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Farm Foundation appoints Todd Van Hoose as Interim President & CEO

Farm Foundation today announced the appointment of Todd Van Hoose as Interim President & CEO. Todd recently completed his first three-year term on the Farm Foundation Board of Directors following a decades-long career across food and agriculture, including serving as President and CEO of the Farm Credit Council.

  

“Todd has been a strong advocate for the food and agricultural sector for decades,” said Cheri De Jong, Farm Foundation Board Chair. “He is a thoughtful and steady leader who will guide Farm Foundation in the months ahead and support the continued momentum of our work.”  

Shari Rogge-Fidler has resigned from her role as President & CEO of Farm Foundation. We thank her for her contributions and wish her well. 

“I’m honored to step into the role of Interim President & CEO,” said Todd Van Hoose. “I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Farm Foundation through my time on the Board and have seen firsthand the strength of this team and its mission. I look forward to supporting the organization as we continue building on that foundation.”  

Farm Foundation remains focused on its role as a trusted place where people from across food and agriculture come together to exchange ideas, build connections, and turn insight into action. With a strong team, an engaged community, and a clear sense of purpose, Farm Foundation is well positioned to build on its momentum and expand its impact in the months and years ahead.  

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FarmPath Seeks 300 New and Aspiring Farmers for Free, National Program

Applications are now open for FarmPath, a national, multi-year program designed to make farming more accessible and achievable for aspiring and beginning farmers across the United States.

The program is supported by The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems and The PepsiCo Foundation whose investments reflect a shared focus on helping to strengthen the next generation of farmers and build a more resilient food system.

FarmPath is grounded in a simple reality: as many U.S. farmers approach retirement, the sector needs a new generation of skilled producers. Yet beginning farmers often face barriers including limited access to land, capital, business planning skills, agronomic knowledge, and mentorship.

By investing in these new farmers, FarmPath helps support stronger rural, urban, and suburban economies, strengthens food security, and builds a more diverse and resilient agricultural community.

The free, three-year program provides practical education in best practices for resilient agriculture and farm management, access to experienced mentors, and connection to a national network of professionals working across food and agriculture. FarmPath integrates training in production skills with in-depth instruction on the systems, markets, and decisions that shape long-term success.

“American agriculture is entering a new era, with generational shifts, growing interest in diversification, and new market opportunities, including regenerative production and regional food systems,” said Shari Rogge-Fidler, President and CEO of Farm Foundation. “Through structured business training, mentorship, professional networks, and up to $10,000 in implementation funding, FarmPath is Farm Foundation’s direct investment in a new generation of farmers prepared to meet this moment in American agriculture.”

The Mosaic Company executes its mission to help the world grow the food it needs by delivering critical crop nutrient products to customers in 40 countries around the globe. The company is committed to advancing global food security through coordinated action and strong collaboration with partners and stakeholders. For over two decades, The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems has partnered with local organizations, farmers and communities in the U.S., Brazil and India to identify and maximize their potential, emphasizing sustainability, resilience, and entrepreneurship.

“We’re excited to support a program that puts practical, farmer‑focused learning front and center. Our work with young and smallholder farmers in India and Brazil shows that when farmers build skills, confidence, and resilience in the face of a changing landscape, they’re better equipped to thrive long term.” Ben Pratt, president of The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems.

As one of the world’s leading food and beverage companies, PepsiCo’s business is rooted in agriculture with more than 50 crops and ingredients sourced from over 60 countries. To help support the farmers that grow these crops, the PepsiCo Foundation has worked alongside Farm Foundation through previous partnerships including Field to Future. Now, to continue helping farmers thrive, the PepsiCo Foundation is building on previous work with Farm Foundation through FarmPath.

Monica Bauer, SVP Social Impact, PepsiCo, said, “As the backbone of our communities, farmers play a vital role in driving local economies and helping families access nutritious and affordable food. Alongside Farm Foundation, we’re excited to support the next generation of farmers who will continue to help strengthen food systems for generations to come. Together, we can help expand access to the resources needed to support long-term success for new farmers.”

How to Apply

FarmPath is open to participants from a wide range of backgrounds, including farm-raised innovators, urban and community growers, career changers, those curious about farming as a career path, and early-stage farmers seeking to diversify or strengthen their operations. The program includes a flexible virtual learning model and an online peer community designed to accommodate various schedules nationwide.

Applications are open through March 23, 2026. This application cycle is the only entry point into the current three-year program. Up to 300 participants will be selected for Year One, with competitive progression into Years Two and Three. Participants must complete Year One to be eligible for advancement.

