March 14th, 2022
By Michael Shulman
Joel Tatum Joins AFT as First Midwest Solar Specialist
(Washington, D.C.) Joel Tatum joins American Farmland Trust today as the organization’s first Midwest Solar Specialist, where he will play a key role in implementing AFT’s strategy at the intersection of solar energy generation and farmland conservation, primarily in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa.
“I am excited that our Midwest team is evolving into more aspects of AFT’s mission beyond promoting sound farming practices,” said Kristopher Reynolds, AFT’s Midwest Director. “With the addition of Joel to the team, we will now be able to accelerate the pace of solar development in the Midwest and encompass smart solar siting on the landscape.”
Tatum joins AFT from Harvest Energy Solutions, a solar energy company serving the Midwest, where he developed a successful sales team with over $5 million in annual sales. He is a Missouri native with over 20 years of experience in the agriculture industry.
“I cannot wait to join AFT and work across the Midwest to bring smart solar development practices to the forefront of our work,” said Tatum. “There has already been great progress in the region, and I think there is limitless potential to create new smart solar siting strategies and improve farmland conservation.”
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American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms, No Food message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and supported thousands of farm families.