By Bonnie Warndahl
How to summarize such an inspiring event? From the remarkable beauty of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum to the enriching learning sessions to the invaluable connections made across the Midwest and beyond, the 2023 Upper Midwest Farmland Summit was a smashing success!
On day one, approximately 200 participants arranged themselves in the conference room to hear an array of perspectives about farmland access issues and solutions from farmers and service professionals nationwide, including Kathy Ruhf at Land for Good, Patrice Bailey at Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and Zach Ducheneaux at Farm Service Agency (FSA), as well as an emerging farmer panel and a transitioning farmer panel.
Alison Volk from American Farmland Trust gave a "state of the states" overview that highlighted AFT's Farms Under Threat 2040 Report and the more than 24 million additional acres of farmland the US will lose if we don't address runaway developmental sprawl.
The transitioning farmers panel included three farmers who have transferred (or are in the process of transferring) their farms to younger non-related farmers. Each story was unique in the process used to transfer ownership: one gifted, one through business partnership, and one using Buy-Protect-Sell.
FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux (right) gave an emotional speech and a refreshing update on the many changes he is making within the agency to benefit small family farms, beginning farmers, and BIPOC communities.
Later in the day, representatives from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin presented overviews on farmland access-related concerns, programs, partnerships, and policies in their respective states. Renewing the Countryside's Executive Director Jan Joannides presented an overview of the Farmland Access Hub, followed by an overview of the Farmland Access Navigator program by yours truly.
From our generation of retiring farmers the audience heard stories about non-family farm transitions from Jerry Ford (2nd from left), Lynne Reek (3rd from left), and Carmen Fernholz (on screen). The panel was moderated by Brett Olson at Renewing the Countryside (far left). Photo by Sara George.
In the Emerging Farmers Panel, five farmers told their stories about land access successes and challenges. (From left to right): Spanish interpreter Nadia Smith; Farmers/Aspiring Farmers Javier Garcia, Alex "Bagwajinini" Kmett, Jansen Hang, Rachel Arneson, and Moses Momanyi; Moderator Lily __________ Photo by Sara George.
Representatives from each Upper Midwest state gave an overview of farmland access in their respective state with Q & A from the audience to follow. (left to right): Martha McFarland, Practical Farmers of Iowa; Bonnie Warndahl, Renewing the Countryside and Marbleseed (WI); Mike Zastoupil, Minnesota Department of Agriculture; Nathan Aaberg, The Land Connection (IL). Photo by Sara George
Day one wrapped up with a joyful reception in McMillan Auditorium where participants enjoyed light hors d'oeuvres and exuberant conversation. Some Summit-goers even partook in a Festival of Lights walk on the grounds following the reception.
Day two of the Summit went off with a bang! After a full day of receiving and digesting critical information, it was obvious that participants were ready to dig in and get to work in a more intimate setting. With five tracks to choose from in four sessions—two morning and two afternoon—deciding which session to attend commanded a great deal of effort from most. In fact, the only complaint I heard about the whole event was that it was too hard to pick—the topics were all so good!
Session topics offered were as follows:
Track A: Farm Succession & Transfer Planning
Track B: Policy Dimensions of Farmland Access & Transfer
Track C: Innovative Models of Farmland Access & Financing
Track D: Emerging Strategies for Affordable Land Access
Track E: Working with Land Seekers
At the end of the day, participants were invited on a tour of the Arboretum. Some partook in the evening walk while others mingled and discussed what they learned. The group overall was buzzing with inspired conversation. I heard repeatedly from participants about how pleased they were with the content, the space, the food, the programming—how seamless and well-organized everything felt. It was a pretty satisfying feeling, I must say. Farmland Access is such important work. I'm proud to have been part of this earth-moving event.
Following the two days of programming some participants decompressed on a guided tour of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum where the Summit was held. Photo by Karl Hakanson.
Some of the Farmland Summit organizers and staffers. Thanks to all who helped make this wonderful event a success! (left to right): Kara Komoto, Gary Hampton, Catie DeMets, Matt Barthelemy, Bonnie Warndahl, Hannah Lewis, Jan Joannides, Brett Olson, Sara George, and Maeve Mallozzi-Kelley. Photo by Sabri Fair
From West to Midwest—A Farmland Access Success Story
By Joe Klinglehutz
This is a story involving a young couple who decided to move to Iowa to start farming. I helped them as a Farmland Access Navigator working with the Practical Farmers of Iowa.