Additional information, eligibility details, and the application are available at FarmPath.org


About the Partners

The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems supports well-defined, transformational investments in food and nutrition security, sustainable agricultural productivity growth, and community development located in India, Brazil, and the United States. The Foundation is a tax-exempt private foundation described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation is funded through contributions from The Mosaic Company.

The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with a mission to support thriving communities. Working with non-profits and experts around the globe, we’re focused on helping communities obtain access to food security, safe water and workforce development opportunities. We strive for tangible impact in the places where we live and work—collaborating with industry peers, local and international organizations, and our employees to affect large-scale change on the issues that matter to us and are of global importance. Learn more at www.pepsicofoundation.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

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Announcing the Farm Foundation January 2026 Cultivators and 2026 Agricultural Scholars Cohorts

Farm Foundation announces two new cohorts that reflect its continued investment in developing future leaders across food, agriculture, and agricultural policy. The January 2026 Cultivators cohort and the 2026 USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) Agricultural Scholars cohort represent students from institutions nationwide who will engage with Farm Foundation programs in distinct yet complementary ways.

The Cultivator Program provides an exclusive opportunity for outstanding undergraduate and graduate students in agriculture to engage directly with senior leaders and policy discussions shaping the future of the food and agriculture system. Cultivators attend the Round Table and present their research alongside industry, government, and nonprofit executives.

Farm Foundation offers two Cultivators cohorts each year, with each cohort aligned to one of the organization’s biannual Round Table meetings. The January 2026 Cultivators cohort will participate in the Farm Foundation Round Table held January 14–16, 2026, in El Paso, Texas.

January 2026 Cultivators Cohort

Through the Cultivator Program, participants gain exposure to high-level dialogue on emerging agricultural issues while building professional networks with leaders across the public and private sectors.

Learn more about the Cultivator Program


2026 USDA Economic Research Service Agricultural Scholars

Farm Foundation, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS), also announces the 2026 Agricultural Scholars cohort. This fully funded, 12-month professional development program is designed for graduate students pursuing agricultural economics or related agricultural policy fields.

The Agricultural Scholars Program provides immersive, hands-on exposure to applied policy and economic analysis. Scholars work closely with ERS senior analysts while developing a deeper understanding of agricultural policy, commodity markets, agricultural finance, and related disciplines.

Scholar Experience

During the program year, Scholars will:

  • Partner with an ERS senior analyst for year-long mentorship
  • Conduct and present capstone research to ERS economists and receive expert feedback
  • Participate in Farm Foundation Forums held virtually throughout the year
  • Engage with senior leaders across agribusiness, government, and trade associations

Scholars will also attend several flagship events, including:

  • Farm Foundation Round Table – January 14–16, 2026 (El Paso, TX)
  • USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum – February 19–20, 2026
  • AAEA Annual Meeting – July 26–28, 2026 (Kansas City, MO)
  • WASDE/Capstone Trip – October/November 2026 (Washington, D.C.), including visits to USDA, Capitol Hill, agribusinesses, and commodity groups

2026 Agricultural Scholars Cohort

The Agricultural Scholars Program seeks to deepen participants’ understanding of production agriculture, agribusiness, and government, strengthening the pipeline of future agricultural economists and policy leaders.

Learn more about the Agricultural Scholars Program and individual profiles

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Farm Foundation Announces 2025 Award Recipients

Farm Foundation has announced the recipients of its prestigious 2025 awards, recognizing outstanding individuals dedicated to addressing critical issues in food and agriculture. The honorees exemplify Farm Foundation’s work of fostering innovation, leadership, and thoughtful public policy dialogue.

The recipients of the 2025 Farm Foundation Awards are:

Innovator of the Year: Robbie Dye, CEO, and Tyler Speer, COO, co-founders of Our Farms.
Emerging Leader Award: Dr. Shandrea Stallworth, Senior Agronomist and Global Resource, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Regenerative Agriculture, Nestlé Purina North America.
RJ Hildreth Public Policy Award: Dr. Keith H. Coble, Vice President for the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University.
Book of the Year: Land Rich, Cash Poor by Brian Reisinger, award-winning writer, rural policy expert, speaker, and consultant.

“We received a remarkable range of inspiring nominations this year, and these four honorees stood out for their exceptional contributions,” said Tim Brennan, vice president of programs and strategic impact at Farm Foundation. “Their dedication to tackling critical issues in food and agriculture is vital to improving our food system.”

The awards ceremony will take place during the July 2025 Farm Foundation Round Table meeting in Spokane, Washington.

