Short Update from the Farmland Access Hub
- bonnie862
- Jun 23
- 3 min read
By Bonnie Warndahl
Back in April, amidst the onset of federal funding freezes, the Farmland Access Hub "hit pause" due to a suspension of the BFRDP and other funding that supports the Farmland Access Navigator program and certain Hub activities. Thanks to the acquisition of emergency funding, Farmland Access Navigator work has resumed, and—as of June 6—we are delighted to report that the BFRDP suspension has been lifted. We are officially all systems go!
Due to this unfortunate hiccup, we will forgo the full-length Hub newsletter for this quarter; however, we will be working to build a robust issue for August—so if you have stories, photos, articles, or upcoming events to share, please send them to me at bonnie@rtcinfo.org !
Before you go, though, please check out the following two announcements. We look forward to seeing you soon, either in the virtual world or out there in the real, live, 3D one!
Welcome to Laura Cullip and Martha Archer, MN Hub facilitators
In June, Farmland Access Navigator and Farm Advocate Laura Cullip joined Renewing the Countryside’s staff, where she will play a key role supporting farmers in the context of Farmland Access and Farm Business Management. Laura will also play a supporting role to Martha Archer, former Executive Director of the Mill City Farmers Market in Minneapolis, who will coordinate Minnesota Hub partners and activities. We are excited to welcome Martha and Laura, along with the many skills and talents they bring to the land access & transfer work in the Upper Midwest!
Laura is a long-time vegetable farmer at Loon Organics in Hutchinson, MN. She has worked as a farm educator and mentor for the last 15 years and is excited to join the staff at RTC to continue work as a Land Access Navigator and Farm Business Management Specialist. She also works as a Minnesota Department of Agriculture Farm Advocate, working with emerging farmers. Laura lives in Hutchinson, Minnesota, with her husband, Adam, and their two delightful and active boys.
Left: Laura washing lettuce in the pack shed at her farm. She is a farmer trainer for the University of Minnesota Extension food safety GAP and PSA trainings.
Laura and her family sold at the Mill City Farmers Market in Minneapolis for 15 years. This photo is from their last farmers market in the fall of 2020.
Martha was most recently the Executive Director of Mill City Farmers Market (2011–2023). She served on the board of the Minnesota Farmers Market Association for three years. Prior to that, she was a Buyer and Merchandising Director for Dayton/Hudson/Marshall Fields for 14 years.
In 2024, Martha “rewired” to focus her time on her family farms in South Carolina and Washington State. She serves on the Executive Committees for both of these farms’ boards and is leading them through generational transitions, business diversification, and family business owner alignment. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband, Greg. Together, they spend a lot of time at the farms, traveling between them in their van, and finding new places to camp, bike, paddle, and hike.
If you haven't heard, the RTC Annual Fundraiser is THIS WEEK!
Please join Renewing the Countryside (RTC) this Thursday for our Annual Fundraiser from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Dodge Nature Center in West St. Paul.
This event supports all of RTC’s initiatives, including the critical Farmland Access & Transfer work we are all so devoted to in this space. It will be an evening of connection, inspiration, and community, featuring great food, drinks, music, games, a short program highlighting updates at RTC, a silent auction, and the chance to make your own prints/artwork!
Silent auction items include getaways to Madeline Island, a month’s CSA from Bleed Heart Floral (a local flower farm), a cooking class for 10 at Mississippi Market with a local chef, bottles of local spirits, art, and much more!
Event details:
Date: Thursday, June 26
Time: 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Location: Dodge Nature Center, 1701 Charlton St, St Paul, Minnesota, US, 55118
Tickets and information:
Your presence would mean a lot to the mission we’re all working toward. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mikell Melius at mikell@rtcinfo.org
We hope you can attend!