventually joining a gym in Louisville, Ky.

“Nine years ago I didn’t even know climbing existed,” Wallace said. “It’s made me into a whole different person, and I’ve surprised myself by doing things I never thought I’d be able to do.”

Wallace describes how climbing presents both highs and lows, but consistent practice and achieving personal climbing goals result in enhanced performance and greater confidence.

“If I had a hard day climbing, I always know I’ll go back and have a better day,” Wallace said.

Despite its challenges, climbing provides a deeply rewarding experience that attracts many, contributing to its rise as a prominent and rapidly growing sport in Kentucky.

“Climbing, there’s nothing like it,” Wallace said. “It is more than just a sport to me. Every time I get on the wall, it is like one giant puzzle to solve.”

Michael Molony, Griffin Appel, and Wyatt Edwards laugh while taking a break on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at Red River Gorge.

Curtis Rogers looks up ahead on the route he is climbing on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at Red River Gorge.

R E V I V A L R O C K I N ‘

When rock ‘n’ roll catapulted into the mainstream world, society did not instantly embrace the bold, eclectic and sometimes provocative styles and personalities that graced the stage. The ‘70s introduced a free-spirited and expressive way of styling that fused beautifully with the rebellious and resistant spirit of rock ‘n’ roll fashion. “Rockin Revival” transports Lexington band Topsoil back into this iconic genre and era.

WRITTEN

BY

REAGHAN CHEN

TO WATCH THIS SHOOT’S VIDEO, SCAN THE QR CODE ON PAGE 77.

PHOTO BY GIANNA MANCINI

PHOTO BY LILY FOSTER

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH SOLIE MASS HYSTERIA JEWELRY

VINTAGE THERAPY JACKET

STREET SCENE SCARF

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH SOLIE

MASS HYSTERIA SHIRT PANTS JACKET BELT JEWELRY

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH SOLIE

PHOTO BY GIANNA MANCINI

PHOTO BY LILY FOSTER

PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH SOLIE

VINTAGE THERAPY

JEANS

JACKET

STREET SCENE

JACKET SCARF

PHOTO BY GIANNA MANCINI

PHOTO BY SILER BARGO

50 | KRNL LIFESTYLE + FASHION

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH SOLIE

STREET SCENE SUNGLASSES

MASS HYSTERIA SHIRT BELT JEWELRY

HEALING THROUGH HORSES

WRITTEN BY REAGHAN CHEN | PHOTOS BY ALEXIS BAKER AND HOLLY NETZLEY

It’s a typical Thursday morning, and the city landscape slowly fades into rolling green hills.

Shopping centers and subdivisions blend into the world behind.

Long, black wooden fences begin to wrap the landscape.

Signs picturing horseback riders with the words “ALWAYS HAVE RIGHT OF WAY” replace the stoplights.

The drive is quiet all the way to the horse-peppered fields at the edge of the Kentucky Horse Park.

The sun starts to take its place in the clear sky above a green-roofed building, home to Central Kentucky Riding for Hope (CKRH).

“At our very beginning … it was started by some people with an idea on a plane, and they ended up trying the idea of helping people with a disability out with horses,” Pat Kline, executive director of CKRH, said.

After learning about the benefits of using horses for therapy, Dr. Peter Bosomworth, former chancellor emeritus for the University of Kentucky Medical Center, approached Kentucky Horse Park to give it a try.

In 1981, Kline said CKRH was off the ground with one borrowed horse from the riding horse concession, and as time went by, the evolution began.

Now, more than 40 years later, CKRH is a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) Premier Accredited Riding Center, home to 29 horses, a Fayette County special education high school and a list of programs that are continuously growing.

Because CKRH offers a different type of therapy built around horses, Kline said it gives people of all ages a chance to experience therapy uniquely.

“You think of regular therapy in a clinical setting, and you’re on a table with equipment, you know. But out here, this is kind of like the therapy you want to come to because you want to see your horse,” Kline said.

Along with being in a nontraditional environment, Kline said interacting with horses helps stimulate every one of a rider’s senses.

“You know you have the vision, you have the depth perception, you have the noise that the horse makes when it walks, and you know the noises in the barn, and then the olfactory, you know, because there are definitely certain smells … plus you’re sitting upright,” Kline said.

That upright position is a crucial part of many success stories at CKRH because Kline said it helps release pressure from a rider’s diaphragm, develops core strength and improves balance.

Along with the physical benefits horse riding brings, Kline has witnessed non-verbal participants speak at CKRH. She recalled a 10-year-old rider proclaiming his love for his horse for the first time.

“They don’t say anything, and then one day, one of them will come out with a sentence ... the one I remember the most was a sentence that said, ‘I love Annie.’ And everybody in the whole arena heard it,” Kline said.

This is just one example of how undeniable the connections formed at CKRH are.

“They bond with the horse. They like the barn setting. They just like the peace that it brings,” Kline said.

One bond facilitated by CKRH is shared by 27-yearold Julian Clark and KyKy, a 22-year-old Norwegian fjord horse.

“Julian’s kind of like a horse whisperer. I think they communicated … it just gave him peace, which is hard to get when you don’t have language,” Alva Mitchell Clark Covington, Julian’s mother said.

Clark has cerebral palsy and autism, which Covington said does not inhibit him from success despite limiting his speech. Covington said Clark has tenacity, radiates

They used to describe autism with puzzle parts. CKRH was the perfect piece to fit into his [Clark’s] team to help him move forward.”

ALVA MITCHELL CLARK COVINGTON

JULIAN CLARK’S MOM

Julian Clark and his mother Alva Mitchell Clark Covington pose for a picture outside the Central Kentucky Riding for Hope building on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Holly Netzley.

positivity and “almost 100% of the time, rises to the occasion.”

However, when the pandemic disrupted his routine, Covington said she watched Clark regress in a lot of his emotional and physical skills. Now, CKRH is helping him “build back better.”

“They used to describe autism with puzzle parts. CKRH was the perfect piece to fit into his team to help him move forward,” Covington said.

Throughout his nine years taking lessons at CKRH, Covington said she has witnessed Clark’s communication and body mobility improve.