2024 recipients of Farm Foundation Awards include Dr. Jayson Lusk of Oklahoma State University; Dr. Robert Fraley, former executive vice president and chief technology officer at Monsanto Company; Dr. Yangxuan Liu of the University of Georgia; and Dr. Stephen Adejoro of the Livestock Industry Foundation for Africa.

For more information about the recipients and the Farm Foundation Awards, visit: https://www.farmfoundation.org/programs/farmfoundationawards/

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Farm Foundation Announces 2025 Young Agri-Food Leaders Cohort

Farm Foundation is pleased to announce the 2025 cohort of its Young Agri-Food Leaders Program. This initiative engages emerging leaders aged 25-40 in the food and agribusiness sectors through a yearlong series of interactive learning and networking experiences, aiming to deepen their understanding of the food and agriculture value chain. The program also fosters the development of a robust network among peers in business, farming, and government.

Now in its fifth year, the Young Agri-Food Leaders Program offers participants sponsorship to attend events, engage in virtual discussions, and access exclusive learning and networking opportunities. Each participant is paired with a senior agri-food mentor to support their career growth and development. Additionally, members of the cohort have the opportunity to participate in various Farm Foundation programs, including attending at least one Farm Foundation Round Table meeting.

The 2025 Young Agri-Food Leaders are:

Mary Akinyuwa
Biochemist and Molecular Biologist, Corteva Agriscience
Mary is dedicated to sustainable agriculture and global food security. At Corteva Agriscience, she investigates the mechanisms of pesticides to ensure their long-term efficacy and accessibility for growers worldwide.

Molly Grotjan
Supply Management Specialist, John Deere
Molly supports John Deere’s Construction & Forestry Division as a Supply Management Specialist. She is also pursuing an MBA in Strategy and Marketing at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Amy Jancewicz
President, CropVue Technologies
As President of CropVue Technologies, Amy leads global business development, operational excellence, and innovation in AgTech, aiming to enhance sustainability and efficiency in agriculture for the benefit of growers and society.

Zachary McGee
Senior Director of Live Operations, Simmons Foods
Zach oversees poultry grow-out operations for one of the largest poultry processing plants in the United States at Simmons Foods Inc. He manages 119 team members, processes 17 million pounds of chicken weekly, and oversees 200 contract poultry farmers in Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Emily Miller
Senior Consulting Operations Manager, Rodale Institute
Emily leads operations for Rodale Institute’s Consulting team, supporting farmers globally in transitioning to regenerative and organic practices. She earned a BA in Economics from Barnard College of Columbia University and is currently pursuing an MS in Sustainability Management from American University’s Kogod School of Business.

Mikayla Mooney
Partner, Ag Startup Engine
Mikayla is a Venture Partner at Ag Startup Engine, where she plays a key role in building and leading the organization’s third fund. Her journey in ag tech began at 19 when she founded KinoSol, a company that developed solar-powered food dehydrators for farmers in developing regions.

Jessi Roesch
Founder & CEO, Downland
Jessi is the founder of Downland, a fintech startup dedicated to ensuring farmland remains in agriculture to feed future generations. With a background spanning finance, operations, and human health, she brings a unique perspective to the intersection of land stewardship, food systems, and business strategy.

Amy Tannhauser
Sustainability Manager, OSI Group
Amy is the Corporate Sustainability Manager at OSI Group. She collaborates with internal teams and customers to implement carbon reduction projects and sustainability initiatives, driving progress toward science-based targets.

For more information about each Young Agri-Food Leader and the program, visit Farm Foundation’s Young Agri-Food Leaders page.

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Farm Foundation, PepsiCo and the PepsiCo Foundation Partner to Support Next Generation Farmers Program to cultivate future agricultural leaders.

Farm Foundation, in collaboration with PepsiCo and the PepsiCo Foundation, is proud to announce the launch of the Next Generation Farmers Program, an initiative designed to equip young agricultural entrepreneurs with the skills, education, and resources needed to thrive in today’s farming sector.

Recognizing the growing challenges young farmers face – including limited access to education and training – the Next Generation Farmers Program will provide vital scholarships, training, and mentorship opportunities. This initiative is intended to serve as a critical steppingstone in helping the next generation of U.S. farmers build strong, sustainable businesses to feed the world for years to come.

Gregg Halverson is a farmer from North Dakota who grows potatoes for Frito-Lay and has a long-held affiliation with Farm Foundation. Halverson emphasizes the benefits this program can have for the agricultural community in the U.S. “I believe there is a lot of interest and passion for agriculture among our young people, but the high barriers to entering this field can be discouraging. The programs that Farm Foundation and the PepsiCo Foundation are building will have a direct impact on helping these young agriculturists gain a footing in the production ag sector.

