Adapting to Meet the Needs of America’s Farmers and Ranchers
Like America’s farmers and ranchers, American Farmland Trust (AFT) is adapting in a new era. In just the past 5 years, AFT’s staff has grown by nearly 130% with many of these new additions on our program teams. This growth was intended to enable AFT to better advance our mission and serve America’s farmers and ranchers.
During this time, AFT has launched or significantly expanded national programs, including the National Agricultural Land Network, Farms for a New Generation, Climate and Soil Health, Farmer and Rancher Services, and Smart Solar. At the same time, we’ve broadened our research capacity, building on our Farms Under Threat work to integrate land-use analyses and sociology into a more comprehensive research agenda that brings new data and information to answer key questions in conservation agriculture. In addition, AFT has expanded our on-the-ground reach last year to direct work with farmers and ranchers, landowners, and other professionals in 40 states.
Our regional programs have expanded in number and impact, with new programs in the Southeast and Texas, and deeper engagement with farmers and ranchers in activities spanning all parts of AFT’s mission in New England, New York & New Jersey, the Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, and California. In the last year alone, AFT national and regional programs trained and educated more than 14,000 farmers, ranchers, and landowners, while building the capacity of 5,300 professionals to support producers and agricultural communities. These efforts have led to more farms being permanently protected, increased adoption of regenerative practices, and stronger farm viability and resilience.
In response to this growth and to better serve our mission, we’re evolving our organizational structure. This fall, we have introduced a new cohort of Managing Directors who will help lead our program divisions and foster collaboration across programs. These leaders will manage their current AFT program division while supervising and supporting at least one other division, a structure designed to enhance staff support, collaboration, and innovation.
The following staff will be transitioning to these new leadership roles:
Jim Habana Hafner, currently our New England Director, will become Northeast Managing Director, overseeing the New England and New York & New Jersey Regional Programs.
Jamie Mierau, currently our Mid-Atlantic Director, will become Eastern Managing Director, overseeing the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Regional Programs.
Kris Reynolds, currently our Midwest Director, will become Central Managing Director, supervising the Midwest Regional Program and Agricultural Conservation Innovation Program.
Addie Candib, currently our Pacific Northwest Director, will become Western Managing Director, overseeing the Pacific Northwest, California, and Texas Regional Programs.
Sam Smidt, PhD, currently our National Director of Land Use and Protection Research, will become Managing Director of Research with a team of sociologists, agricultural economists, soil scientists, geospatial specialists, and land use change specialists.
Nathan L’Etoile will continue as National Farm Viability Managing Director and oversee the Farmer and Rancher Services and Smart Solar Programs.
In addition, other staff will be stepping into new leadership roles. Michelle Perez, PhD, will become AFT’s new Sr. Liaison Between Research and On-The-Ground Practice to better enhance connections between our Research team and other program divisions, as well as engage corporate, academic, and other external partners to accelerate adoption of on-the-ground conservation practices. Finally, Chantel Welch will be elevated to the new role of Pacific Northwest Deputy Director to help lead AFT’s programs across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
These changes are more than titles; they represent a commitment to empowering leaders, fostering collaboration, and driving innovation. These new roles are also emerging at a dynamic time of substantial change, and these leaders will play key roles in enabling AFT to adapt and better serve our mission of saving the land that sustains us.
Thank you to Jim, Jamie, Kris, Addie, Sam, Nate, Michelle, Chantel and all AFT staff for their commitment and partnership with farmers and ranchers, our partners , supporters, and community members.
As AFT evolves to meet the challenges of a changing agricultural landscape, we invite you to be part of this momentum. Whether you're a farmer, rancher, landowner, partner, or supporter, your engagement is vital to our mission. Connect with our regional teams, explore our national programs, and help us protect farmland, promote regenerative practices, and strengthen farm viability across the country.
Together, we can shape a more resilient future—one acre, one partnership, one innovation at a time!