“I can tell a big difference in when he’s riding weekly versus month gaps because he’s physically is just not as strong, and it’s a huge, huge difference for him, and it’s one that he likes riding horses, so he is actually getting exercise and therapy in a manner which he likes,” Covington said. “And he probably wouldn’t even see it as strengthening and exercise. He just sees it as joy and fun.”

seen Clark reach his potential.

“It’s just a lot of really positive things that helps him [Clark] from the top of his head to the crown of his feet,” Covington said.

In addition to the personal goals Clark has achieved at CKRH, Covington said she has seen a band of supporters grow around him.

“One of the biggest things that’s necessary for any special needs individual is to build community, to build community of diversity … and it is a rare thing to find it in an environment like this with equine horse therapy,”

At our very beginning … it was started by some people withan idea on a plane, and they ended up trying the idea of helping people with a disability out with horses.”

PAT KLINE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL KENTUCKY RIDING FOR HOPE “

That joy and fun Clark receives from CKRH is similar to how Covington said she feels about being Clark’s mother.

Covington and her late husband adopted Clark when he was one, exposing them to the neurodivergent world.

“I had birthed him in my heart … I didn’t know anything about special needs, and all I knew was the things that people thought about special needs, and I probably would have been just as bigoted about their capabilities as well, if I hadn’t been exposed to someone who has continuously outperformed expectations,” Covington said.

CKRH is another place where Covington said she has

Covington said.

Although this community, facility and offerings are vital to Covington and her son, Kline said it is not an easy or cheap feat for CKRH.

“Every time we put a rider up, it’s $35 [for the rider’s family], but the cost to us is somewhere around $110. So, every time a rider is up, we’re losing money, and we have to fill the gap in the middle,” Kline said.

For CKRH to offer these services at a loss, Kline said they must rely on about 150 volunteers a week to help.

In addition to a large number of volunteers, the organization also has a small staff of 13, including Ellie Toothaker, CKRH’s equine manager and trainer.

Toothaker’s office, located in the horse stables, is lined with ribbons won at equine competitions, a

Julian Clark participates in an exercise that involves placing a ring on a peg while volunteers, Russell Hoff and Crystal Owens, and coach, Nancy Delacenserie, guide him on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. Photo by Holly Netzley.

calendar with horseback riding fails and crayoned art pieces gifted by riders.

“For my fourth birthday, my parents got me one riding lesson, and I got on a horse, and my dad said, ‘Oh no, she’s hooked,’” Toothaker said.

Throughout her life, Toothaker said there was always something magical about having a relationship with a horse and although she had a love for them, she said she never expected to have a full-time career in the industry.

“I started as a volunteer, and as I’ve had the opportunities, I’ve just taken them and run with it, and it’s been one of my best decisions ever,” Toothaker said.

As a trainer, Toothaker said her job entails “preparing the horses for the therapeutic riding lessons.”

And “because this is a job unlike any other in the industry,” Toothaker said each horse must undergo an intense vetting process, followed by a 30-day quarantine and then a total of a 90-day trial period before they can be introduced to a rider and used for lessons.

This rigorous method, Toothaker said, is to test how the horse will respond and react to different situations to ensure the safety of the horses, riders, volunteers and staff.

Once the horses are prepped and ready, Toothaker’s job is not over.

“You know, I’m their [the horses] emergency contact. If somebody’s got a boo boo, like, that’s my boo boo. Like, that’s my problem as well. So I see all the problems, kind of, I take them to heart as if they’re my own children,” Toothaker said.

These 29 “children” that Toothaker oversees are the cornerstone of CKRH’s unique mission.

“Maybe it’s not the therapy for everybody, and we can always accept that, but when you come out and you

try, we have that added bonus here of the horses,” Kline said.

That added bonus is what led Bosomworth to create the idea of CKRH over 40 years ago, and today Covington said her and her family owe him and this organization much gratitude.

“Thank you. Thank you, and thank you for not not stopping … The neurodivergent community … we’re in need of places like this,” Covington said. “I know how they’ve impacted my life and my family and my son, but I know of others that have had just as much success and has brought just as much joy and peace to their families. So I’d say, God bless them.”

Pat Kline, executive director of Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, poses for a photo with a therapy horse on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. Photo by Alexis Baker.

Ellie Toothaker, the equine manager and trainer for Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, flips through her horse calendar on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. Photo by Alexis Baker.

A Break from the Silence

Sisters Honor Their Lost Sons with Brothers’ Run

WRITTEN BY LIZ DAVIS | PHOTOS BY LILY FOSTER

The unimaginable pain of losing a loved one is a kind of suffering many people choose to go through in silence. Yet, sisters Angela Wiese and Erin Hawley have used their grief for their children, who died by suicide, as a way to help others.

In 2019, Wiese founded the Brothers’ Run nonprofit foundation, which raises money to provide suicide prevention efforts in schools. Hundreds of people attend the sisters’ 3K run event every September.

In the years since Wiese founded Brothers’ Run, the foundation has raised over $160,000 toward suicide prevention efforts in and around Lexington.

On the morning of Sept. 7, 2024, the energy of the people gathered to race at Woodford County High School was anything but melancholy.

There were kids seen in track uniforms eager to outrace their friends while their parents run alongside, people holding signs and telling the runners to keep going, and just next to the start/ finish line was a tribute wall for others who have also died by suicide.

Their pictures were displayed with honor as loved ones ran in their name. The reason for running may have been grim, but attendees focused on the joy of keeping memories alive.

“There is a lot of good people out here supporting a great cause and bringing awareness for mental health. It affects more than likely everybody in some capacity,” runner Blythe

Brown said on race day.

In early 2015, Wiese’s oldest son, Mason, died by suicide at the age of 19. He had just graduated from boot camp for the Navy Reserves. Wiese said she mourned the loss of her child and struggled to come to terms with how he died.

“ We have peer support groups specifically for suicide. That is where I found comfort in the beginning. Just being around other survivors of suicide who know the way you feel,” Wiese said.

As Wiese was processing her trauma and grief of losing Mason, she said she was also helping her other kids, Ethan and Erin, through their emotions. What she didn’t know at the time was that Ethan was struggling as well.

“He was 16 when that happened, and we did not know at the time that Ethan was more at risk than anybody else in the family because of his association with being his sibling,” Wiese said.

