National Young Farmers Coalition

We’re excited to announce that we’re kicking off a Fellowship Alumni Network–a supportive space for farmers who’ve been through any of our many fellowship programs to continue to collaborate and work towards ongoing change. Sign up for our email list and email [email protected] with any questions. https://lnkd.in/eeGTUcTc

Join Young Farmers?Front Porch to learn more about the organizing work we are doing with our partners, fellows, and other farmers across the country and how you can get involved. On November 14th at 3pm ET, we’ll hear firsthand accounts of farmers and other food systems leaders navigating ecological crises and learn ways you can support farmers on the frontlines of #climatechange. We hope you can join us! All Front Porch attendees will receive a free membership with our Coalition. https://lnkd.in/etavMfBu

Tomorrow is Election Day! The next Administration and Congress will grapple with many critical issues shaping the future of our food and agriculture systems, and if we are going to bring the future we envision to fruition, we need to make sure young farmers’ and ranchers’ voices are heard. Want to check what’s on the ballot or need help finding your polling location? Head to?vote.org?to learn more. *The National Young Farmers Coalition is a 501(c)(3) organization, so as an organization we do not engage in any partisan political activity and do not support or oppose any candidate running for public office.

Calling all southern farmers, producers, and advocates! Young Farmers is thrilled to be a partner for the inaugural SOWTH Conference, hosted by Georgia Organics! SOWTH is a revival of the deep-rooted Southern SAWG Conference, which was focused on developing practical tools and solutions for sustaining family farms throughout the South. Recognizing the evolving complexity and collaborative nature of food system work, this regional gathering will convene farm and food system professionals and advocates to learn, build partnerships, share resources, and strengthen our collective vision and action.?The conference is taking place February 4-6, 2025 at the Georgia World Congress Center Authority in Atlanta. Join us for a dynamic three-day gathering featuring: ?? Networking with 1,000+ farmers and leaders from 13 Southern States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands? ?? Over 100 sessions on a range of practical and innovative topics ?? An inspiring keynote and panels? ?? Peer-led workshops and farm tours? ?? State breakouts and awards ?? A robust expo Early bird registration is open now at www.sowth.org!

The 19th annual Emerging Farmers Conference on Rooted Resilience: Cultivating Strength Through Diversity is happening next weekend in Minneapolis! On Saturday, November 2, join us for a listening session where farmers will have the space to share their experiences, stories, and needs to public officials at the state and federal level. We hope to see you there! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e6MBMW8c

In addition to the virtual keynote we are hosting on November 12th, registration is now live for our western keynote, "A Visionary Future: Supporting Young and BIPOC Farmers in the West,” on November 7th at 8:45am MT. Join us to hear on-the-ground accounts of challenges and opportunities faced by Western farmers and ranchers as we collectively vision the future of Western agriculture. This panel will feature Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg, ranchers Sarah and Andrew West, farmer Patience Kabwasa, and rancher Caleb Valdez, and be moderated by Young Farmers Associate Field Director Evanne Caviness. This keynote is a hybrid event in tandem with the Regenerate 2024 Conference in Denver hosted. You can join us in-person, or tune into the keynote virtually. Everyone who registers for this keynote will get free registration for the entire conference! Register now: https://lnkd.in/ev2bd62f

Join us on November 12th at 6pm EST for our virtual keynote, A Culture of Collectivism: A Story from Detroit, featuring farmer and organizer Tepfirah Rushdan, the Director of Sustainability for the city of Detroit and a leader of the Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund. We’ll also hear a poetic introduction from writer and poet Sophie Strand, who focuses on storytelling and ecology. Read more about these amazing speakers below, and bring your questions! Register here: https://lnkd.in/eQBgij8b Tepfirah Rushdan embodies a commitment to equity, channeling her efforts towards community-driven solutions that foster both human well-being and environmental health. Her leadership spans diverse non-profit and grassroots initiatives, including pivotal roles in organizations such as Greening of Detroit, Keep Growing Detroit, Black to the Land Coalition, Detroit People’s Food Coop, and Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund. Beyond her direct involvement, Tepfirah extends her expertise as a board advisor to impactful projects like RAHAM Detroit, Green Boots Veteran Gardens, and Feed’em Freedom. In 2023, Tepfirah was appointed as the inaugural Director of Urban Agriculture for Detroit, marking a significant step towards sustainable urban development. Presently, she continues to shape the city's trajectory as the Sustainability Director, spearheading its Sustainability Agenda and Climate Strategy with a keen eye towards fostering resilience and progress. Sophie Strand is a poet and writer with a focus on the intersection of spirituality, storytelling, and ecology. Her poems and essays have appeared in numerous projects and publications, including Spirituality and Health, Atmos, Braided Way, and Art PAPERS. She is the author of?The Flowering Wand,?The Madonna Secret, and the forthcoming memoir?The Body Is a Doorway, as well as the creator of the popular Substack, "Make Me Good Soil." She lives in the Hudson Valley of New York.

Farmers across the country are dealing with the impacts of #climatechange every day, and many face barriers to adopting #conservation practices that can play a key role in building #climate resilience, such as cost, insecure #landaccess, and lack of technical assistance. As a result, many farmers rely on each other for mentorship and support. We need policy solutions that support the resources farmers already provide each other. The Farmer-to-Farmer Education Act, if included in the next #farmbill, would build support for farmer-led conservation education, connecting farmers with peers to successfully adopt more conservation practices. Join Young Farmers, the American Farmland Trust, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Nature Conservancy on Friday, October 18th at 1pm ET/10am PT for an update and next steps on the farm bill, tips for advocacy in this moment from congressional staff in Rep. Vasquez’s (D-NM) and Rep. Molinaro’s (R-NY) offices, farmer stories, and a Q&A to learn more about how you can take action. Register here: https://lnkd.in/dpQGV5ey

Are you subscribed to the #YoungFarmers newsletter? Every month we share updates about our campaigns, resources for young and BIPOC farmers, fellowship and job opportunities, special discounts, and more. Sign up now! https://lnkd.in/eYbP5hic

Young Farmers organizes and supports farmers in conducting in-districts every April and August, when Representatives and Senators leave Washington, D.C. and return to their districts to meet with their constituents. This summer, 14 farmers across the country hosted meetings with their federal legislators, advocating for the Coalition’s priorities as well as their own. They met rural and urban legislators across party lines, and chatted with offices with varying degrees of familiarity with farming. Thank you Snooze A.M. Eatery for supporting our farmer advocacy work. Contributions from our network go directly toward advocating for the structural changes young and BIPOC farmers need to have successful careers in agriculture. Support our work today at youngfarmers.org/donate (Photo above is of members of the Kansas City Young Farmers Chapter with Representative Cleaver.)