What started as a small-scale hemp farming operation in 2019 has grown into a thriving business for Clay Powell and his family, who produce a variety of hemp-based products through their company Experimental Farms.
Powell operates the business alongside his wife, Annie, from their farm in Philpot while living in Bowling Green. The couple, both schoolteachers for more than 20 years, began growing hemp as part of Kentucky’s expanding industry. However, market fluctuations forced them to pivot from selling raw biomass to creating their own product line.
“In 2019, there were over 1,000 growers in Kentucky, and the price dropped from $4 a pound to about 50 cents a pound,” Powell said. “We were stuck with all this biomass, so we decided to take it to a processor and start making our own products.”
Using oil extracted from their hemp plants, Experimental Farms offers everything from gummies and bath bombs to topical balms and oils aimed at easing pain, anxiety, and sleep issues. Powell said the family grows around 1,000 plants annually, harvesting them by hand and then sending them to a processing facility in Franklin, Kentucky. The extracted oil is then used to create their diverse product line.
The couple divides their responsibilities based on their expertise. Powell focuses on oil production and topicals for pain relief, while his Annie creates boutique products such as bath bombs and body butters.
All of their products are full-spectrum, meaning they contain the legal amount of THC (0.3%) as allowed by federal law. Powell emphasized the importance of transparency in their business, ensuring customers understand the contents and benefits of what they are purchasing.
The company follows stringent state licensing regulations, operating out of a professional kitchen that has been approved for both cosmetic and food products. Their items are available online and in roughly 20 retail stores across Kentucky, including Crazy Me in Owensboro.
Although Powell initially hoped to transition into medical marijuana cultivation, Kentucky’s strict regulations and licensing limitations prevented them from entering the market.
“We wanted to get involved, but the regulations and the lottery system basically priced us out,” Powell said. “Out of nearly 5,000 applicants, only 16 growers were chosen statewide, and more than half of those licenses went to out-of-state companies.”
Despite the challenges, the couple remains committed to their business, balancing their teaching careers with their growing operation. The hemp farming season begins in late May and runs through December, with plants harvested in the fall and left to dry in barns before processing.
For more information on their products or to place an order, visit the Experimental Farms website.