In the spring of 2017, just shy of his 18th birthday and high school graduation, Ethan Wiese died by suicide.

Wiese discovered her son while her daughter was in the other room. She tried giving CPR, but it couldn’t save him.

“As a teenager, it was really hard to get him [Ethan] to express his feelings. He didn’t want to go to counseling. He would talk to his dad, he would talk to me sometimes. I think he felt like he would make me upset if he talked about Mason. We were all trying to come to grips with the loss,” Wiese said.

It

honestly makes me feel less alone in my struggles.”

— LILLY ZAPARANICK-BROWN BROTHERS’ RUN PARTICIPANT

Sisters Angela Wiese and Erin Hawley pose in front of the family home on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Lexington, Ky.

“We were all trying to come to grips with the loss.”

— ANGELA WIESE Founder, Brothers’ Run

Wiese decided the best way to honor her sons’ memories was to start Brothers’ Run, with Hawley by her side every step of the way.

“We knew it was going to be a big project and with what she had been through losing both Mason and Ethan and just the time and energy it was going to take,” Hawley said. “Also we were a little concerned about dredging feelings and we weren’t really sure how it was going to impact us.”

A group of their friends came together to form a committee which helped take the stress off of the sisters.

Unfortunately for Wiese and Hawley, tragedy struck again. In December of 2021, Hawley’s daughter, Myra, died by suicide at the age of 13. Hawley said the pain was difficult to process and that the overwhelming experience of going through both the trauma and grief of the loss affected her both mentally and physically.

“You have trauma and then there’s grief. They are two different things, but they mesh together really well,” Hawley said. “Some people describe it sometimes as sort of like a rock in your shoe. Sometimes it gets in that spot that just hits and hurts really bad, and then other times it’s in a place where you know it’s there but you can tolerate it.”

Mason (left) and Ethan Wiese (right) as toddlers.

Myra Hawley’s middle school volleyball photo.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ANGELA WIESE

Brothers’ Run is a great way to connect people in the community who are struggling and need support.

“Just show up for people and always tell everybody you love them. Just let people know that you’re there,” John Couch, a Brothers’ Run participant said.

“It [Brothers’ Run] honestly makes me feel less alone in my struggles. It makes me feel like people actually care about this issue and that they are here for me and not gonna judge me,” said Lilly Zaparanick-Brown, a junior at Woodford County High School supporting her dad during the Brothers’ Run race.

Zaparanick-Brown is one of many teens who want

to help spread the importance of suicide prevention and mental health resources. Ethan Hudson, a freshman at Woodford County High School and a runner at the Brothers’ Run event, had a similar sentiment.

“I hope people know that suicide awareness is important and that it’s a fun thing to spread awareness. They can just have a good time, hang out and then run,” Hudson said.

Wiese and Hawley are continuing to keep their nonprofit local to not only keep their children’s names alive but to help their community in any way possible, with much of their focus being on helping kids in schools through their donations to Sources of Strength, a research-based program that provides peer-to-peer training in mental health resources.

Attendees observe the tribute wall for loved ones lost to suicide at Brothers’ Run on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Versailles, Ky.

“We need superintendents, we need the Kentucky Department of Education really pushing programs like this for mental health in the schools and just making sure it’s being talked about and focused on every day,” Hawley said.

Since starting Brothers’ Run, Wiese and Hawley continue to advocate for teens and young adults struggling with mental health and want to let parents know that this is a battle they might not know their kids could be going through.

“When a death by suicide occurs, the support for other people such as kids in schools, there’s a lot to be learned,” Hawley said. “Parents need to know that death by suicide is very different than death in any other way. It was very important for me that other families knew that Myra did die by suicide, to help them understand how to support their children.”

The sisters often receive flowers and anonymous donations from families in the community that have experienced the same trauma.

“It’s just one of those feelings of ‘wow,’” Hawley said.

Their impact is felt in the community all year round, not just in September for their race.

For more information on the Brothers’ Run nonprofit foundation, go to BrothersRun.com and if you are struggling, call the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Runners starting the 3K on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.

Angela Wiese and Erin Hawley hugging post-race on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.

Angela Wiese and Erin Hawley wear smiley faces on their shirts in honor of Myra, who loved smileys on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024.

Lexington Theatre Company instructor Lyndy Franklin Smith teaching ballet class on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Lexington, Ky.

WRITTEN BY GRACIE MOORE | PHOTOS BY GIANNA MANCINI

62 | KRNL LIFESTYLE + FASHION

For Mindy McGirt and her son Isaac, the classes at the Lexington Theatre Company are more than just an extracurricular activity. McGirt said that these classes have given Issac, who has autism, a comfortable and safe space to learn and play.

“We have seen Isaac’s confidence grow, and he’s been able to make his own friendships separate from his brother,” McGirt said. “Watching him go from being somebody who wanted to hide behind all of the props to being somebody who would introduce the next performers on stage … it was pretty cool.”

This was Lyndy Franklin Smith and Jeromy Smith’s goal when founding the Lexington Theatre Company — to give all artists a safe, supportive environment for lifelong learning.

In 2015, Lyndy and Jeromy founded the company as a way to give back to the theatre community after their successful careers.

After graduating college from Oklahoma City University where the couple met, Lyndy performed in national tours of “Fosse” while Jeromy toured with “Swing” and “42nd Street.” Once they moved to New York, Lyndy was in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular while Jeromy performed regionally around the country.

Jeromy eventually transitioned into show management on Broadway, and shortly after Lyndy booked her first Broadway show as a performer.

“So for the last half of our time in New York, I was performing in Broadway shows and he was managing Broadway shows and shows in development,” Lyndy said. “It was amazing. We were living our dreams and it was an incredible time.”

Once the couple knew they wanted to settle down and start a family, they decided to move to central Kentucky where Lyndy grew up. At the same time, Lyndy was moving from being a performer to being on the production side like Jeromy, but as a choreographer and associate director.

Lyndy and Jeromy, based in Lexington, continued

brought us back as directors and choreographers,” Lyndy said.

Lyndy said that they had the idea to bring a professional theatre company to Lexington on their drives back and forth while traveling. She said that they saw a robust arts and culture scene in Lexington and that she felt the city deserved a company like Music Theatre Wichita.

