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Farm Aid Homegrown Village Of Non-Profits: Many Approaches, One Goal
- Bob Benenson
- Sep 29
- 11 min read
So Many Ways to Building a Healthier, More Sustainable, Fairer Food System
The Farm Aid organization's annual mega-fundraising festival is an amazing achievement. On September 20, their 40th anniversary concert, featuring an incredible lineup of talent, was held before an announced crowd of 37,000 at University of Minnesota's football stadium in Minneapolis.
I feel compelled to explain that as memorable as these concerts are, I really couldn't justify the travel expenses every year if that's all there was to it. But it's not. Farm Aid — which has advocated for family farms and a better food system since 1985 — is as much about the movement as it is about the music.
And one of the main features that keep drawing me back is the Homegrown Village, a gathering of food and farm non-profits from the region in which the Farm Aid Festival is taking place, as well as from across the country. The Homegrown Village is open and draws big crowds of attendees during the afternoon portion of the Festival.
If you are a frequent Local Food Forum reader, you know that much of our coverage focuses on the work of a wide range of Chicago and Illinois region non-profits whose efforts I support. It is not my intention, though, to be solely focused on my home area. I believe strongly that we must connect with local food ecosystems and build new relationships across this nation. The more we can do this, the more we can multiply our power to challenge a failing food and farm status quo.
With this in mind, I present the following rundown of many of the community-leading organizations that participated in Homegrown Village 2025. I know I missed some, I apologize to them, and if any of them find this article, I hope they'll send photos and information so I can edit them in.
Each of the entries below includes a photo, the organization's name and location, and brief descriptions drawn from each organization's website.
ASPCA (New York, New York)
"The ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) has been at the forefront of animal rescue and protection since our founding as the first animal welfare organization in North America in 1866. For more than 150 years, we have been the leading voice in animal welfare, bringing the critical protection of animals to the forefront of society.
"We’ve led the way in fighting cruelty, rescuing and securing adoptions for animals in need, and driving significant legislative change that protects their lives and welfare — ultimately transforming how Americans value and care for animals."
ATTRA (Butte, Montana*)
"ATTRA, or Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, is a trusted source of sustainable agriculture information and maintains a knowledge base of practical multimedia resources for farmers, ranchers, and educators. NCAT’s agriculture specialists work directly with farmers, ranchers, land managers, and others across the country to provide individualized technical assistance, offer practical learning opportunities, and facilitate meaningful connections among producers, experts, researchers, and industry professionals."
* ATTRA is managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology, based in Butte.
COMMUNITY FARM ALLIANCE (Berea, Kentucky)
"Community Farm Alliance members believe that the people most affected should have a say in addressing their social, economic and environmental problems, which means that good public policies are critical. CFA helps people organize to define the problem, identify barriers, needed resources, create a plan to make change, and build leadership to give a voice and face to the problem."
DAKOTA RESOURCE CENTER (Bismarck, North Dakota)
"DRC’s mission is to promote sustainable use of North Dakota’s natural resources and family-owned and operated agriculture by building member-led local groups that empower people to influence the decision-making processes that affect their lives and communities."
DREAM OF WILD HEALTH (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
"The mission of Dream of Wild Health is to restore health and well-being in the Native commun ity by recovering knowledge of and access to healthy Indigenous foods, medicines and lifeways."
ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP (Washington, D.C.)
"Picture putting sunscreen on your skin, knowing it has toxic chemicals in it. Envision biting into a carrot, knowing it’s tainted with pesticides. Imagine drinking a cup of water, knowing it’s contaminated by pollutants from local farms and factories.
"This is the world we live in. But we deserve better.
"Since 1993, the Environmental Working Group has shined a spotlight on outdated legislation, harmful agricultural practices and industry loopholes that pose a risk to our health and the health of our environment.
"Whether it’s on Capitol Hill or in communities across America, we make our voices heard, changing the debate over environmental health and putting the most important people – you and your family – at the center of the conversation."
FAMILY FARM DEFENDERS (Madison, Wisconsin)
"Our mission is to build a broad grassroots movement to establish a fair, just and resilient agricultural system rooted in food sovereignty, agroecology, peace and international solidarity. Through education and advocacy, we strive for systemic change that creates a social contract between peasants and family farmers and society, ends corporate profiteering from low commodity prices and resource-grabbing, and ensures opportunities for new generations of diverse family farmers to produce healthy local and regional foods with respect for Mother Earth."
FARMHAND FOUNDATION (Ojai, California)
"At Farmhand Foundation, we back the hands that feed.
"Rooted in Ojai, California, and serving our surrounding counties, we walk the fields and listen closely, building trust with farmers and food stewards.
"We're steady partners. Like true farmhands, we take on the behind-the-scenes work others often avoid — reading the fine print, writing grants, restoring soil health, chasing certifications, telling stories, and opening new markets — so farmers can stay focused on farming."
FARMSTAND (Washington, D.C.)
"FarmSTAND is the only legal group in the country dedicated solely to taking on Big Ag. We partner with directly impacted groups to fight in courtrooms and communities for better working conditions, humane treatment of animals, clean air and water, and food that’s safe to eat."
