youth renewing the
c o u n t r y s i d e
youthrenewing the
c o u n t r y s i d e
youth : renewing the countryside
A PROJECT OF:
Renewing the Countryside
PUBLISHED BY:
Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE)
WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CENTER FOR RURAL STRATEGIES AND THE W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION
SARE’s mission is to advance—to the whole of American agriculture—innovations that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life by investing in groundbreaking research and education.
www.sare.org
Renewing the Countryside builds awareness, support, and resources for farmers, artists, activists, entrepreneurs, educators, and others whose work is helping create healthy, diverse, and sustainable rural communities.
www.renewingthecountryside.org
A project of : Renewing the Countryside
publishing partners
Published by : Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Senior Editor : Jan Joannides
Editors : Lisa Bauer, Valerie Berton, Johanna Divine
SARE, Youth, and Sustainable Agriculture
Renewing the Countryside
Associate Editors : Jonathan Beutler, Dave Holman, Isaac Parks A farm is to a beginning farmer what a blank canvas
Renewing the Countryside works to strengthen rural
Creative Direction : Brett Olson
is to an aspiring artist. It is no wonder then that
areas by sharing information on sustainable
America’s youth are some of agriculture’s greatest
development, providing practical assistance and
Design Intern : Eric Drommerhausen
innovators and experimenters. The evidence is right here
networking opportunities, and fostering connections between
Lead Writers : Dave Holman and Nathalie Jordi
between the covers of this book—youth driving rural renewal
urban and rural citizens.
by testing new ideas on farms, ranches, and research stations
Lead Photographer : Dave Holman
across the country. SARE supports these pioneers. In this book,
This is the ninth in a series of books Renewing the Countryside
read about the Bauman family farm in Kansas, the Full Belly Farm has created in partnership with others. Each book shares stories Contributing Writers : Nancy Arcayna, Mele Anderson, Anna Barnwell, Jonathan Beutler, Laura Borgendale, in California or the Living Forestry Coop in Wisconsin, all
of rural renewal and all are part of an education campaign
Hailey Branson, Heather Foran, Kiki Hubbard, Alina Kelman, Heather Kennison, Carrie Kilman, Bryce Oates, examples of farms or projects that have received a SARE grant to aimed at building awareness and support for the people,
Isaac Park, Margaret Pendleton, Amy Rathke, Elisabeth Reinkordt, Stephanie Taylor, Aubrey Videtto, test and develop new ideas—and which, in turn, have enlisted
practices, and policies that help create healthy, sustainable, and Alessandra Vitrella, Erin Volheim
young people in their efforts. See www.sare.org/projects.
equitable rural communities.
Contributing Photographers : Ariel Agenbroad, Maralee Bauman, Elaine Borgen, Laura Borgendale, Brad Christensen, Matthew Frank, Kiki Hubbard, Anna Jacobson, Nathalie Jordi, Jessica Marsan, Teena jo Neal, SARE is a grassroots grant making and outreach program
Other national Renewing the Countryside initiatives include:
Brett Olson, Loretta Reed, Elisabeth Reinkordt, Chad A. Stevens, Jaime Winters advancing sustainable agriculture across America. SARE
Advisory Team : Amalia Anderson, Jen Aspengren, Lisa Bauer, Valerie Berton, Andy Clark, Brian Depew, supports farmers, ranchers, and educators—young and old—as
Green Routes— a sustainable travel program that helps
Johanna Divine, Jen James, Dena Leibman, Jill Martus-Ninham, Beth Munnich, Melissa Sobolik, they explore new models for everything from clean energy
diversify rural economies. The program directs people to
Bouapha Toommaly, Yimeem Vu, Stephanie Weisenbach
farming to direct marketing to practices that protect the land
places where they can eat, play, sleep, shop, move, and
and revitalize communities. SARE is grassroots: Four regional
learn in ways that support a sustainable countryside.
Proofreaders and Associates : Jonathan Beutler, Sarah Brincks, Koby Jeschkeit-Hagen, Helene Murray, Isaac Park, Lindsay Rebhan, Margaret Schnieders, Kate Seager, Alison Welwood councils of top researchers, educators, and farmers set SARE
See www.greenroutes.org.
policies and make grants in every corner of the nation. SARE
Sponsors : Center for Rural Strategies, W.K. Kellogg Foundation Outreach produces and distributes practical, how-to information
Journeys with First Nations—like Green Routes, but on and
based on the program’s more than twenty years of research
near Indian country, in partnership with Native peoples.
Printer : Visions Print Communications (NMSDC), Minnesota, USA results. See www.sare.org/publications.
Paper : Cover, 130lb KniteKote I 30% post consumer recycled paper I FSC certified I PCF
In the Upper Midwest, Renewing the Countryside’s work includes:
Inside, 100lb Flo I 10% post consumer recycled paper I FSC certified SARE is funded by the Cooperative State Research, Education,
and Extension Service (CSREES) at USDA and since its beginning
Local Food Hero—A radio show that discusses the
ISBN: 978-0-9795458-2-5
in 1988 has invested a total of $161 million in more than 4000
growing, cooking, eating, and politics of food.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2009922044
initiatives. More than 7 percent of these grants are dedicated to fostering the next generation of farmers by helping them secure
Healthy Local Foods at the EcoExperience—Educating the
Copyright 2009 by Renewing the Countryside and Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE).
land and financing and farm more sustainably. See
public about local food systems and sustainable
All rights reserved.
www.sare.org/grants.
agriculture through an innovative, interactive exhibit at the
Address inquiries to:
Minnesota State Fair.
Renewing the Countryside,
North Central
612-871-1541 · info@rtcinfo.org · www.renewingthecountryside.org Northeastern
Got Local?—Networking workshops that bring together
Western
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
farmers and buyers of local foods.
10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705 · www.sare.org
CV Creating Value-Added Communities—Facilitating
V
The information given is for educational purposes only. Reference to individuals, businesses, commercial AC communities through a process that helps them develop
products, or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied by Renewing the Countryside or Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE).
strategies for creating wealth and reducing poverty, while
Southern
planning for sustainable economic development.
To read more stories of people revitalizing their rural
First Printing
SARE’s four regional offices and outreach office work to advance communities or to learn about and support this work, visit
sustainable innovations to the whole of American agriculture.
www.renewingthecountryside.org.
table of contents