“It was a source of pride for the Wichita, Kansas community … having this Broadway-caliber theatre in their backyard,” she said. “Lexington deserves to have professional, regional theatre. It’s not just seeing highquality theatre, it’s seeing high-quality theatre made in your town, and your town is a part of it.”

Creating high-quality theatre with and for the community is one-half of the Lexington Theatre Company’s twofold mission, according to Lyndy. The other half of their mission is to train and educate people of all ages in theatre.

Lyndy said that they’ve always educated actors through productions, with things like internships and apprenticeships. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck and they were forced to pause all productions indefinitely, Lyndy planned to continue their mission.

Our slogan here is musicals make life better and I believe it through and through.”

LYNDY FRANKLIN SMITH CO-FOUNDER, LEXINGTON THEATRE COMPANY

Celebration during Lexington Theatre Company children’s tap class.

Dance instructor Ayako Hasebe Lloyd teaches a youth ballet class.

Women stretch at a Lexington Theatre Company adult dance class.

Watching him go from being somebody who wanted to hide behind all of the props to being somebody who would introduce the next performers on stage … it was pretty cool.”

“I say to everyone, there was nothing easy about that time, but the decisions that we made were very simple because our mission was so clear,” Lyndy said. “Right now we can’t create theatre, we still can train.”

The Lexington Theatre Company put on a free summer of online learning for children, teenagers and adults with a variety of classes. Lyndy said that it was a huge success, so they wanted to keep offering classes.

The online classes turned into an in-person education program called the Artist Development Program.

Since the Lexington Theatre Company believes in lifelong learning, the program offers classes for all ages.

For students in preschool through 12th grade, the company offers music, dance and acting classes. For adult students, they offer the core classes plus more, including theatre dance and musical storytelling.

When the classes first started in-person after the pandemic, the

— MINDY MCGIRT PARENT OF A STUDENT AT THE LEXINGTON THEATRE COMPANY

company didn’t have a building of its own. They were holding classes anywhere with a space large enough.

“The more space we could find, the more classes we could offer. Then this beautiful building became a reality this past year,” Lyndy said.

Their new building at 2323 Alexandria Drive is especially significant for Lyndy and the company.

In August 2022, Alexandra Simpson, a student at the Lexington Theatre Company, died when her childhood cancer returned during her senior year of college.

After Simpson’s death, Lyndy said that they found out she left a legacy gift for the company.

“We talked to Alex’s mom and we were like, you know, we’d love to use that gift to help us get into a space,” Lyndy said. “And the gift was such that it gave us the confidence that we could take a leap like that.”

Lyndy said she thinks Simpson had a “heavenly hand” in finding their building.

“Alex would’ve been 23 years old in 2023, and the gift and finding this building all happened in 2023, and our address here is 2323 Alexandria Drive,” Lyndy said. “So I feel like Alex picked this out for us and said, ‘This is where you’re going to be.’”

In the new building, the company dedicated the main theatre to Simpson, with a silver plaque hanging right outside in commemoration.

As they begin their first full season of the Artist Development Program in their new building, Lyndy said that she’s excited “to welcome this student body into their artistic home.”

For Lindsay Nunneley’s family, the Artist Development Program has made a positive impact on both her children and her family as a whole.

Nunnelley has two children, both enrolled in the Artist Development Program. Ian, 11, and Margot, 10, have been taking classes for three years at the Lexington Theatre Company.

Nunnelley said that in the classes,

they do a great job at keeping the students active and making sure they’re constantly learning. She also loves that the classes don’t just focus on modern musicals, but the teachers make an effort to introduce the children to musicals from different eras.

“It’s not always the Disney musicals, but musicals from the ‘50s and ‘60s,” she said. “And it makes them want to explore more of that era so they learn a bit of history from that, which I really enjoy.”

Nunnelley said that she has a past in music, having been involved in the band when she was younger. She said that the Artist Development Program allowed her to grow closer with her children because of that mutual interest.

“I’ll be honest, when they first started taking the classes, we almost bonded better as a family because they were learning stuff from my past, and if I had shown it to them it wouldn’t have been cool, but they were learning it together and they got closer too,” Nunnelley said.

Lyndy said storytelling and music are essential and are at the heart of all their classes and productions.

“I think storytelling … it’s who we are, it’s how we understand our past, it’s how we find common ground, it’s how we cope with what’s going on, it’s how we find our future, it’s how we learn,” she said. “I think storytelling and stories are essential to humans as a human being.”

When music is added to the story, Lyndy said that it heightens everything in the production.

“Our slogan here is musicals make life better and I believe it through and through. I just feel like we need these stories and then when they can be told in such an engaging and emotional way. I just think there’s nothing better,” she said.

Lyndy watches every production, and she said that regardless of where she stands, whether it’s back of the house or in the audience, there’s nothing that she loves more than feeling the energy and the emotion of theatre.

She said there’s something so special about experiencing a story with a group of people and seeing how the emotion impacts the performance.

“I feel like this has been a calling, I know it’s bigger than me, it’s bigger than Jeromy, there’s something larger at work here,” Lyndy said. “But it is humbling. It’s an honor to get to be at the center of it all and to see all of it happening.”

Lyndy hopes that the legacy of the Lexington Theatre Company lasts in the community.

“I hope we continue to touch lives,” she said. “I hope people continue to love musical theatre and stay creative, and that we continue to be an important part of what central Kentucky is proud of.”

“

I hope we continue to touch lives. I hope people continue to love musical theatre and stay creative, and that we continue to be an important part of what Central Kentucky is proud of.”

— LYNDY FRANKLIN SMITH CO-FOUNDER, LEXINGTON THEATRE COMPANY

Lexington Theatre Company ballet student follows her intructor.

AOld keys dOn’t Open mOdern dOOrs

WRITTEN BY AVA BUMGARNER

PHOTOS BY KARSTEN VANMETER The exterior of the Platt-Faulkners’ home, framed by blooming flowers, on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in Newport, Ky. 66 | KRNL LIFESTYLE + FASHION

snapshot of history, blending old-world charm with modern flair, several historic homes of the seven northern Kentucky river towns sit frozen in time. Nestled on narrow, tree-lined streets, these homes stay sheltered from modernization.

