Harvest Dinner at Campbell Family Farm Raises $30,000 for Rural Gone Urban Foundation Programs
On September 25, the inaugural Harvest Dinner at Campbell Grain and Livestock in Franklin, Indiana, felt like the kind of night you’d want to bottle up and keep. Strings of twinkle lights stretched over long farm tables, the hum of conversation carried across the nearby soybean fields, and neighbors pulled up chairs as if they’d been gathering like this in Johnson County for decades.
Harvest Dinner at Chris and Jennifer Campbell’s farm in Franklin, Indiana.
The Campbell family opened their farm for the evening, welcoming guests onto land that has carried their family’s story for generations. It was the perfect backdrop for what became a landmark moment for the Rural Gone Urban Foundation. Jennifer Campbell, who also served as co-chair, greeted the crowd as friends and strangers alike settled in.
“Hosting Harvest Dinner at our farm felt natural,” said Jennifer Campbell, event co-chair. “It was incredible to look around and see friends, neighbors, and partners all gathered for the same purpose. The support shown that night was a reminder of how much good this community can do when we come together.”
Drinks, Music, and Good people.
By the end of the night, nearly $30,000 had been raised to support the Foundation’s mission: standing beside rural women through small business marketing grants, no-gpa-required scholarships for hardworking students, and Love Bombs—no-questions-asked micro-grants that give women in trenches of a cancer diagnosis the freedom to make memories without hesitation.
Scholarship recipient, Willa Wetzel, and Brooke Taylor.
Love Bomb recipient, Savannah Kean, and her husband.
That mission felt especially real with two of our program recipients in the room. Savannah Kean, who received a Love Bomb grant, and Willa Wetzel, a scholarship recipient, joined us at Harvest Dinner. Their presence was a reminder that the dollars raised don’t just go into programs on paper—they go directly into the hands of women and families navigating life in rural communities.
For co-chair Katie Glick, the night was about more than a number.
“This wasn’t just a fundraiser. It was proof of what happens when a community shows up for women who are already doing the hard work,” Glick said. “We sat under those lights and felt it—people believe in this mission, and they’re willing to invest in it.”
Pies courtesy of Boggstown Presbyterian.
That collective spirit showed up in countless ways. Salvage Sisters Antique Market led décor, transforming the space into something both beautiful and familiar. Boggstown Presbyterian and The Rural Social Club brought pies that disappeared as fast as they were sliced. Kuehnert Dairy provided ice cream that made the evening feel like home. Twisted Tree Photography at Hawclif Farms captured the evening so beautifully. And students from Whiteland FFA and Indian Creek FFA kept things running smoothly with a kind of energy only they can bring.
“As part of the planning committee, I saw firsthand how much this event depended on our volunteers,” said co-chair Liz Kelsay. “From setting the scene to keeping the evening running smoothly, they carried so much of the load. We’re especially grateful the Whiteland and Indian Creek FFA chapters. Their enthusiasm and hard work made the night seamless, and it was inspiring to see young people step up in such a meaningful way.”
Bass Farms
Small Town Girl Boutique
The marketplace added its own layer of meaning. Local vendors—Pastures & Patterns Co., Midwest FarmGirl Artisan, Bass Farms, From Our Farm Kids to Yours, Jewelry by Renee Nicole, No Name Salsa, Small Town Girl, and The Grove Botany Boutique—directed a portion of their sales back to the Foundation. Silent auction donors, from Reynolds Farm Equipment and Keystone Cooperative to families, artists, and neighbors across the state, filled the tables.
That generosity turned into real dollars. The silent auction alone brought in $4,875. For co-chair Megan Kuhn, the response was proof of what community can do.
“The silent auction was such a powerful part of the night. Seeing neighbors, businesses, and friends contribute items—and then watching guests bid generously—was incredible,” Kuhn said. “We raised $4,875 through the auction alone, and every dollar goes right back into supporting the Foundation’s mission. It was a reminder that even small gestures add up to big impact when a community shows up.”
Founder, Brooke Taylor (center), with her family. Tractors belong to her late grandfather, J. Compton, and her grandmother, Martha (pictured).
Sponsors gave the night its foundation: Kuehnert Dairy, Indiana Farm Bureau Inc, K L Walker Enterprises LLC, Jami Horton Land Pro Realty, Clay Ranch, Swartz Mortuary, A Dream and a Wish Travel Co, First Farmers Bank & Trust, Thompson Family Farm, Diversified Equipment Group, LLC, Kyle & Kelsey Kasting, Salvage Sisters Antique Market, Farm Credit Mid-America, Premier Companies, and Johnson County Farm Bureau.
For Leah Beyer, co-chair and board member, Harvest Dinner was a glimpse of the future.
“Our mission is rooted in the everyday lives of rural women—whether they’re running businesses, betting on themselves as a first-generation college student, or facing a cancer diagnosis,” Beyer said. “What happened here tonight was more than generosity. It was a community saying: we see you, we believe in you, and we’re with you.”
Leah Beyer, co-chair and board member.
Grace Scott Band.
As the last pies were finished and the glow of the lights lingered, it was clear that Harvest Dinner was more than an event. It was a gathering of neighbors, a celebration of women shaping rural life, and the beginning of a tradition that will only grow stronger in the years to come.
Harvest Dinner Committee: Katie Glick, Megan Kuhn, Liz Kelsay, Brooke Taylor, Jennifer Campbell, Leah Beyer
For Brooke Taylor, founder of the Rural Gone Urban Foundation, the night carried a personal weight.
“Standing here in my hometown, surrounded by so many people who helped shape me into who I am, was overwhelming in the best way,” Taylor said. “This foundation may have launched because of my story, but it’s far bigger than me now. I’m just a footnote in something that belongs to every woman we serve and every community that chooses to stand beside them.”
About the Rural Gone Urban Foundation
The Rural Gone Urban Foundation, Inc. was founded in 2022 to stand beside women in rural communities through meaningful, no-nonsense support. With a focus on impact over optics, the Foundation funds three core programs:
Small Business Grants that help women-owned businesses invest in marketing, branding, and digital strategy to stay visible and competitive.
Scholarships that support rural students pursuing education and leadership opportunities.
Love Bombs, no-questions-asked micro-grants that give families facing cancer the freedom to make memories together.
Rooted in rural values and driven by modern storytelling, the Foundation exists to make sure strong, brave women have the resources they need to thrive—not just survive.