Fayette Co 2198, 2023, Archival Digital Print. I caught Delano Reynolds sparing and preparing for his match. He stepped out of the prep area jumping and so excited for his fight.
The Kentuckian
By James Robert Southard
Project: The Kentuckian
Artist: James Robert Southard
Description: James Robert Southard’s ongoing photography series, The Kentuckian, explores the rich and varied landscape of labor across Kentucky, documenting the physical and emotional weight of work county by county. What began as a remote residency with the Maine Farmland Trust during the pandemic has evolved into a five-year trek across the state, one that continues to expand as Southard captures the faces and environments of Kentucky’s workforce—from farmers and butchers to road crews, miners, public defenders, mechanics, firefighters, and more.
Rooted in a deep commitment to public memory, the photographs are being preserved in the University of Kentucky Libraries Image Archives, where they serve as both a visual record and tribute to the dignity of labor in its many forms. Each image not only honors the individual laborer but also becomes part of a broader cultural narrative—one that celebrates the unfolding history of the Commonwealth and the people who shape it, day by day.
Jefferson Co State Fair 2511, 2024. The Agriculture section of the Kentucky State Fair can be rather loud. Found a couple kids trying to find a place to escape the noise.
Fayette Co Link-Belt 1305, 2024, Archival Inkjet Print. Documentation of one of the few spray booths they have at Link-Belt Cranes in Lexington, Kentucky, where they are one of the largest producers of cranes in the world. During a single shift, the employee paints hundreds of parts, so to keep them safe, they wear a protective suit with fresh air piped in through filters.
Fayette Co 3780, 2024, Archival Inkjet Print. Phillip Douglass and Billy Harp working the last gate before the cattle go into the auction. The Blue Grass Stockyard in Lexington, Kentucky, 2024
Fayette Co Mine 2796, 2023. Chuck Billick standing in the “parking lot” talking to his crew through the radio at Vulcan Mine in Fayette County.
Jefferson Co 479, 2022. Members of the Ohio Valley Wrestling League: The grappling shows Turbo Floyd in the silver pants and Dimes with the black leather.
Fayette Co Lexington Waste 3470, 2025. Taken at Lexington Recycling Plant after one of the employees fainted. Lexington Fire came to help.
Fayette Co 772, 2022. Tom Pohlski preparing a tree for another customer down at Winter Wonderland Trees on Alexandria drive in Lexington, Kentucky. They tell me, that Friday is the busiest night, right after folks get their paychecks.
Fayette Co PBR Rodeo 3023, 2025.
Rowan Co 1550, 2023. Randy Rolston slaughtering, boiling, and plucking chickens at Sugarloaf Mountain Meats and Processing.
Fayette Co 1416, 2022. A warm June Kentucky day at the Lexington Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Training Center. They were training some recruits from Lexington and a few from Mississippi. Wearing that gear alone in the summer sun looked like torture, though while walking into burning jets, I couldn’t imagine the hell they were facing.
Trigg Co 303A0446, 2020.
Franklin Co Flood 0836, 2025.
Breathitt Co 5, 2020. Jeff Howard in his bee suite at his hillside farm. As a retired coal miner, he returned to his farming roots when the mines dried up.
Hardin Co Fort Knox 2581, 2023. US Army Cadet Command Training at Fort Knox.
Lincoln Co 3, 2021. Susan Miller harvesting some of her celery. George Allen uses a weed whacker to clear out weeds. They do this so they don’t need to use chemicals on their veggies.
Fayette Co Bonnie Prince Billy 1686, 2025. Will Oldham (Bonnie Prince Billy) in the green room rehearsing before a show at the Singletary Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
Wolfe Co 5, 2020. Butchers at a Wolfe County slaughter house.
Scott Co 1, 2020. Ava, Trent, and Carson getting the piglets ready for a vet visit. The sow was not too happy about her kids being rounded up. Slippery Slope Farm in Scott County.
Muhlenberg Co 1, 2021. Staff Sgt. Jacob Wright while on a 12 Mile Ruck March. I drove down to Muhlenberg County to document the KY National Guard's Best Warrior Competition.
Anderson Co 4, 2020. Further (the child) standing in the high tunnel surrounded by his toys, which are strewn everywhere. It isn’t easy to get childcare when you are a small farm far from affordable daycare.
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