Josh Volk runs Cully Neighborhood Farm and serves on the FSA urban county committee in Portland. Photo courtesy of Josh Volk.

By Susan Riffel, FSA, Oregon

The nomination period for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) annual county committee elections began June 15 and continues through Aug. 1, 2023. Throughout the nomination period, we’ll be introducing county committee members from across the nation. In our final installment of the series, we’ll meet Josh Volk of Portland, Oregon.

Community-Supported

Josh currently runs Cully Neighborhood Farm where he produces vegetables with his Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) members and sells extras on-site for the wider community.  He came to work with Cully Neighborhood Farm in 2016 after working on a handful of other farms just outside of Portland starting in 2001, including his own farm, Slow Hand Farm, which he ran from 2009 to 2012.  Continue reading →

Royce Creque is a farmer and FSA county committee member on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Photo courtesy of Royce Creque.

By Savanna Turner, FSA, Florida & U.S. Virgin Islands   

The nomination period for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) annual county committee elections began June 15 and continues through Aug. 1, 2023. Throughout the nomination period, we’ll be introducing county committee members from across the nation. This week, meet Royce Creque of Greenridge Guavaberry Farm, LLC, on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.  

Finding His Passion 

Royce’s uncle, Myron Henneman, started the farming operation in 1984 in Bordeaux, St. Thomas. Before Royce became a full-time farmer, he originally started working on the farm during the weekends while he started his career in film production.  

“I have a college degree in film production and had a professional job,” said Royce. “I decided to go into farming full-time in 2012 because I was driven to push the farm to its potential. The only way we could get the farm to where it is now is if I put more time into the operation.”  Continue reading →

Renee Foster operates Hampton Roads Urban Agriculture in Newport News, Va. Photo by Joseph Slattery, FSA.

By Joseph Slattery, FSA, Virginia

The nomination period for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) annual county committee elections began June 15 and continues through Aug. 1, 2023. Throughout the nomination period, we’ll be introducing county committee members from across the nation. This week, meet Mallenia “Renee” Foster, of Newport News, Virginia.

Community Engagement

The granddaughter of a Georgia farmer, Renee began her urban farm approximately 10 years ago. She operates Hampton Roads Urban Agriculture in Newport News, an operation she started as a community garden.

“Growing up in Georgia, where having a garden and fruit trees in the backyard was a norm, I didn’t know the meaning of food insecurity until I got out of the Navy as a single parent of two, Renee said. “Choosing healthy, nutritious food, versus food to sustain us for the week, was not very easy.” Continue reading →

Chris Linville raises corn, soybeans and wheat, along with cattle, on his farm in Osgood, Ind. Photo by Angie Stuehrenberg.

By Angie Stuehrenberg, Farm Service Agency

The nomination period for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s annual county committee elections began June 15 and continues through Aug. 1, 2023. Throughout the nomination period, we’ll be introducing county committee members from across the nation. This week, meet Chris Linville of Osgood, Indiana.

Generations Farming Together

Chris grew up farming with his father, and never questioned what career path he would choose. He knew from a young age that agriculture and farming would be his lifelong career.

Chris and his wife Tammy operate Linville Farms. They began farming in 1987, the year they were married. Their operation has expanded over the years, and they now farm 2,800 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat and raise beef cattle, while Chris also works as a seed specialist for a seed company. In his spare time, he restores tractors for neighbors and friends. Continue reading →

Coy Poitier, certified master gardener, manages a one-acre urban farm and serves as chairman of the Dallas Urban County Committee. Photo by Joshua Coleman.

By Joshua Coleman, Farm Service Agency 

The nomination period for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s annual county committee elections began June 15 and continues through Aug. 1, 2023. Throughout the nomination period, we’ll be introducing county committee members from across the nation. This week, meet Coy Poitier of Lancaster, Texas, and Chairman of the Dallas FSA Urban County Committee (UCOC). 

A Calling to Help 

Coy started farming after graduating from Texas A&M University’s Texas Master Gardener program conducted by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in 2020. He is now the executive director of the FAWC Conservatory of Arts and Sciences, a non-profit public charity located in Lancaster, Texas. This one-acre urban farm is an educational center that teaches the community how to start, grow, and maintain an urban farm. The farm is managed by Coy and his wife, Katrina, both Texas-certified master gardeners. They currently have over 40 fruit trees, a vegetable garden, a vineyard, and a greenhouse with a 100-gallon aquaponic tank and a seed-planting station.  Continue reading →

Fourth-generation farmer, Chad Budy, serves on the FSA county committee in Woods County, Oklahoma. Photo by Madeline Alewine.

By Madeline Alewine, Farm Service Agency

The nomination period for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s annual county committee elections began June 15 and continues through Aug. 1, 2023. Throughout the nomination period, we’ll be introducing county committee members from across the nation. This week, meet Chad Budy of Woods County, Oklahoma.

Preparing the Next Generation

Chad is a fourth-generation farmer and rancher on Budy Farms where they raise beef cattle along with alfalfa, wheat, soybeans, and other small grains. Chad, a father of four, understands the value of passing along knowledge to younger generations. His two oldest sons actively farm and ranch alongside other family members. Some of Chad’s motivation stems from simply improving the land to make it better for his sons when they take over. Continue reading →