December 3rd, 2024
By Olivia Fuller
Julian Mangano Joins American Farmland Trust as New York Policy Manager
Albany, NY—American Farmland Trust announced the hiring of Julian Mangano to the role of New York Policy Manager, where he will lead on state policy work related to protecting farmland, supporting land access for a new generation of farmers, and strengthening farm to school, among other initiatives.
Julian joins the New York and New Jersey team with over seven years of experience in sustainable agriculture, policy advocacy, and organizational leadership. Julian currently serves as a State Committee Member with the USDA Farm Service Agency, where he works on projects to improve outreach and participation in USDA programs. He was appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to serve on the USDA Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers, advising on methods to maximize the participation of socially disadvantaged farmers in USDA programs, and has contributed to national advocacy efforts through the National Young Farmers Coalition, advocating for land access and farm viability policies in the upcoming Farm Bill. Julian was a member of the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Diversity and Racial Equity Working Group, as well as the Farmland Protection Working Group.
“I feel that New York has positioned itself to be a leader in enhancing sustainable agriculture and prioritizing initiatives to create a more resilient food system throughout the state,” said Julian Mangano, AFT New York Policy Manager. “I have always appreciated and valued the contributions that American Farmland Trust has made towards the various initiatives and programs that support the agricultural ecosystem of New York, and I am enthused to join an organization that is focused on the critical issues facing our Nation’s agricultural sector. I look forward to doing my part in contributing to the vital work American Farmland Trust is committed to and protecting the land that sustains us!”
Julian is also the owner and operator of a small organic farm, Della Terra Farm in northern New York, where he has gained firsthand experience with regenerative agriculture, managing farm operations, and engaging with his local community. Additionally, he serves as the Farm Lead at Restore Forward where he facilitates educational programming and drives initiatives that promote healing and reconciliation in farming communities.
“We are delighted to have Julian Mangano join our American Farmland Trust team as the New York Policy Manager,” said Linda Garrett, New York and New Jersey Regional Director for AFT. “Julian’s professional background in both advising USDA and New York state to better serve all farmers and his personal experience with agriculture makes him especially well-suited to this vital role and to advocate for a brighter future for farming in our region.”
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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 8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and supported thousands of farm families.