As a key supporter of this initiative, the PepsiCo Foundation has committed to a multi-year financial investment, furthering its efforts to support the agricultural community. This funding will help provide essential resources to young farmers via the Next Generation Farmers Program, fostering long-term success in an increasingly demanding industry.

By investing in the future of agriculture, we are ensuring that young farmers have the tools and guidance they need to build viable and resilient businesses,” said Shari Rogge-Fidler, President and CEO at Farm Foundation. “We are proud to partner with the PepsiCo Foundation to drive meaningful change and support the next generation of agricultural leaders.”

The PepsiCo Foundation’s work focuses on the creation of sustainable and innovative solutions, including ways to support a more resilient, sustainable agricultural system to help feed the world’s growing population,” said C.D. Glin, President of the PepsiCo Foundation and Global Head of Social Impact at PepsiCo. “We are proud to partner with the Farm Foundation once again to further our pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) agenda and to support the next generation of farmers by providing the tools and resources they need to succeed.

This latest initiative builds on a Farm Foundation, PepsiCo, and the PepsiCo Foundation collaboration, Field to Future, a two-year cohort program designed to create career opportunities within the agriculture industry at large.

Farm Foundation encourages other stakeholders to prioritize building a future for farmers. Through donations and advocacy, individuals and organizations can play a pivotal role in shaping the future of American agriculture and empowering young farmers with the knowledge, resources, and networks necessary for success.

For more information about the Next Generation Farmers Program and how to get involved, please visit https://farmfoundation.org/nextgenfarmer or contact Tim Brennan, Vice President of Programs and Strategic Impact at Farm Foundation at tim@farmfoundation.org

About Farm Foundation:
About Farm Foundation®: Farm Foundation is an accelerator of practical solutions for agriculture. Our mission is to build trust and understanding at the intersections of agriculture and society. We accomplish this by leveraging non‐partisan objective dialogue, information, and training, catalyzing solutions, and creating multi‐stakeholder collaboration. Our vision is to build a future for farmers, our communities, and our world.

About PepsiCo:

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $92 billion in net revenue in 2024, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. 

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo. 

About the PepsiCo Foundation:    
The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with a mission to support thriving communities. Working with non-profits and experts around the globe, we’re focused on helping communities obtain access to food security, safe water and economic opportunity. We strive for tangible impact in the places where we live and work—collaborating with industry peers, local and international organizations, and our employees to affect large-scale change on the issues that matter to us and are of global importance. Learn more at www.pepsicofoundation.com.  Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.  

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Farm Foundation® Announces 2025 Agricultural Fellow.


Farm Foundation has named Dr. Sunghun Lim as its 2025 Agricultural Economics Trade and Sustainability Fellow.

Dr. Lim is an Assistant Professor of International Agribusiness and Director of the LSU Global Value Chains Program in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at Louisiana State University.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Lim to our esteemed Agricultural Economics Fellowship program,” says Tim Brennan, vice president, programs and strategic impact at Farm Foundation. “His research interests in international trade and agricultural policy set the stage for a fruitful collaboration towards advancing Farm Foundation’s ongoing work in agricultural trade and international sustainability policy.” 

Farm Foundation’s Agricultural Economics Fellow program is a yearlong program for a faculty agricultural economist. The 2025 fellowship is focused on integrated systems approaches to understanding and overcoming the challenges in developing a greater understanding of how trade and sustainability are interconnected and are impacting the food and agricultural sectors in the United States and beyond in rapidly changing circumstances.
In addition to being mentored by staff in USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist, Lim in turn will mentor participants in the Farm Foundation and USDA Economic Research Service Agricultural Scholars program, among other engagements. 

His research has been published in leading academic journals, including the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Nature Communications, NBER Book Series, Food Policy, Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, Handbook of Agricultural Economics, and The World Economy.

He earned his BS in Economics in 2013 and his MS in Agricultural and Resource Economics in 2015 from the University of California, Davis. He received his Ph.D. in Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota in 2020.

Dr. Lim is Farm Foundation’s fifth Agricultural Economics Fellow and succeeds Dr. Sandro Steinbach (North Dakota State University), Drs. Trey Malone (University of Arkansas), Amanda Countryman (University of Colorado), and Alejandro Plastina (University of Iowa).

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Cohesive Approach Needed to Reconcile Imperatives in Agriculture and Trade, Report Says

A new report from the Global Forum on Farm Policy & Innovation (GFFPI) highlights the complexities of balancing trade and sustainability objectives, emphasizing the pressing need to align trade rules with sustainability goals while avoiding unintended consequences.