From Ludlow to Newport and over to Silver Grove, the river towns are rich with history.

Often overshadowed by the large surrounding neighborhoods and subdivisions further inland from the banks of the Ohio River, stories of eras that have come and gone are etched into the crevices of brick and cobblestone streets.

From Victorian marvels, Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne and other European architectural styles, these homes provide a glimpse into the region’s rich past.

In recent years people have been flocking to these areas, eager to get their hands on a little piece of history to call their own.

From the small-town charm to the walkability and convenience, these areas continue to be in high demand in the Northern Kentucky housing market, according to a press release from the northern Kentucky Association of Realtors.

For Zane Platt-Faulkner, 35, and Michael Platt-Faulkner, 35, of Newport, Kentucky, a historic home was not just a fantasy, it was their reality. Having already lived in the same neighborhood as their current residence, Zane had his sights on the 1889 Queen Anne-style home in the East Row Historic District for years before moving in.

The couple would see it in passing on their daily walks with their dog. Standing on the sidewalk marveling at its authenticity and charm was not enough.

“We actually reached out to the owner, because he had listed it for sale a couple years prior, but then had taken it off the market,” Zane said. “So we just wrote him a letter, just talking about kind of our admiration for the home, the history we already knew about it and kind of our desire to hopefully be its caretaker at some point.”

In September 2022, the Queen Anne’s keys were officially handed over to the couple.

The previous owner, a historical architect, according to Zane, had purchased the home in 2016 and performed a massive restoration. The house had completely fallen into disrepair, and the once head-turning Victorian gem of Newport had lost its luster to nature.

Brick by brick, the home came back to life. The rich architecture was revived, floors were refinished and the turret was reconstructed. The signature stained-glass portraits missing from the main entryway were tracked down to Portland, Oregon, brought home and reinstalled back to their rightful place.

“Just seeing, you know the history kind of comes back to life … just walking in and thinking like, this is exactly how it would’ve appeared to the original owners when they came

The Platt-Faulkners’ dining room.

A stained glass window in the Platt-Faulkners’ home.

Zane Platt-Faulkner sits on his front porch surrounded by flowers.

in the house,” Zane said. “So I think just building the relationships with people as well, seeing the people who have worked on it be excited to bring its history back has been, I think one of my favorite parts as well.”

About 15 minutes down the Ohio River, on a chilly Thursday evening, residents of another small northern Kentucky town perch on their porches. Drinks in hand with friends and neighbors gathered around them on porch swings, they smile and laugh as conversations deepen into the night.

Welcome to Ludlow, Kentucky.

Laura Dorger, 43, and Wes Dorger, 44, have cherished their home for years. Watching their children grow up, seeing them play outside under the canopy of the red oak tree in the backyard — they could not have imagined raising their family anywhere else.

The Kenner family constructed Somerset Hall in 1832 as a summer home to escape the hot Louisiana heat. Around 1912, the house was sold to be used as a Masonic lodge and maintained until the ‘80s. Laura’s parents purchased it in 1995, and the home has been a private residence ever since.

“In a house like this, you don’t try to make it perfect, because it’s perfect right now with all of its bonuses … imperfection has beauty,” Laura said. “I

mean this floor could be better, we’ve got scratches in the floor, but their memories and character and we kind of embrace the imperfections here.”

With the home having been in the family for 29 years, the Dorgers have seen it all. Through total renovation to little projects here and there, their home still perfectly encapsulates the Greek Revival architecture the Kenner family wanted.

As the house wrapped up renovations in the late ‘90s, this was only the beginning of the family uncovering years of history and secrets in every room they touched.

“So a guy contacted (Laura’s) dad and he had found this plaster scale model of the house that was from the Works Progress in like the ‘30s … they went around, and they wanted to document some of the architecture,” Wes said. “I think they did like 13 or 14 houses in the United States, and this was one of them.”

The designer paid careful attention to every intricate detail of the plaster scale model residence, even the 120-foot-long back porch.

“I enjoy the back porch; it just feels like you’re in another world. Sometimes you’re kind of far enough away from people, but I don’t know, it just feels like that feeling when you’re on vacation,” Wes said. “But I like to get up before everybody else and drink a

The back porch of the Dorgers’ home on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Ludlow, Ky.

A painting, decorative plants and a model of the home sit atop a sideboard inside the Dorgers’ home.

The Dorgers’ spacious living room features a mix of vibrant decor and lush plants, adding a contemporary touch to the historic home.

In a house like this, you don’t try to make it perfect, because it’s perfect right now with all of its bonuses … imperfection has beauty.” “

— LAURA DORGER HISTORIC HOMEOWNER

Laura and Wes Dorger stand with their children outside their home.

A grand staircase leads to the second floor of the

The hallway and staircase inside the Dorgers’ home showcase a mix of historic charm and personal touches.

pot of coffee. Sitting in my listening area, if it’s cold I’m usually in there, if it’s summer, I’m usually on the porch.”

The porch looks across the street to Laura’s sister’s house, another historic home on Closson Court.

Leslie, 37, and Scott Miller, 38, purchased their home across from the infamous Somerset Hall in 2015. Built in 1870, the home was well-kept and move-in ready despite some minor changes. The only thing this young family had to acclimate to was not having an air conditioning unit on the first floor.

“But the nice thing is in the wintertime, we have a working fireplace in the kitchen, and that is a wood-

burning fireplace,” Leslie said. “So in the winter we have radiator heat, but the house stays so cozy and warm, and it keeps down here very, very warm.”

From the four original fireplaces to the thrifted pieces of furniture and family photos decorating the walls, not everything in the house has to be kept up to date. Miller said that’s what keeps its charm alive.

“Look for little pieces of character and keep those incorporated, because I think the thing that is just so cool about old homes, even if you renovate some things, keep some of the original stuff,” Miller recommended. “And if you’re buying an old house, why do you want to make it new?”

Leslie and Scott Miller sit with their children on the front porch of their home on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Ludlow, Ky.

Dorgers’ home.

And if you’re buying an old house, why do you want to make it new?”

— SCOTT MILLER HISTORIC HOMEOWNER

The exterior of the Millers’ home.

