National Young Farmers Coalition

TO SHIFT POWER AND CHANGE POLICY TO EQUITABLY RESOURCE OUR NEW GENERATION OF WORKING FARMERS.

GRASSROOTS: THE COALITION ORGANIZES A GRASSROOTS NETWORK OF FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND SUPPORTERS FIGHTING FOR A MORE BRIGHT AND JUST FUTURE FOR AGRICULTURE. ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE COALITION HELPS YOUNG FARMERS BECOME LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH LOCAL CHAPTERS, FELLOWSHIPS, AFFINITY GROUPS, AND COMMITTEE OPPORTUNITIES, ENSURING THEY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE IN LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL POLICY DECISIONS. IN 2021 OUR COALITION CONSISTED OF 51 FARMER-LED CHAPTERS IN 33 STATES, A MEMBERSHIP OF 3,000 AND A SUPPORTER NETWORK OF 200,000. THE COALITION CENTERS RACIAL JUSTICE AS A PRECONDITION FOR EQUITABLE AGRICULTURE. OUR 2021-2026 STRATEGIC PLAN INTEGRATES THIS COMMITMENT THROUGHOUT OUR MISSION AND THEORY OF CHANGE, THROUGH AN ADVOCACY STRATEGY CENTERED ON CULTIVATING YOUNG AND BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC) FARMER-LEADERSHIP AT THE GRASSROOTS AND MOVING FARMERS FROM EDUCATION TO ACTION IN DEMANDING BOLD STRUCTURAL CHANGE. THE COALITION CONTINUES TO BUILD ON PAST SUCCESSES AND FARMER FEEDBACK TO CONSTRUCT A LADDER OF ENGAGEMENT FOR YOUNG FARMERS OF COLOR TO HELP WIN STRUCTURAL CHANGE DRIVEN BY YOUNG FARMERS AND FARMERS OF COLOR WE REPRESENT.

THE COALITION WORKS TO ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES THAT ADDRESS THE STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES PREVENTING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM SUCCEEDING IN FARMING, SUCH AS ACCESS TO LAND, CREDIT, SKILLED LABOR, CLIMATE CHALLENGES, RACIAL INJUSTICE, AND STUDENT LOAN DEBT. FARMERS IN THE COALITION NETWORK LEND THEIR VOICE AND LIVED EXPERIENCE TO COALITION ADVOCACY. ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE COALITION PLACE-BASED STAFF IN NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, NEW MEXICO, COLORADO, CALIFORNIA, MICHIGAN AND THE SOUTHEAST SUPPORT FARMERS TO JOIN ONGOING MOVEMENTS FOR JUSTICE; REALLOCATING CARCERAL FUNDS TO URBAN FARMING IN LA, GUARANTEEING LABOR RIGHTS FOR FARMWORKERS IN COLORADO, AND ENACTING SOIL HEALTH STANDARDS IN NEW YORK. THE COALITION AMPLIFIES FARMERS' IMPACT TO DC, WHERE FIVE, FARMER-SELECTED PILLARS HAVE STRUCTURED THE FEDERAL POLICY WORK SINCE 2020; CLIMATE ACTION, LAND ACCESS, USDA ACCESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY, LABOR AND IMMIGRATION, AND STUDENT DEBT RELIEF. BUILDING ON YEARS OF COALITION WORK ADDRESSING EQUITABLE LAND ACCESS, THE COALITION LAUNCHED THE ONE MILLION ACRES CAMPAIGN IN 2021 WHICH AIMS TO ADVANCE AGRICULTURAL POLICY THAT REFLECTS THE NEEDS AND LIVED EXPERIENCE OF YOUNG FARMERS AND FARMERS OF COLOR.

BUSINESS SERVICES: AS THE COALITION MOBILIZES TO WIN STRUCTURAL CHANGE, IT CONTINUES TO SERVE FARMERS' IMMEDIATE NEEDS WITH TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THEIR FARM OPERATIONS AND WELLBEING. FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL ADVOCACY FOR ACCESSIBLE COVID-19 AID FOR DIVERSIFIED AND SMALL PRODUCERS, THE COALITION PROVIDED OUTREACH TO THOUSANDS OF YOUNG, BIPOC FARMERS IN THE COALITION NETWORK TO CONNECT THEM WITH FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUNDING (CFAP2). THE COALITION ALSO PROVIDED FREE ONLINE RESOURCES TO FARMERS ON TOPICS SUCH AS FOOD SAFETY, RACIAL EQUITY, AND LAND ACCESS. SINCE 2019, THE COALITION HAS ORGANIZED FRSAN-NE/CULTIVEMOS, AN INCLUSIVE NETWORK OF SERVICE PROVIDERS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING THE MENTAL WELL-BEING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS IN THE NORTHEAST, FUNDED BY THE USDA-NIFA.