Dear Fellow Agtivist,

In the wake of the elections, everyone seems to be focusing on what divides us, where we are different, where we have conflict.

These conflicts are serious, and I do not intend to minimize the challenges.

And yet, I am reaching out today to remind you that regenerative agriculture and food benefits everyone across the political spectrum and can bridge those divisions 

After more than 18 years of fighting for small farmers, what keeps me in this work are my values – caring about our environment, about human health and my community, about the land and the animals.  And even more, the value of serving this community of people who share those values.

When I think about working on agriculture and food policy, it’s not the bill numbers or the halls of the Capitol that I see. It’s the people; the farmers and consumers, sitting at tables at our conference, at workshops, or during our lobby days … Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, independents, and non-voters.  I see their faces lit up with the passion for their land and communities, serious and concerned about the current state of our food system, or laughing at an experience they can relate to all too well.

FARFA is about changing the system so that our farmers can make a fair living raising healthy food for our communities, now and for the future. 

We stay within that mission statement because it’s where we can be effective and because it’s so critically important.  And, in doing so, we are able to bring people together no matter how wide the divide seems at times. 

Whoever won your races for state and federal seats – that is who is in office.  And we can and must – and will! -- work with them.  In doing so, we serve a vital and valuable cause, both in realizing our vision for the future of regenerative agriculture and food and in building bridges among us all.

Over the next two weeks, we will be asking for your support to raise funds dedicated to sending farmers and their allies to meet face to face with our lawmakers at our Local Foods Lobby Days in Austin and throughout next year in Washington DC.

You will receive a series of emails explaining more about these opportunities, but if you know you are already inspired to give, then please click HERE to support the “Lifting Farmers' Voices Travel Fund"!

Thank you for the enormous trust you place in this community to help bridge this painful divide. There is so much progress we can work towards as long as we keep working together.

In solidarity,

Judith McGeary, Founder and Executive Director