So to be able to do that and not worry about anything else and just be there and be together and have fun, it was just incredible.” “

— HALLIE PIATT GRAYSON’S MOM

The Piatt family poses for a portrait on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, at their home in Lexington, Ky.

Grayson Piatt rides the Slinky Dog Dash.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY HALLIE PIATT.

TURNING DREAMS INTO

REALITY At the Lexington Dream Factory

WRITTEN BY NATALIA GARCIA | PHOTOS BY MATTHEW MUELLER

“What’s your favorite subject?”

“Social studies.”

“What’s your favorite animal?”

“Dog.”

“How’s the 5th grade?”

“It’s okay.”

Like many other boys his age, 10-yearold Grayson Piatt is pretty shy at first, answering with the minimum amount of words necessary to get his point across. That is until he starts to talk about his trip to Disney.

Grayson said the best part of his trip was getting to ride Slinky Dog Dash, only stopping when poor weather forced him to. That along with unlimited access to ice cream “for dinner and breakfast” and daily gifts for him and his sister made for the trip of a lifetime and a dream come true. Literally.

Grayson got his Disney trip thanks to the Dream Factory, an organization that grants dreams to critically and chronically ill children.

He was only three and a half when his parents first noticed he was falling a concerning amount, said Hallie Piatt, Grayson’s mom.

“He kept falling and so we got him into a neurologist in Cincinnati and realized he was having seizures and he was diagnosed with epilepsy,” Piatt said.

After hearing about Grayson’s diagnosis, Jennifer Hurst, president of the Lexington Dream Factory chapter, reached out to Piatt and explained what the Dream Factory does.

Founded in Hopkinsville, Kentucky in 1980, the Dream Factory has grown into a nationwide organization that has 30 chapters across the country, with Lexington being one of the biggest chapters.

“Every single one of our chapters, none of us are paid. All of us are completely volunteer,” Hurst said. “At nationals, there are only four paid people so that’s a huge difference between us and most other nonprofits.”

Because they are completely volunteer-based, 96.7% of the money raised by the Dream Factory goes directly to the children and helping make their dreams come true, Hurst said. The Dream Factory’s biggest fundraiser every year is their annual gala.

The Annual Dream Factory Gala usually takes place in April and has raised $1 million over the last three years. From dancing and live music to auctions and raffles, attendees are able to make a difference with their donations and see how their donations impact those who receive dreams.

“We always have some of our dream kids there,” Hurst said. “[Last year] we had two of our older kids who could really articulate what it meant to go through what they went through and what it meant to have their families go through it with them and what hope it brought to know that they had something to look forward to in the dream.”

Feeling “terrified” after getting Grayson’s diagnosis, getting a dream from the Dream Factory felt like a “fantastic gift,” Piatt said.

Hallie Piatt smiles at her son Grayson Piatt.

“I mean nothing is affordable in health care a lot of times, the stays and the medication, we were just trying to do all the things, and so vacation wasn't really a part of what we were planning for that year,” Piatt said. “So to be able to do that and not worry about anything else and just be there and be together and have fun, it was just incredible.”

The main focus of the Dream Factory is to help as many kids as possible, Hurst said, even if their dreams look different from most.

Hurst shared the story of a child who came to the United States from Rwanda to receive treatment for his illness. After going into remission, he decided to stay and start attending school here.

Once he got older, his illness came back, this time more aggressively with no treatment options available. In 2020, his dream was to go back home and pass away with his family.

“You think, ‘How awful,’ but if that’s his dream, how can you not try and make that come true,” Hurst said.

Hurst said the board sat down and had to discuss the logistics of the dream, including things like equipment and personnel needed for traveling, dream budget and liability. Ultimately, the board decided to grant the child his dream.

“We just felt it was so important for him to go, and so we signed off on it and he made it and he was able to be with his family for about two weeks and then passed then. But to us that was successful because that was his dream and that’s what's most important to us,” Hurst said.

While the Dream Factory works to turn the dreams of children into reality, sometimes they have to hand off dreams and hope another organization can help fulfill them. Other hard moments include hearing about the passing of one of their dream children, Hurst said.

The relationships built are treasured not only by the Dream Factory staff but also by the dream families.

“I don't even know how to put it into words. My husband kind of teases me because I think I cried every time I talked about it for the first year because it was just so incredible,” Piatt said. “Jennifer was amazing ‘cause I really was a mess all the time. I just cried any time we talked about it because I was like ‘(A dream) could really change his life.’”

Grayson is now 10 years old and has been seizurefree for four years. Although his trip to Disney was three years ago, Grayson still has his pictures, Slinky Dog souvenir and memories of endless ice cream.

Grayson Piatt and his sister Elliott pose with Jennifer Hurst.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY HALLIE PIATT.

BEHIND THE SCENES

T ailored f or S uccess

Building the first Kentucky Fashion House

FROM CHALLENGING BEGINNINGS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO TO ESTABLISHING A LUXURY FASHION HOUSE IN LEXINGTON, ALBERT LUKONGA’S JOURNEY SHOWS HIS PASSION FOR FASHION. LIFESTYLE EDITOR CARLEE HOGSTEN SITS DOWN WITH LUKONGA AS HE SHARES HIS DEDICATION TO FORGING DEEP CONNECTIONS WITH HIS CLIENTS AND INSPIRING STORIES OF RESILIENCE. PHOTOGRAPHED BY PHOTO EDITOR LILY FOSTER.

TO WATCH THIS STORY’S VIDEO, SCAN THE QR CODE ON PAGE 77.

