Oct 31, 2025
By Shop Kansas Farms
The Border Queen Harvest Hub (BQHH) in Caldwell has been recognized as one of the 2025 Huck Boyd Leaders of the Year in the category of Business Development by the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development. This prestigious award celebrates BQHH’s innovative efforts to strengthen local food systems and support rural entrepreneurship.
Led by Executive Director Dr. Jen Kern, the BQHH was created to connect local growers with consumers, promoting access to fresh, locally sourced foods.
Jill Kuehny is president and CEO of the Kan-Okla telecom company and also president of the community volunteer organization known as Vision Caldwell in the Border Queen town. That group identified the need for locally sourced foods and worked with Shop Kansas Farms to develop plans for a food hub to connect growers and consumers.
The initiative was made possible through collaboration with Shop Kansas Farms and funding from the Patterson Family Foundation.
The award ceremony took place Oct. 28 at the Kansas Department of Agriculture offices in Manhattan, where seven Kansas organizations were honored for their contributions to food, fitness, entrepreneurship, tourism and community service.
This recognition underscores BQHH’s role in driving economic development and fostering community resilience in rural Kansas.
To learn more about BQHH, visit borderqueenharvesthub.com.