By Whitney McFerron
The need to educate consumers and advocate for modern agriculture’s leadership role in achieving global food security is more important than ever. The Farm Journal Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington, D.C., that works toward those goals, through teaching consumers and students about the value of U.S. agriculture and informing government leaders about the value of taking action on important issues.
The Foundation’s most important voices come from farmers – producers from 19 states (and counting) have joined the organization’s Farmer Ambassador program to tell the story of how modern agriculture alleviates hunger and promotes global stability.
LOOKING BACK: AN EXCITING YEAR OF PROGRESS
2021 was a strong year for the Foundation, with easing COVID-19 restrictions allowing for more in-person meetings and deliberate discussions about the biggest issues facing the agricultural sector today. Highlights include:
Farmer Ambassador Capitol Hill Engagement: Farmer Ambassadors held more than 100 meetings with Congressmembers and their staff, both in-person in Washington, D.C., and virtually. Farmers delivered messages about U.S. agriculture’s role in feeding the world and advocated for legislation to support public funding for agricultural research, to help contend with challenges from volatile weather and markets.
State Dialogues: The State Dialogue program enables policymakers to meet farmers and scientists in their home states to learn about the value of research. In 2021, Farmer Ambassador John Paul Pendergrass hosted Senator John Boozman at his Arkansas cattle farm for an event featuring Tyson Foods, Riceland Foods and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research. (Another 2021 event is planned at the University of Maryland.) In addition, Senator Dick Durbin and Senator Jerry Moran introduced the America Grows Act in 2021, a bipartisan bill to increase funding for ag research, following events in Illinois and Kansas.
Thought Leadership: The Foundation published two peer-reviewed policy papers, covering the impact of stagnant public funding for ag research and agriculture’s role in fighting climate change.
Voice of the Farmer Garden: The Foundation manages an educational garden at USDA headquarters on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. This year, the garden welcomed Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, as well as industry leaders, showcasing the value of bringing agriculture’s story to a national audience.
Speaker Series: This flagship program for college students featured three online events and an in-person panel at the Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Leaders Conference, discussing how ag helps in the fight against malnutrition.
LOOKING AHEAD: KEY MOMENTS
The Foundation is planning for a busy slate of educational and policy activities next year and beyond, including:
In 2022, Congress will discuss reauthorization of the Global Food Security Act, and negotiations will start for the next farm bill. Both pieces of legislation offer opportunities to advocate for ag research and food security. The Foundation will also participate in international events, such as the next United Nations conference on climate change, COP27.
In addition, the Foundation plans to launch a new series of educational content in 2022 for K-12 students, created to meet Next Generation Science Standards. The content will include engaging videos from farmers and teaching materials to tell the story of U.S. agriculture from the field to the plate. The Foundation also plans to expand the reach of its Voice of the Farmer Garden content to new audiences across the country.
Join Our Mission
Today, the Foundation’s purpose of educating consumers and advocating for modern agriculture’s leadership role in achieving global food security is more important than ever. Please consider supporting the Foundation’s ongoing work. Learn more.