ALBERT COUTURE blazer hangs on a rack on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 in Lexington, Ky.

ntering ALBERT COUTURE’s “The House” in downtown Lexington, customers

The hand-stitched shoes, swatches of hand-picked fabrics and brandembossed bags all reflect Albert Lukonga’s belief that clothing is a way to feel

For Lukonga, his handcrafted suits and wide variety of accessories are individual

Growing up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with nine siblings, Lukonga

“I understand what it’s like to have nothing, so I understand I’ve got nothing else to lose,” Lukonga said. “I’ve always looked at one thing as what it can also become,

He carried this mindset with him as his family moved to a refugee camp in Zimbabwe, where he said his family was left with limited resources and

Lukonga said the diverse community at the camp taught him the value of perseverance and adaptability, which helped brighten his perspective as his family moved to the United

“The journey to America was not an easy one,” Lukonga said. “Overcoming our hardships required me and my

The Lukonga family resettled in Lexington in 2006 and five years later, Lukonga graduated from Henry Clay High

Aspiring to be a cardiologist, Lukonga decided to study at the University of Kentucky before leaving his junior year to

“I’ve always wanted to find a way to add value to other people’s lives, you know, and make them feel brand new once again,” Lukonga said. “Whether

He said his approach to fashion was shaped by his mother’s discipline and devotion as she worked as a tailor and designer to put food

“She was very detail-oriented, and I am like that,” Lukonga said. “She was involved in the fashion industry for such a long time, so having that background and seeing her do that work, it shaped me, even though initially I didn’t want

He started his path into fashion by working retail at Jos. A. Bank and J. Crew and soon noticed a lack of quality men’s fashion in Lexington.

“I was never that guy in college who would wear khaki pants or khaki shirts,” Lukonga said. “I always stood out because I wore a piece of a suit. I stood out from a lot of my

He started noticing that more friends were turning to him for advice on their wardrobe choices, so he decided to blend his college background in anatomy and understanding of how to fit the human body with his Lukonga came up with the idea of designing personalized men’s clothing but first, he wanted to consume fashion

Albert Lukonga shows off one of his favorite shoes in stock.

Traveling to Spain, London, China, Japan and Italy, he immersed himself in various fashion cultures and gained insights into both design and business.

Coming back to the States, he returned with both the passion and wisdom to start his personalized clothing brand but was still missing a crucial factor.

“I didn’t have a million dollars, so I had to get creative,” Lukonga explained. “I took 100 samples for free [given to Lukonga from an Italian manufacturer] and sold them as a product to fund my business.”

Shortly after, Lukonga said he opened his showroom in Lexington and became the first luxury fashion house in Kentucky.

Lukonga said navigating the Kentucky fashion landscape as an African immigrant and designer required breaking stereotypes and confronting biases within the industry and the community.

“

I understand what it’s like to have nothing, so I understand I’ve got nothing else to lose. I’ve always looked at one thing as what it can also become, rather than just what it is.”

—

ALBERT LUKONGA FOUNDER, EXECUTIVE DESIGNER OF ALBERT COUTURE

By offering private consultations for men’s clothing including personalized suits, shoes and simple accessories, the time dedicated to the designs reflected his Congolese heritage.

The interior of ALBERT COUTURE’s “The House.”

Lukonga’s appointment-only, personalized service allowed his business to thrive during the pandemic.

This allowed him to expand his collection to women’s wear and bags while he connected one-on-one with his customers.

“It’s not about just selling clothes,” Lukonga explained. “It’s about the relationship you build with your clients. You happen to sell clothes, but you’re in the business of relationships.”

These relationships have expanded beyond clothes as he has used his business to give back including hosting charity galas benefitting the Marafiki Center, an organization that creates opportunities for Swahili-speaking communities in Lexington.

His brand has also allowed him to provide necessary outpatient surgeries at no cost by donating to the Lexington nonprofit Surgery on Sunday.

He said whether it’s texting a client to make sure they like their pieces or checking in on their family, the bond between them is what makes his job special.

By connecting with customers and having a dedicated mindset, Lukonga was able to adapt to the pandemic and continue his dream of building confidence in his customers through his pieces.

“I’m not only building their wardrobe, I’m building their confidence,” he said. “I am able to work with the customer to design not just one thing that they are comfortable in, but a whole closet full.”

“I’m

not building this to sell it in the future. I’m building it to define myself. Retirement is out of the question; I’ll do this until the end.”

— ALBERT LUKONGA FOUNDER, EXECUTIVE DESIGNER OF ALBERT COUTURE

His commitment to not only his clients but to making luxury and quality clothes is what he believes drives his customers to keep coming back.

“I’ve always had that mindset, the mentality of whatever you put your mind to, be the best,” he explained. “If you’re gonna sell a t-shirt, have the best t-shirt, the most comfortable shirt anyone has ever felt.”

Lukonga said ALBERT COUTURE curates to the customer, so he experiments with different colors, patterns and styles to create their personality through the items.

“We strive to infuse attention to detail into every item,” he said. “We want to offer personal service and those little touches that make each piece special.”

Albert Lukonga poses in “The House.”

One detail he started with is his lion logo, which plays homage to his roots as he said in many African cultures, the lion represents strength, courage and leadership, which he strives to embody.

“The cultural heritage and traditional crafts from my home country have shaped my overall design philosophy,” he said.

He said his detailed products have made him stand out in Lexington with clients like UK’s top coaches, USA Olympians and Kentuckian celebrities such as Mark Stoops, Reed Sheppard and Eli Capoulitio.

With outfit packages ranging from $25,000 to $100,000, Lukonga said his clothing is styled to fit the client’s confidence through personalized color consultations and custom style guidance.

This unique touch eventually allowed him to sell his clothing and accessories globally through online sales.

“I realized that I needed to be in the fashion industry, but not just in Lexington or Kentucky. I wanted to be internationally recognized,” Lukonga said.

Now with international clients, Lukonga has expanded the brand to an office in New York at the Ritz Carlton and hopes to one day reach Miami, Los Angeles or even Dubai.

In September of 2024, Lukonga worked toward his dream of expanding globally by styling several United Nations executives and ambassadors in NYC.

Lukonga said that not only will future generations get to see and wear his creations throughout the world, but maybe it will teach them to follow their dreams.

“I’m more of an addict to fashion now, because of the people, because of the experience, because of the travel and everything in between,” he said. “I urge others to find something they’re addicted to, not just passionate about. Addiction drives you through tough times because you’ll figure it out.”

He said that he would be here to stay because his brand could have a lasting impact on somebody.

“I’m not building this to sell it in the future. I’m building it to define myself,” Lukongo said. “Retirement is out of the question; I’ll do this until the end.”

Albert Lukonga being interviewed in “The House.”

“Dawn” pays homage to the vintage western aesthetic. Shot at Three Crowns Farm, the open field paddocks and rugged plains of the Bluegrass serve as a backdrop to showcase the layers of western workwear on each model. From fringe and chaps to cowboy hats and vests, the fashion team sought to tell a story of a culture rooted in hard work, freedom and connection to the land.

