Sequel.migration do up do begin alter_table :organizations do add_column :admin_email, :text end rescue # Weird scenario that column already exists. probably due to a file timestamp change end SequelRails.connection.run(%Q{ update organizations o set admin_email = (select email from users u where o.owner_id = u.id); }) end down do alter_table :organizations do drop_column :admin_email end end end