Image of the report cover, showing a sprout growing out of soil. The title of the report is followed by a box with the contributor names listed.

The report, Policy and Practice for Sustainable Agriculture and Trade, is based on observations from the second workshop held by GFFPI, held in Washington D.C. in July 2024. The first workshop was hosted at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris in 2023 and focused on the ideal state of agriculture sustainability and trade.

The second workshop explored ways to integrate sustainability into global trade frameworks and develop standardized measurements to avoid unintended consequences. The workshop brought together over 70 participants representing 17 countries, including government officials, industry representatives, and trade policy experts. The discussions grappled with fundamental questions, including whose sustainability should be prioritized in trade agreements—the exporting country, the importing country, or global outcomes—and trade-offs between the environmental, social, and economic pillars of sustainability.

Key points identified in the report include:

  • Adopting an outcome-based approach to sustainability, starting with soil health, water, biodiversity and carbon measures as benchmarks.
  • Developing a Sustainable Agriculture Trade Framework with clear definitions, science-based standards and guiding principles.
  • Strengthening international cooperation to promote policy coherence GFFPI representatives were pleased to be able to further develop insights from the Paris workshop and push this important conversation forward.

“We are proud of and grateful for the global collaboration we have built over the last few years via GFFPI for respectful and evidence-based dialogue to elevate and advance possible pathways forward for agricultural trade and sustainability,” said Shari Rogge-Fidler, president and CEO of Farm Foundation.

Mark Titterington, co-founder and director of the Forum for the Future of Agriculture, agreed saying, “This is another strong contribution to the ongoing discussion on the role of trade policies in supporting the development of a more resilient and sustainable agri-food system. There is certainly a worthy case to consider for developing a global sustainable agriculture trade framework, underpinned by robust science, measurement and data, and which is outcome based. We were delighted to work with our partners in GFFPI in facilitating the discussion that led to this report and look forward to building on the key insights that emerged, also by bringing the European point of view and sensibilities to the discussion.”

The benefit of being able to share their specific point of view was shared by other GFFPI representatives. “As a trade-focused nation, Australian farmers know that our food-secure future depends on collaborative global action to meet shared goals,” said Katie McRobert, executive director of the Australian Farm Institute. “Trade can be a powerful lever to incentivize action on building natural, social, and economic capital in agricultural systems, provided that policies recognize unique local environmental and cultural contexts.”

When considering what comes next, the workshop highlighted the complex interplay between trade policy and agricultural sustainability and acknowledged there are many steps to make towards meaningful progress.

“The dialogue at the Washington workshop built on GFFPI’s past work, but underscored how much more work needs to be done to find solutions to the challenge of agriculture sustainability and trade,” said Tyler McCann, managing director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute. “This work needs to be done between countries and must include leaders in trade and sustainability to lead to meaningful outcomes.”


The Global Forum for Farm Policy and Innovation (GFFPI) leverages evidence and dialogue leading to increased understanding, substantive action, and enhanced outcomes for more sustainable agriculture around the world. GFFPI members include the Australian Farm Institute, the Canadian Agri-food Policy Institute, the Farm Foundation (United States) and the Forum for the Future of Agriculture (Europe).

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Farm Foundation and National 4-H Council Extend Partnership to Support Youth and Agriculture Career Pipeline

Farm Foundation and National 4-H Council recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a focus on a deeper collaboration in leadership, education and youth workforce readiness for young people who seek careers in food and agriculture.

The organizations’ current partnership on the Farm Family Wellness Alliance (FFWA)  provides free access to mental health and wellness services to farm families across the United States, including youth ages 16 and up. Now, the two organizations will align on career exploration, leadership training and skill-building opportunities for youth through Farm Foundation’s Next Generation programs and 4-H’s recently launched Beyond Ready initiative. This collaboration will help strengthen young learners’ interest in food and agriculture career pathways as early as elementary school. Additionally, it will help create a ready pipeline of future leaders as they graduate high school and college.

“Farm Foundation looks forward to closer collaboration with 4-H, which has already been such a wonderful partner in working towards practical solutions for agriculture,” said Shari Rogge-Fidler, president and CEO, Farm Foundation. “There are so many synergies between our two organizations that will lead to a natural multiplier effect in our ability to accelerate young people in their paths into food and agriculture. It is an exciting moment for Farm Foundation, and we look forward to a fruitful and valuable partnership.”