WRITTEN BY CARLEE HOGSTEN TO WATCH THIS SHOOT’S VIDEO, SCAN THE QR CODE ON PAGE 77.

PHOTO BY ABBEY CUTRER

PHOTO BY ABBEY CUTRER

PHOTO BY LILY FOSTER

PHOTO BY LILY FOSTER

CHAPS JACKET

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH SOLIE

VINTAGE THERAPY SHIRT

JACKET BELT

PHOTO BY ABBEY CUTRER

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH SOLIE

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH SOLIE

PHOTO BY ABBEY CUTRER

STREET SCENE NECKLACE EARRINGS JACKET

STREET SCENE BOLO TIE SHIRT

PHOTO BY LILY FOSTER

PHOTO BY LILY FOSTER

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH SOLIE

PHOTOS BY LILY FOSTER

VINTAGE THERAPY JACKET VEST

KRNL CONTRIBUTORS

Editor-in-Chief Laurel Swanz

Managing Editor Reaghan Chen

Fashion Editor & Photoshoot Coordinator Bennett Sloss

Creative Director Sara Nelson

Lifestyle Editor Carlee Hogsten

Photo Editor Lily Foster

Head of Videography Helena Arjona

Copy Editor Alexis Baker

Online Content Editor Gracie Moore

Digital Co-Editor Ashleigh Jones

Digital Co-Editor Nupur Bendre

KRNL CONTRIBUTORS

LIFESTYLE

Assistant Lifestyle Editors: Reaghan Chen

Alexandria Landgraf

Writers: Ava Bumgarner, Nia Chancellor, Liz Davis, Natalia Garcia, Lilly Keith, Kristen Roberts, Ale Scrivner

PHOTO

Assistant Lead Photographer: Gianna Mancini

Photographers: Alexis Baker, Siler Bargo, Abbey Cutrer, Holly Netzley, Matthew Mueller, Elizabeth Solie, Karsten VanMeter

OUTREACH

Outreach Co-Coordinators: Landyn DeSpain, Jess Govea

Sponsored Content Coordinator: Presley Hunt

Sponsorship Team: Ella Nelson, Morgan Hooper, Serena Florell, Grace Holmes

DIGITAL

Assistant Digital Editor: Anna Zheng

FASHION

Assistant Fashion Editor: Emma Engel

Assistant Photoshoot Coordinator: Deklyn DeSpain

Lookbook Coordinator: Lola Kirk

Assistant Lookbook Coordinator: Kara French

Stylists:

Cameron Chappell, Lilly Hardwick, Lily Patterson, Suzie Mattingly, Sarah Manske, Eman Rasul

Makeup Artist: Timihia Murphy

DESIGN

Assistant Creative Directors: Landyn DeSpain, Ashleigh Jones, Grace Swartz

PODCAST

Podcast Organizers: Benjamin Estrada, Kennedy Parker

Hosts: Peyton Dybowski, Presley Hunt, Keili Martin

VIDEO

Videographers: Gabby Mercedes, Bryce Towle, Karsten VanMeter

BEHIND THE SCENES

Ryan Craig, Bryce McNeil, David Stephenson

SPECIAL THANKS TO Chloe Young Noah Wilcox

KRNL AWARDS 2023

Society

of

Professional Journalists

2022 Mark of Excellence Awards

Best Arts/Entertainment/Fashion Journalism (Region 5)

Gray Greenwell, First Place

Best Student Magazine (Region 5)

First Place & National Runner Up

College Media Association

2023 Organizational Pinnacle Awards

Feature Magazine of the Year

First Place

2023 Individual Pinnacle Awards

Best Profile Story

Rana Alsoufi, First Place

Best Feature Story

Emma Reilly, Second Place

Best Magazine Cover

Allie Diggs & Abbey Purcell Honorable Mention

Best Magazine News Page/Spread

Allie Diggs, First Place

Best Magazine Sports Page/Spread

Emme Schumacher, Third Place

Best Magazine Feature Page/Spread

Allie Diggs Honorable Mention

Associated Collegiate Press

2023 Organizational Best of Show

Best Feature Magazine (Spring 2023 Issue)

Second Place

2023 Individual Best of Show

Best Advertisement: Print, Online, Video, Audio

Bree Cox, Second Place

Best Design, Magazine

Allie Diggs, Sixth Place

Southeast Journalism Conference

2023 Best of the South

Best Magazine

KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion Spring 2023 Issue, First Place

Best Feature Writer

Rana Alsoufi, First Place

Best Magazine Writer

Emma Reilly, First Place

Best Advertising Staff Member

Bree Cox, First Place

Best Magazine Designer

Hunter Grace Hayes, First Place

KRNL SPONSORS

KRNL SPONSORS

Hyderabad House 2220 Nicholasville Rd Suite 160, Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 309-8109

Waxing the City

Hamburg: 2312 Sir Barton Way Unit 108 Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 900-2255

Summit: 4084 Finn Way Unti 110 Lexington, KY 40517 (859) 300-3399

Kenwick Table

201 Owsley Ave, Lexington, KY 40502 (859) 407-1585

MODELS

In Full Bloom

Gracie Moore

Sara Nelson

Ale Scrivner

Grace Swartz

Rockin’ Revival

Aidan Boyd

Logan Harris

Caleb McClellan

Brenden Smith

Dawn

Zachary Briscoe

Raymond Creary

MacKenzie Flowers

Kamryn Lin

Horses: Lassen, Denali

PHOTOSHOOT SPONSORS

Mass Hysteria

Instagram: @masshysteriashop Depop: depop.com/masshysteriashop

Street Scene 2575 Regency Rd, Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 260-1578

Instagram: @streetscenevintage

Vintage Therapy

101 W Loudon Ave Suite 178, Lexington, KY 40508 vintagetherapylex@gmail.com

Instagram: @vintagetherapy_lex

ROCKIN’ REVIVAL LOCATION

Manchester Music Hall 899 Manchester St, Lexington, KY 40508 (859) 537-7321

DAWN LOCATION

Three Crowns Farm 3497 N Cleveland Rd, Lexington, KY 40516 (859) 806-1000