Jacob and Makayla Chambers are originally from Colorado and had lived there for most of their lives. Jacob reached out to the Farmland Access Hub, using the land-seeker intake form on the website. He was interested in learning about options to move further east and start farming. Jacob was connected with me and we started having discussions about what he and Makayla wanted to do and why they were considering Iowa as a possibility.
Jacob has been involved with farming for many years through work and family but had never taken the steps toward developing his own farming career. He knew he wanted to work with animals and is interested in growing small grains. Makayla is an accountant and did not grow up farming but she supports Jacob's dreams to become a farmer.
In eary discussions, I was able to help Jacob clarify and organize his overall farming dreams. These conversations revolved around his values, long and short-term goals, finances, farm enterprises, and land access options. I helped Jacob think about overarching issues that are hard to answer if no one is asking the right questions. With each meeting the prospect of finding a pathway to farming became clearer for Jacob.
With the help of Farmland Access Navigator Joe Klinglehutz, Jacob and Makayla Chambers recently moved to Iowa from Colorado so Jacob could get his start in farming.
Since Jacob and Makayla were unsure if they wanted to move to Iowa, they needed to visit. They made their first trip to Iowa in April of 2023 and I connected them with a wide range of farmers across the state to meet with. I wanted to introduce Jacob and Makayla to people who were already farming in the state and could give them a first-hand account of what farming in Iowa is like. I matched them with people who were farming dairy cattle, meat chickens, buffalo, sheep, and small grains. Their trip brought them all the way across the state and back.
During their visit, they met with farmers John Hogeland and Beth Hoffman in Central Iowa. John and Beth inherited John's dad's farm recently and are on a path towards increasing the diversity of enterprises across the 500-acre farm. John and Beth raise cattle and goats and practice rotational grazing systems. They had recently been looking for hired help on the farm when Jacob and Makayla visited with them in April. Soon after, Jacob and Makayla decided that they would like to move to Central Iowa where Jacob would be hired as a farm assistant to help John and Beth with their cattle and goat operation. In June of 2023, Jacob and Makayla moved to Knoxville, Iowa!
Currently, Jacob is helping John and Beth with farm operations including moving cattle and goats, clearing invasive brush, and replacing fence infrastructure. Makayla was able to find a job at a local accounting firm in Knoxville. In the future, Jacob will build his own herd and lease ground from John and Beth to grow organic grains on the farm. This will allow Jacob to build his business without needing to purchase land or infrastructure. I will continue to work with Jacob to establish a solid lease with John and Beth and be there as a sounding board for future business planning and development.
Jacob and Makayla are still on their farmland access journey, but they are leaps and bounds further than they were a year ago. Jacob told me that if it weren't for the Farmland Access Hub and Navigator program, they would probably still be in Colorado looking for farmland elsewhere. Since Jacob and Makayla had free access to my guidance as a Farmland Access Navigator they were able to make important connections and build a relationship with John and Beth who have given them opportunities to lease their ground.
Jacob, Makayla, and I will continue to work together to find ways to build secure land access for the future.
Article: Morning Ag Clips—American Farmland: Why Are Investors Turning to This Asset Class?
Morning Ag Clips recently published this article on why investors keep buying up farmland and it’s definitely worth sharing. It mentions, among other motivations, that “Investors are attracted to farmland investment because of its low correlation with stock market volatility. When agricultural products increase, the value of farmland tends to increase as well because the land becomes more valuable. Therefore, even in inflationary environments or during recessions, American farmland is highly likely to retain its value over time.”
Did you know that Bill Gates is the largest private owner of farmland in the United States? In a time where new farmers are struggling to gain access to, and ownership of land for growing food it makes you wonder why someone like Gates needs to own farmland at all. Perhaps he’s planning to sell it to farmers at a discounted rate? One can hope!
You can read more at this link: https://www.morningagclips.com/american-farmland-why-are-investors-turning-to-this-asset-class/
Interested in making your land available to farmers?
Are you a landowner interested in renting your land or selling/transitioning your farm to the next generation? You may want to consider featuring your farm’s profile on the new “Transitions” page on the Farmland Access Hub website. It is our hope that this page will become a central resource in the Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa tri-state area for farmland owners hoping to connect with interested farmers regarding the transfer of land and farm businesses. To get the word out about your available farmland, please fill out the intake form on this page or contact Bonnie Warndahl at bonnie@rtcinfo.org or 612-462-9311.