“The extended partnership with Farm Foundation further strengthens our ability to prepare young people for success in agriculture, food science and beyond. Building on the positive impact of the Farm Family Wellness Alliance, our enhanced collaboration will equip youth with the leadership, skills and confidence they need to be Beyond Ready for the workforce of tomorrow,” said Jill Bramble, president and CEO, National 4-H Council.

Farm Foundation
Naomi Millán
Marketing and Communications Manager
naomi@farmfoundation.org

National 4-H Council
Yolanda Stephen
Senior Manager, Public Relations
YStephen@fourhcouncil.edu

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About Farm Foundation:
Farm Foundation® has accelerated practical solutions for agriculture for over 90 years. Farm Foundation’s mission is to build trust and understanding at the intersections of agriculture and society. This is accomplished by leveraging non‐partisan objective dialogue, information, and training, catalyzing solutions, and creating multi‐stakeholder collaboration. Farm Foundation’s vision is to build a future for farmers, our communities, and our world. For more information, visit farmfoundation.org.  


About National 4-H Council:
4-H, the nation’s largest youth development organization, grows confident young people who are empowered for life today and prepared for careers tomorrow. 4-H programs empower nearly six million young people across the U.S. through experiences that develop critical life skills. Through Beyond Ready, 4-H will increase that number to ten million youth annually. 4-H is the youth development program of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System and USDA and serves every county and parish in the U.S. through a network of 110 public universities and more than 3,000 local Extension offices. Globally, 4-H collaborates with independent programs to empower one million youth in 50 countries. The research-backed 4-H experience grows young people who are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs.

Learn more about 4‑H at 4-H.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

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New Award Added to Farm Foundation 2025 Awards

Farm Foundation has added a book award to its prestigious roster of annual awards. The Farm Foundation Book of the Year Award is open to a non-fiction English language work focused on food and/or agriculture published within the last 24 months.

“We are excited to expand the scope of the Farm Foundation Awards to honor the importance of a contemporary author exploring food or agriculture,” says Tim Brennan, Farm Foundation vice president of programs and strategic impact. “With so much exciting scholarship in these fields, we anticipate a robust pool of candidates and a difficult choice ahead.”

The book award joins the two lifetime achievement awards and two innovator awards recognizing leaders and change makers who exemplify Farm Foundation’s mission and values. They include:
R.J. Hildreth Public Policy Award In the mid-1990s, Farm Foundation began awarding the R.J. Hildreth Award for Career Achievement in Public Policy, an award open to those in the field of public policy, through government service, as educators, or those researching agricultural policy.
The Farm Foundation Transformational Leadership Award This lifetime achievement award honors an individual who has demonstrated innovative and transformational leadership in food and agriculture.
The Farm Foundation Innovator of the Year Award The focus of this award is to recognize those changemakers that are an integral part of solving some of the most difficult challenges we face today in the food and agriculture sector.
The Farm Foundation Emerging Leader Award This award recognizes a young emerging leader who is on the trajectory to make transformational change within the agriculture and food sector.

The official awards recognition ceremony will take place at the July 2025 Farm Foundation Round Table meeting in Spokane, WA. Award recipients will be invited to participate in the Round Table meeting.

The awards are open to any candidate involved in the agriculture and food sectors. For other nomination requirements and more information on each award, visit farmfoundation.org/farmfoundationawards.

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Farm Foundation Announces New Vice President of Programs and Strategic Impact

Additional Promotions Also Announced

Tim Brennan, Vice President of Programs and Strategic Impact

Farm Foundation, an accelerator of practical solutions for agriculture, is pleased to announce that Timothy Brennan has been selected as their vice president of programs and strategic impact, a new role reflecting the increased emphasis on prioritizing work with clearly defined impact.  

“Tim brings both breadth and depth to this role,” said Farm Foundation President and CEO Shari Rogge-Fidler. Brennan, who comes from an Ohio farm family and maintains his own hobby farm south of Chicago, joined Farm Foundation nearly 12 years ago to manage external relations. Brennan previously served in a variety of externally facing roles at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University.  Brennan also currently serves as the co-chair of the Chicago Wilderness Growing with Agriculture Green Vision Goal which seeks to bring conservationists and farmers together to protect and improve land in the states surrounding Lake Michigan.  

“As Farm Foundation continues to build on our past and expand our programs at our new Innovation and Education Campus (IEC) at our farm just outside of Chicago, Tim’s experience in fundraising, innovation, and coalition building makes him ideally suited for this role” said Rogge-Fidler.   

