Friends of Coal-KY

This Memorial Day, Friends of Coal honors the men and women who served our country. We remember them with gratitude and pride. If your family has someone who served, share their name below. #FriendsOfCoal #MemorialDay

This Memorial Day, Kentucky's coal counties remember the men and women who served and didn't come home. Breathitt County was the only U.S. county to fill its WWI quota entirely with volunteers — a tradition that runs through every coalfield hollow. #FriendsOfCoal #MemorialDay

Volunteer mine rescue teams from across Kentucky head to Central Bank Center in Lexington May 31 through June 5 for the State Mine Rescue Competition. These are the men and women called to an emergency before the rest of us know one has happened. #FriendsOfCoal #KYCoal

Matthew Weisenberger's team at UK's Center for Applied Energy Research is turning Kentucky coal into the synthetic graphite inside every EV battery — about 165 pounds of graphite per car, ten to fifteen times more than the lithium. #FriendsOfCoal #KYCoal

Every American-made beam and bridge starts somewhere. A lot of it starts with a miner in Eastern Kentucky. Four generations in, we’re still doing the work. #FriendsOfCoal #KYCoal #CoalCountry #EasternKY

Spring in Kentucky’s coalfields just hits different. Redbuds on the ridges. Dogwoods in the hollers. Storms rolling over the mountains at sundown. Through it all, the lights stay on. Send us a photo from where you are — we’d love to see it. #FriendsOfCoal #CoalPowersKY #EasternKY

Every spring, coal-country students apply for scholarships funded by Kentucky's most popular specialty plate. Send us a picture. #FriendsOfCoal #KYCoal

Mother's Day weekend in Kentucky. Across the Commonwealth, mothers fill every kind of role: engineers, operators, technicians, safety, leaders. Thank you to every Kentucky mom. #FriendsOfCoal #KYCoal

Kentucky's mine rescue teams are training for the KMI State Mine Rescue Competition — May 31 through June 5 at Central Bank Center in Lexington. These miners volunteer the time. Hats off. #KYCoal

Coal-community students: the Kentucky Coal County College Completion Scholarship is open. Awards up to $6,800/yr (varies by school), 60 credit hours, FAFSA required. Start at MyKHEAA. #KYCoal

Friday in coal country. What makes your hometown feel like home? Share a photo of your spot in the comments. #KYCoal #CoalCountry

Scholarships open for KY coal community students ⛏️ • Coal County Pharmacy Scholarship • WIRE Scholarship (deadline June 5) Apply via MyKHEAA or your school’s aid office. #FriendsOfCoal #KYCoal #ScholarshipSeason

Kentucky is one of seven states that mine metallurgical coal — the kind used to make steel. U.S. met coal exports rose in Q1 2026 as overseas steelmakers kept buying. #KYCoal

Redbud on the ridgelines of Harlan. Dogwood Trail through Dawson Springs. Morels east, bass west. Spring in Kentucky's coalfields hits different. Share your pictures. #FriendsOfCoal #KYCoal

Earth Day in coal country means reclamation. $280M+ in AMLER funding since 2016 has turned former mine lands into ball fields, industrial parks, trails, and community water projects across Kentucky. #FriendsOfCoal #EarthDay

That's a wrap on Hillbilly Days 2026. Congrats to the Friends of Coal Billy Finder Scavenger Hunt winners, and thank you to Pikeville for another weekend of music, community, and Shriners charity. #HillbillyDays

$29.5M in AMLER grants now available for Kentucky coal communities — workforce training, tourism, infrastructure. Applications close May 11. #KYCoal

May 9: a plane full of Kentucky veterans flies from Lexington to D.C. to visit the memorials built in their honor. Friends of Coal is proud to sponsor this @HonorFlightKY mission. #HonorFlightKY

Hillbilly Days kicks off Thursday in Pikeville — 49 years of music, community, and raising money for @ShrinersHosp. See you in coal country. #HillbillyDays

Pikeville was built on coal—its river, rails, and roots run deep in mining history. With Hillbilly Days coming up and spring in the air, it’s the perfect time to explore on the KY Coal Heritage Trail app. #KYCoalTrail #ExploreKentucky