Here at the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), we believe America’s farmers, ranchers and foresters are superheroes. They maybe don’t wear capes or fight crime, but they do right and feed everyone, growing our nation’s food, fiber and fuel. They do this despite challenges from Mother Nature and ups and downs in the market.
While farmers are modest people, we want to highlight their work. Meet a few of our “superhero” farmers:
Good Stead Farm
Sarah Longstreth’s Good Stead Farm is a staple for good food in Midland County, Michigan. It’s a community supported agriculture farm that feeds 60 families as well as sells at local restaurants and farmers markets.
Good Stead Farm prides itself on using practices that improve soil health and favors heirloom and heritage plant and animal species. Her farm offers 100 different varieties of about 45 vegetables, herbs and flowers.
The farm also uses three hoop houses, or high tunnels, to extend the growing season to have produce earlier in the spring and later in the fall.
Hun-Val Dairy Farm
Jared Weeks grew up surrounded by dairy farms in rural New Jersey. After working on a neighbor’s dairy farm, he started his own dairy, Hun-Val Dairy Farm, in 2005
Over the years, he has grown his dairy, which now has 200 cows. His milk dons the exclusive Jersey Fresh label, which sets it apart on grocery store shelves. And most recently, Hun-Val Dairy Farm has partnered with another farm to open the Red Barn Milk Company, where people can buy his dairy’s milk and ice cream as well as other locally sourced foods.
Foot Print Farms
Cindy Ayers Elliott once worked on Wall Street—but has since traded in her high heels for a pair of work boots. The former CEO and investment banker has made a life-changing move to her Jackson home-turned-farm, where she rears goats for meat and grows organic vegetables.
Teaching others to farm is important to Cindy. She wants her goat ranch and organic vegetable garden to serve as a place where people can learn to farm, especially single mothers and people who may be socially or economically disadvantaged.
Help from USDA
All superheroes need a sidekick. We encourage you think of USDA as the Robin to the Batman. Sarah, Jared and Cindy all partnered with USDA to improve their operations.
USDA offers farm loans as well as conservation, disaster assistance and risk management programs to help farmers, ranchers and foresters thrive.