“I am thrilled for this opportunity,” Brennan said.  He goes on to say that “the Innovation and Education Center allows us to bring our programs and projects to life in new and exciting ways. Even though we are a 91-year-old organization, we have the spirit and drive of a start-up that fosters an exhilarating, enabling environment focused on real-world impact.” 

Additional Promotions Announced

Two additional promotions will bolster the next chapter of growth and impact at Farm Foundation.  Morgan Craven has been named as the director of programs and events, and Dr. Amanda L. Martin has been designated the new senior director of external relations.  

Morgan Craven, Director of Programs and Events

Craven came to Farm Foundation in 2015 as the events manager, then moved into the senior manager of events role before her latest promotion. Prior to joining the Farm Foundation team, Morgan served as the conference and events manager at Trinity Christian College and as a premium hospitality game-day staff member for the Chicago Bears NFL team. Craven also worked at various Hilton brand properties furthering her hospitality experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, in recreation, sports leadership, and tourism management. 

Dr. Amanda L. Martin, Senior Director of External Relations

Martin joined the team in 2022 and has an extensive career in agriculture and higher education. Working within the colleges of agriculture at Auburn University and Louisiana State University, Martin most recently served as an assistant dean at LSU. Prior to making the move to Farm Foundation, Martin worked with the executive team at the American Egg Board. She earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration at Louisiana State University and holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Agribusiness Economics. She currently serves as one of ten members selected to the National Agriculture Future of America Alliance Advisory Council. 

For over 90 years, Farm Foundation has been a pioneering force in agriculture, consistently leading the charge in developing ideas and fostering conversations that champion farmers and the agricultural community. In 2022, Farm Foundation took a bold step forward by becoming place-based, acquiring a century farm to deepen the understanding and experience of farming. This farm, alongside the Innovation and Education Center, will serve as the national headquarters for the organization.  

With this strategic addition, the latest innovations in agriculture, conservation, and technology will have a dedicated space to be showcased, allowing Farm Foundation to collaborate with stakeholders across the food and agriculture sectors in advancing the people and ideas that will shape the future. Rather than functioning as a tourist attraction or a research facility, this farm will provide agriculture leaders with authentic on-farm experiences through new programs. 

The Farm Foundation Innovation and Education Center (IEC) was officially opened on September 28th with a public celebration that included food tasting stations, high-tech agriculture demonstrations and site tours.  The IEC is a state-of-the-art facility supporting a variety of uses, including gathering program participants to collaborate, community building, and engagement. There are also conservation projects, a variety of crops, and historic buildings on the campus.  

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Farm Foundation Celebrates Its Innovation and Education Campus Grand Opening in Libertyville 

Nearly 150 people joined Farm Foundation in Libertyville, Illinois, to celebrate the grand opening of the Farm Foundation Innovation and Education Campus at 31330 North Milwaukee Avenue. The blustery weather on Saturday, September 28, 2024, couldn’t keep the crowd away as they gathered to learn about the importance of this special new hub for the food and agriculture sectors.  

Newly constructed on the campus, the Innovation and Education Center (IEC), designed to be in visual harmony with the property’s historic barn and farmhouse, houses a multi-media room, flexible gathering spaces, and a demonstration kitchen. These spaces along with the outdoor fields will all help to engage the senses and bring agriculture to life in unique ways for stakeholders across food and agriculture through new programs, such as the AG101 Bootcamp. The facility is also envisioned as an ideal meeting space where key players can come together to advance solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing agriculture.  

Farm Foundation built the 4,000-square-foot building on its 14-acre property which operated as a grain and livestock farm for a large part of the 19th and most of the 20th centuries. It was selected from over 40 sites that were considered in the Chicagoland area as the perfect location to anchor Farm Foundation’s mission to build understanding at the intersections of agriculture and society.  The farm campus was selected for its ease of access by all forms of transportation, the natural beauty of the farm and surrounding area, and the multiple purposes the property enables. 

Highlights from the speeches and key moments at the Farm Foundation Innovation and Education Campus Grand Opening celebration on September 28, 2024.

Key Moments

After the Illinois State FFA officers presented the colors, Farm Foundation Board Chair Dan Basse and Farm Foundation President and CEO Shari Rogge-Fidler provided opening remarks. Reflecting on multiple inspirations and the efforts of many that came together to make the IEC a reality, their opening remarks anchored the vision for the new campus in place-based purpose for Farm Foundation’s programs and engagement.  

The audience then heard from the Honorable Michael Johanns, former United States Secretary of Agriculture. “This building will house experts and advocates in collaboration working together to build ideas and solutions to take action to change agriculture for generations to come,” said Johanns.  

