This question often reveals which options provide the win-win-win outcomes, and which fall short. Or, does one action significantly shorten the path to your desired outcome? That’s getting big bang for your buck.

Throughout 2022 half of my job has been to work toward developing a beginning farmer and rancher training curriculum that the Kansas Rural Center can use to provide education to annual cohorts of new farmers who desire further education about farming but may not want to or be able to enroll in an agriculture program at a Kansas community college or state university.

Farmers wanted to share their harvests, months of labor, and years of good stewardship; New Americans wanted to share their traditions, recipes, ingredients; Chefs wanted to share their creativity, Educators wanted to share their passions, Neighbors wanted to share their green space...the list could go on. This generosity of spirit was easily recognized by me – it was the same one that I had witnessed in my farm family and rural community.

Other aspects of the project will focus on delivering fresh produce and local foods to food deserts and other areas with low access to healthy foods. The food hub’s distribution network will assist easier movement of local food throughout the region.

This issue of the Rural Papers includes reflections on work we have accomplished so far, but also a preview of some of the exciting things that are coming in 2023 and beyond. Next year when we will roll out the first introductory sessions of our Farm Beginnings programming in January.

The goal will be to pass new legislation before the end of September 2023 when the current bill expires. However, like so many things Congress might pass an extension so they can spend a few months past that deadline to finalize negotiations.

In all of these matters, young farmers of color face even more obstacles as historical legal discrimination continues to impede their access and progress. The FSA has finally begun to take a deep look at the discriminatory lending practices still happening across the country today and NYFC has highlighted this in every conversation with the USDA, pushing for more equitable laws and practices.

The goal of Step By Step is simple: if silence promotes increased anxiety and inaction, open conversation with others can reduce anxiety and help promote action.

The good news is that our farmers, while always heroes in food production, can also be our heroes for the sustainability of our state and planet. But the rejuvenation of American agriculture hinges on one single, major piece of legislation: the U.S. Farm Bill.

Though it’s true that many of the new farmers I’ve spoken with struggle with land and capital access, they face many other roadblocks that I didn’t necessarily expect.

In this Farm Bill, sustainable agriculture advocates are hoping to see continued funding for the programs that mirror these key recent administrative investments made under Secretary Vilsack.

With over 90% of the food assistance provided by the government through a variety of nutrition programs, a strong Nutrition Title in the Farm Bill is critical to ensuring that people have enough nutritious food to lead healthy, productive lives.

With that in mind, he began offering his own testimony at the capitol as a means to hold his elected officials accountable. They needed to see and hear from who they were hurting