Kentucky Life heads west in this week’s episode to cover a variety of topics, starting with how Kentucky communities are repurposing old railroad tracks. Once a primary way to transport goods throughout the United States, many railroad tracks now go unused and are falling into disrepair. In Jefferson, Woodford and Barren counties, officials discuss the innovative ways they are using old tracks to serve their communities.

Host Chip Polston then travels to Louisville’s Farmington Historic Home, a structure that once housed a U.S. president and now holds memories from the Speed family, its original owners. He learns of the home’s 200-year history.

Lastly, Chip questions why so many Kentuckians see similarities between their home state and J.R.R. Tolkien’s the Shire, the fictional Middle-earth setting of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Kentucky Life explores the inspiration for Tolkien’s book and the connections Kentuckians have to hobbits.

Kentucky Life
KET Saturday, April 11 • 8/7 pm
KET2 Wednesday, April 15 • 2:30/1:30 pm  
Watch on-demand at KET.org and on the PBS Video app

Kentucky Life is a KET production, produced by Casey Harris. View more Kentucky Life episodes online, as well as those from KET’s archives, at KET.org/KentuckyLife.

KET is Kentucky’s largest classroom, providing trusted programming, lifelong learning opportunities and essential services to more than two million people each week. Learn more about Kentucky’s preeminent public media organization at KET.org, on X @KET and at facebook.com/KET.