He was followed by Ambassador Darci Vetter, head of global public policy at PepsiCo, who spoke to innovations in the agri-food supply chain; and Chancellor Robert Jones of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who addressed the importance of radical collaborations and place-based strategies, hallmarks of the vision for the Farm Foundation IEC. “The challenges that we face are too large and too complex for any one entity to solve alone,” Jones said. 

After the ribbon cutting, the campus was open for visitors to explore. A highlight of the event was the several in-field demonstrations of innovations in agriculture from Beck’s Hybrids, InnerPlant, John Deere, Purdue Extension UAV, Syngenta, and the University of Illinois Center for Digital Ag. Attendees also enjoyed food samples from Calvetti Culinary Creations, Eli’s Cheesecake, Kraft Heinz, and Quaker from PepsiCo Foods. 

The Innovation and Education Center will be Farm Foundation’s new home, replacing the office space currently held in Oak Brook. The project team included architecture firm Kahler Slater, project manager JLL, and general contractor Summit Design + Build. Construction began in August 2024 and completed in roughly 12 months. 

For further information and additional photos from the grand opening ceremony, please access the media kit. For inquiries into space rental, please contact elizabeth@farmfoundation.org, or to learn more about collaboration, reach out to amanda@farmfoundation.org

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Upcoming Farm Labor Conference Tackles Critical Issues

Although critical to the nation’s food security, farm work is potentially hazardous, farmworkers receive lower wages when compared with nonsupervisory workers outside agriculture, and many hired farm workers lack legal work authorization and access to basic public services. For the United States to remain competitive as a producer of fruit, vegetables, and other labor-intensive commodities both private and government institutions will need to accelerate adaptation to a changing landscape of farm labor.

An upcoming conference on farm labor seeks to strengthen ongoing farm labor research by convening and developing a network of researchers and stakeholders. The Changing Landscape of Farm Labor Conditions in the United States: What the Future Holds and How to Prepare for It conference will take place September 17 to 19, 2024, in Santa Cruz, California.

The conference is presented by the USDA Economic Research Service and Farm Foundation. It will cover four key themes: trends in the farm labor force, including worker migration and the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Program; labor costs, farm worker conditions, and workforce development.

Visit https://farmfoundation.swoogo.com/farmlabor for more information and to register.

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Farm Foundation Elects Three New Directors to Board

Three new directors were elected to service on the Farm Foundation Board. They are Jason Brantley, vice president, John Deere; Krysta Harden, president and CEO, U.S. Dairy Export Council; and Erin Nazetta, director, Broadview Group Holdings.

Harden is a board member-at-large, and Brantley fills a seat dedicated to a member from the manufacturing industry. Nazetta’s seat is selected from Farm Foundation’s suite of Next Generation development programs; she participated in Farm Foundation’s 2021 Young-Agrifood Leader program. The election took place at the board’s June meeting.

“We are pleased to welcome these new members to the Farm Foundation Board,” says Dan Basse, chairman of the board. “Their expertise and perspective will be invaluable additions at a time of significant momentum and growth at Farm Foundation.”

Farm Foundation is an accelerator of practical solutions for agriculture that leverages the power of collaboration between food and agricultural stakeholders to advance agriculture in positive ways. As a 501(c)(3) charity, the organization applies its non-partisan, objective approach to a suite of projects and programs aimed at addressing both emerging and persistent issues facing farmers and the wider industry.

Re-elected to serve additional terms on the board were Basse of AgResource Company, Kristin Kroepfl of Quaker North America, John Foltz of The Ohio State University (retired), Robert Jones of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Mike Torrey of Torrey Associates.

The Farm Foundation Board of Directors is responsible for managing the affairs of Farm Foundation. Other members of the board are:
Cheri De Jong, vice chair, Natural Prairie Dairy and AgriVision Farm Management
Andrew LaVigne, treasurer, American Seed Trade Association
Shari Rogge-Fidler, ex officio director, President, Farm Foundation
Christine Hamilton, audit committee chair, Christiansen Land and Cattle
Jewel Bronaugh, Former United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
Angela Caddell, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad
Steve Coulter, Koch Agronomic Services
Michael Doane, The Nature Conservancy
George Hoffman, Restaurant Services Inc.                                                          
Mike Johanns, Former United States Secretary of Agriculture
A.G. Kawamura, Orange County Produce
James (Jimmy) Kinder, Kinder Farms
Thayne Larson, Bestifor Farms
Cristina Rohr, S2G Ventures
Ryan Schohr, Schohr Ranch
Mary Snapp, Microsoft Philanthropies
Todd Van Hoose, Farm Credit Council

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