East Kentucky Pioneers: Three men from east Kentucky were typical of thousands of others in the region.  Justin Cornett, Jonathan Ray and John Tackett had all been long time workers in the fossil fuel industry, following generations of family members. All three had responsibilities…families counting on them. So all three were stunned when the companies they worked for were forced to abruptly release them from their jobs. It is a difficult thing for a man to have part of his identity taken away, a part which drove him to work hard sixty and seventy hours a week to provide for his family. Little did the men know that though the future looked bleak, events would soon unfold that would give them the mantra of modern day pioneers.