Young farmers excited about promoting their voices, and collectively working on land access, policy, and cooperative farming, are forming a new chapter of the National Young Farmers Coalition, serving both eastern Nebraska and southwestern Iowa.
On Jan. 24, a group of young farmers met at Big Muddy Urban Farm in Omaha, Nebraska, to discuss forming the chapter. A member of an existing Iowa chapter was able to virtually attend and fill the farmers in about activities, their chapter’s priorities, and their overall experience. The group heard from local farmers Cait Caughey and Brent Lubbert about their experiences at a meeting they went to in Boulder, Colorado.
"I was inspired by the National Young Farmers Coalition Convergence this last November,” Cait said. “For the first time, I saw myself standing alongside what I know is the future of farming; small-scale, diversified, collaborative, and cooperative farmers, many of us first generation farmers.”
Membership in the new National Young Farmers Coalition will represent both urban and rural farmers and their diversity.
“I want to be part of a collective young farmer voice that can help steer programs and policies that allow our farms to stay in operation, support our families, and become more resilient in the face of climate destabilization,” Cait said. “This and my concern about farms operated by incredibly talented growers that are going out of business are reasons why I want to be part of an eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa National Young Farmers Coalition Chapter.”
The group will meet again on Sunday, Feb. 23, from 3 to 5 p.m., at City Sprouts, in Omaha to officially form the chapter.
For more information, contact Brent, of Big Muddy Urban Farm, at director@bigmuddyfarm.org, or Cait, of Mullein Hill Farm, at mulleinhillfarm@gmail.com.
All young farmers are welcome.