FOOD & WATER WATCH (Washington, D.C)
"To protect our food, water, and climate, we organize people around the country to build political power. We mobilize at the local, state, and federal levels to win the fights others are afraid to even take on.
"From banning fracking, to shutting down factory farms, to making sure communities across the country have access to clean water, we’ve fought against greedy corporations and reckless government agencies and we’ve won time after time. We fight — and win — in the courts, in the halls of Congress, and on the ground in every state. Corporations may have the money, but we believe people have the power to make real change. That’s why we win."
FOREVER GREEN INITIATIVE (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis)
"The Forever Green Initiative is developing and improving winter-hardy annual and perennial crops that protect soil and water while driving new economic opportunities for growers, industry, and communities across Minnesota.
"By combining these novel crops with traditional annual crops, farmers can keep the soil covered all year round. This approach to farming with “continuous living cover” can greatly enhance the efficiency and sustainability of Minnesota agriculture...
"In short, Forever Green crops can help farmers build soil health, profitably. They advance all the key principles of soil health and regenerative agriculture by protecting the soil with plant cover, keeping living roots in the ground, reducing tillage, and diversifying crop rotations."
INLAND OCEAN COALITION (Boulder, Colorado and Washington, D.C.)
"The Inland Ocean Coalition's approach is unique in that we give inland communities a voice in protecting our ocean by empowering them to become ocean champions in their communities and connecting them with their legislative leaders. Our unique niche allows us to work with our chapters and supporters around the country to convey to our legislative leaders that we all have a stake in ocean protection, even if we live inland.
"The Inland Ocean Coalition is working to build ocean conservation constituencies around the US. We hope you'll join us to protect the ocean we all love."
INSTITUTE FOR AGRICULTURE AND TRADE POLICY (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
"Our mission is to work locally and globally at the intersection of policy and practice to ensure fair and sustainable food, farm and trade systems.
"IATP envisions agriculture, trade and food systems that are good for people, farmers and food system workers, ecosystems and social justice globally.
"With our partners, we advocate for policy in the public interest at the state, federal and international level."
LAND STEWARDSHIP PROJECT (Minnesota cities of Montevideo, Lewiston, Minneapolis)
"The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) is a private nonprofit organization founded in 1982 to foster an ethic of stewardship for farmland, to promote sustainable agriculture, and to develop healthy communities. LSP is dedicated to creating transformational change in our food and farming system...
"LSP is committed to building vibrant rural communities that are places of belonging and opportunity for everyone. We envision a countryside where the soil, water, air, and the natural world are healthy, with more successful stewardship farmers raising both livestock and crops on the land and strong local economies where all can succeed."
MARBLESEED (Spring Valley, Wisconsin)
" Marbleseed educates, inspires, and empowers farmers to thrive in a sustainable, organic system of agriculture.
"Formerly known as the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), Marbleseed was established in 1995 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to supporting farmers in their transition toward sustainable, organic farming systems that are ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially just.
"We work in community with human-scale farms, to support peer-to-peer learning with free and farmer-led programs, print and digital resources, and in-person events that support thriving regenerative and organic farms and food systems.
"Marbleseed is widely known for hosting the Marbleseed Organic Farming Conference. Established in 1990, it’s the largest organic farming conference in the United States."
MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION (St. Paul, Minnesota)
"Join us to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of Minnesota family farmers, ranchers and rural residents.
"Farmers Union is a grassroots, member-driven organization working for family farmers and rural communities. We believe in fair farm and rural policy that guarantees a safe and abundant food supply, provides family farmers with fair prices for their labor, and revitalizes rural Minnesota."
MINNESOTA SOIL HEALTH COALITION (Luverne, Minnesota)
"Soil Health has been realized in Minnesota to provide multiple benefits not only to the environment but also to production agriculture. The Minnesota Soil Health Coalition's birth is due to producers implementing Soil Health practices and understanding the importance of a producer-driven, producer-led Soil Health organization in Minnesota to provide information, support, and networking.
"The Minnesota Soil Health Coalition is a farmer led and driven organization dedicated to provide education, farmer to farmer mentoring, networking and plain language technical information. Two key goals of the coalition is to provide farmer to farmer mentoring and soil health testing that couples; management, economic, and agronomic data to more quickly provide real world information to the producers of Minnesota. The idea being that information is power—that the faster real world information is made available, the quicker management decisions can be made in the field."
NORTH AMERICAN TRADITIONAL INDIGENOUS FOOD SYSTEMS (NATIFS) (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
"NATIFS works to cultivate the seeds of Indigenous heritage, nourish our people, and honor the land that sustains us. Our vision is to rekindle and empower Indigenous food sovereignty through a thriving network of regional hubs that celebrate and elevate Indigenous culinary traditions. With a deep commitment to healing, cultural reconnection, and economic empowerment, NATIFS envisions a future where every tribal community across the nation reclaims its food heritage, fosters sustainable local economies, and nurtures the overall well-being of its people.
