Across America, a diverse group of farmers, ranchers and public leaders are committed to environmental stewardship, healthy food and protecting farms and farmland. Hear their stories and their voices.
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Pam Allen, Wisconsin Teacher and Farmer
An agricultural conservation easement on her farm helps Allen ensure that the land will be protected for future generations. more
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St. Olaf College, Minnesota Student Farmers
Students at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN partner with local farmers to reduce carbon emissions. more |
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George Houser, New York Dairy Farmer
Houser, a dairy farmer from Washington County, NY, has been a farmland protection trailblazer since the 1950s. more
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Dale Reiner, Washington Beef Cattle Farmer
Reiner, in reopening an old water channel, joined a unique partnership of farmers, Indian tribes and environmentalists. more
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Peter Melnik, Massachusetts Dairy Farmer
Melnik and four other dairies are embarking on a methane digester project with far-reaching implications for farmers, the environment and a sustainable future for the region. more |
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Jay Gordon, Washington Dairy Farmer
By participating in a conservation program that protects habitat for Trumpeter Swans on his farm, Gordon is helping to blaze the trail for ecosystem markets in the Pacific Northwest. more |
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The Russells, Illinois Farm Family
These corn and soybean farmers are committed to good environmental practices and see a brighter future producing wind energy on their midwestern farm. more |
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Ernie Averett, North Carolina Farmer
Averett is co-founder of a conservation group that has protected over 15,000 acres of land—but there's still work to be done. more |
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Terry Jones, Connecticut Farmer
The Jones' 400-acre farm is a key part of 2,000 acres locally that have been protected through greenways, land trusts, public watershed and purchase of development rights. more
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Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago
Mayor Daley has earned a national reputation for innovative, community-based programs that
address environmental concerns, land use and access to locally grown food. more |
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Dave Legvold, Minnesota Farmer
“Over the past 10 years I’ve received $241,000 in
subsidy and price support payments but zero dollars for conservation." more |
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Charles Kuperus, former New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture
Kuperus was dedicated to making schools healthier by working with local and regional farms so that hungry kids can have better snack options. more |
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Alex Weiser, California Farmer
"You can see that people will eat good food if you give it to them," believes Alex Weiser, who helps support community nutrition programs and farmers markets. more |
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Robin Chesmer, Connecticut Dairyman
Chesmer could be the poster child for farmer entrepreneurship and local market development. more
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Glen Riekhof, Missouri Farmer
This Midwestern farmer is pursuing renewable fuels with a passion but will not compromise conservation practices on his farm. more |
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Paul Taylor, Illinois Farmer
“If you don’t have the incentive or insight to lay out a vision, you can’t make it in farming.” more |
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Steve Percy, Idaho Rancher
"Maybe we’ll realize the importance [of land] when food gets to be as expensive as gas. You can park your car, but you can’t park your appetite.” more |
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Dorance Amos, Michigan Farmer
"Too many Americans are too far from the farm today. We’ve got to educate the government about what farming really is, why it’s really hard." more |
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Larry Klco, Ohio Farmer
A simple motto guides Larry Klco’s decisions for his Lake County, Ohio pick-your-own farm: If you want to buy it, I’ll grow it. more |
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Mary James, North Carolina Farmer
“The best thing to help us out would be to assist the small farmers in marketing their goods and to create new incentives for beginning farmers.” more |
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Jim Andrew, Iowa Farmer
Andrew is the first farmer in the U.S. to qualify for Tier III, the highest performance level under the Conservation Security Program. more
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Tom Hutson, New York Dairyman
Hutson helps keep the reservoirs that supply drinking water for New York City residents pristine enough to satisfy federal drinking water standards. more
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Rose
Koenig, Florida
Community Farmer
"Farm policy changes should focus more on incorporating farming system shifts
rather than working on individual components. " more |
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Steve
Sinton, California Rancher
"We need a farm policy that encourages everyone in agriculture to be excellent
stewards of their land,” says California rancher Steve Sinton. more |
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Varel
Bailey, Iowa Crop and Livestock
Farmer
Bailey stresses the need for results-based conservation programs that encourage
producer creativity. more |
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Jim
Crawford, Pennsylvania Vegetable
Farmer
A well-structured "green payments" program, with priorities set at
the county level, could allow Crawford to make improvements in his farm. more |
