Katie Carrico’s life is a beautiful example of how unexpected turns can lead to fulfilling paths. Raised in the small Appalachian town of Flat Gap, Kentucky, Carrico grew up surrounded by mountains, tight-knit community values, and the hum of her family’s gas station and pawn shop.  

“Growing up, I would have sworn that I never wanted to live anywhere but the mountains,” she said. “I loved the environment, nature, and my surroundings, and I really just loved the small-town community. It just felt like its own little world there.” 

Life had other plans as Carrico started her college career at the University of Kentucky. There she met her husband, who also had deep agricultural roots. She grew up with horses and tobacco farming, while he raised cattle. Their shared love for farming shaped their dream of owning land. 

“I don't think we envisioned what our farm looks like now,” said Carrico, who raises sheep, and grows vegetables and flowers, alongside her husband and three little boys. “It's expanded a little bit. God has taken us in a direction we didn't expect.” 

Carrico began her career as a high school English teacher, connecting with students and fostering confidence in young minds. But during the pandemic, motherhood and limited childcare options shifted her priorities. “I never thought I’d want to stay home, but God worked on me,” she says. That season sparked a new chapter of her journey.  

Lost Oak Farm started modestly, with sheep grazing hard-to-reach pastures. “Sheep were perfect. They’re gentle, manageable, and great for the kids,” Carrico explained. What began as a practical choice grew into a passion for intentional living. Gardening, raising livestock, and preserving food became more than survival. From this soil, a lifestyle rooted in sustainability and faith grew for Carrico and her family.  

“I've gotten a lot more into medicinal plants and herbal medicine,” Carrico added. “It's crazy to walk outside and see plants that can heal ailments that He put there for us, but we have forgotten all of that. Not only have I found so much joy in doing this, which I know is a source from Him, it's something that He has given to me, this joy that comes from this. It's just shown me more of His character and more of His goodness.” 

Carrico shares her journey on social media, inspiring thousands to embrace slow living and reconnect with their food. Today, Lost Oak Farm thrives as a haven of sheep, flowers, and family. Carrico’s life is a testimony to the beauty of living intentionally.  

“Everybody loves a good underdog story, and I think the whole time I lived in Appalachia, and even now, that's what it felt like—being the underdog,” she explained. “You know how there is a perception of [Appalachia], but there was never any question that we would defy those odds…It makes me even more proud whenever the area is doubted, but we still see so many success stories that come from here.”