"Guided by Chef Sean Sherman’s research and advocacy, and wisdom shared by tribal communities around the world, NATIFS is a beacon of Indigenous food revival and educational support. The non-profit has established a regional hub in Minneapolis, the Indigenous Food Lab, a professional Indigenous kitchen for entrepreneurial endeavors, a classroom and demonstration studio to share knowledge, and the Indigenous Food Lab Market, offering diverse products from Indigenous purveyors. Through these offerings, NATIFS is redefining Indigenous culinary traditions and working to restore knowledge lost due to forced assimilation."
REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE ALLIANCE (Northfield, Minnesota)
"The Regenerative Agriculture Alliance was created in 2018 as the non-profit arm of a larger ecosystem designed to build a regenerative, equitable, and socially just agriculture sector. We are focused on scaling up a systems-level regenerative poultry solution that restores ecological balance, produces nourishing food, and puts money back into the hands of farmers and food chain workers. To do so requires a completely new supply chain that integrates grassroots organizing of farmers with physical infrastructure and other regeneratively stacked enterprises."
RENEWING THE COUNTRYSIDE (Hammond, Minnesota)
"Renewing the Countryside strengthens rural areas by championing and supporting rural communities, farmers, artists, entrepreneurs, educators, activists and other people who are renewing the countryside through sustainable and innovative initiatives, businesses, and projects.
"We do this by sharing stories of rural renewal, building awareness and support for sustainable endeavors, connecting people interested in sustainable rural development to each other, providing practical assistance and networking opportunities for those working to improve rural America, and fostering connections between urban and rural people."
RURAL POWER COALITION (Billings, Montana)
"The Rural Power Coalition is leading the national movement for rural electric cooperative democracy.
"RPC is led by place-based organizations representing member-owners across the country.
"We’re fighting for Rural Electric Cooperatives that:
are democratically controlled
advance equity and affordability
support healthy environments
create high-paying rural jobs
build community wealth"
SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT (SRAP) (Salem, Oregon)
"Through education, advocacy, and organizing, SRAP collaborates with communities to protect public health, environmental quality, and local economies from the damaging impacts of industrial livestock production and to advocate for a socially responsible food future.
"SRAP provides free assistance to communities threatened by industrial livestock production facilities. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is reflected in the communities we serve, many of which face social, economic, and racial injustices. We value individuality and lean on unique and varied perspectives to collaborate with communities to stand up to the abuses of factory farms while advocating for a socially responsible food future."
SUSTAINABLE FARMING ASSOCIATION (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
"Through our decades-long dedication to soil health we have worked with many types of farmers — crop and livestock producers, fruit and vegetable growers, beginning farmers and ag professionals — to teach the principles and practices of soil regeneration. We often say we 'meet farmers where they are.'
"SFA advances environmental stewardship, economic resilience and strong, diverse communities through farmer-to-farmer networking, education, demonstration and research. What inspires us?
"Healthier soil can completely transform agriculture. Our Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit, Cafe Chats, pasture walks and other events teach farmers how to improve soil quality, increase production and grow profits. These events draw both conventional and sustainable farmers as well as educators, ag professionals and community members."
THE MADDEST COW (a new organization that launched at Farm Aid 40)
"Over 90 percent of our meat, eggs, and dairy come from disgusting conditions in overcrowded factory farms that are controlled by a handful of corporations. This needs to change. Food should come from farms, not factories.
"We believe our government should stand with independent farmers feeding their communities, not corporations chasing profit. We believe access to healthy, locally grown food is a right, not a privilege. And we believe farmers, workers, animals, our environment, and consumers all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
"Join us in taking back our plates, our farms, and our future."
TRANSFARMATION (Los Angeles, California)
"Our mission is to build collective power sufficient to realize a just and sustainable food system.
"Transfarmation does this by helping farmers transition from industrial animal agriculture operations to raising crops for human consumption. By creating models of alternative economic opportunities, building solidarity with other movements, and shifting societal narratives to change culture, we will realize a just and sustainable food system.
"Our Transfarmation team provides resources and support to industrial animal farmers interested in transitioning their farms to plant-focused operations. The resources we create and data we collect are accessible to other farmers and organizations to facilitate widespread farm transitions, thereby contributing to societal good."
WILD FARM ALLIANCE (Watsonville, California)
"Our mission is to promote healthy, viable agriculture that helps to protect and restore wild nature.
"Wild Farm Alliance was established by a national group of wildlands proponents and ecological farming advocates who share a concern for the land and its wild and human inhabitants.
"In the year 2000, we came together to discuss how humans don’t have the right to farm nature out of existence, but rather the responsibility to be conservationists and stewards of that wildness.
"Bringing wild connectivity across farming landscapes is the work of Wild Farm Alliance."
WESTERN REGIONAL AGRICULTURAL STRESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (WRASAP) (Multiple locations across the Western United States)
"We're here to help."
"We believe in working together to cultivate rural resilience for all, including farmers, ranchers, and agriculture workers as they navigate increasing stress.
"[At our Farm Aid booth] WRASAP staff shared resources to help reduce stress and support mental well-being in agricultural communities across the western region. Farming is not only a livelihood but also a way of life—and it comes with unique challenges. By offering information about mental health services, financial tools, and community support networks, we aim to stand with farmers and ranchers so they don’t have to carry the weight of stress alone."
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