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AFT Names Julia Valliant Director, Farms for a New Generation

AFT Names Julia Valliant Director, Farms for a New Generation

American Farmland Trust has named Julia Valliant as Director of the national Farms for a New Generation team, where she will lead efforts to increase access to land and capital for the rising generation of farmers and ranchers and support elder farmers and landowners in transferring their farms with dignity and confidence.

May 14, 2026

Michael Shulman

Brewing Conversations: Coffee Chats Bring Illinois Farmers Together

Brewing Conversations: Coffee Chats Bring Illinois Farmers Together

This winter, I hosted a series of informal “virtual coffee chats” with farmers across Illinois. These conversations started with a simple goal: to provide ongoing agronomic support to farmers participating in ADM’s re:generations™ program in Illinois. Through its partnership with ADM, American Farmland Trust works directly with producers to offer agronomic advice and support as they adopt and expand their use cover crops, reduced tillage, and other soil health practices.

May 22, 2026

Torey Colburn

Returning to the Midwest, Finding Common Ground in Illinois State Policy

Returning to the Midwest, Finding Common Ground in Illinois State Policy

As the Midwest Policy Manager for American Farmland Trust, I work with a wide array of individuals and organizations, all bringing their own priorities and perspectives to the proverbial table. In a policy landscape where time, attention, and funding are limited, finding initiatives that resonate across that diversity can be challenging.

May 15, 2026

Claire Shipp

A Wisconsin Farm Story Comes Full Circle

A Wisconsin Farm Story Comes Full Circle

Discover how a dedicated Wisconsin farming couple overcame land access challenges to build a thriving, community-focused farm with the help of innovative programs and partnerships. This inspiring story highlights resilience, sustainable agriculture, and the journey from renting land to achieving long-term farm ownership.

May 1, 2026

Brooks Lamb

The Future of Agriculture is Bright (and Stylish)

The Future of Agriculture is Bright (and Stylish)

In April, three AFT staff celebrated MANRRS’ 40th year at their “Leadership to Legacy Annual Training Conference and Career Expo” in Dallas, Texas. AFT’s Anel Trujillo, Nicole Gwishiri, and Tasha Wei hosted hands-on trainings and a booth at the conference career expo, which was attended by conference founders and thousands of students from across the country.

Apr 30, 2026

Megan Faller

Big Lessons in Appreciating the Midwest's Little Details

Big Lessons in Appreciating the Midwest's Little Details

I grew up in Illinois, and here you learn to notice what I like to refer to as “little” nature. Little nature doesn’t demand your attention in the same way as more dramatic and grand landscapes; you have to give it your attention. You see little nature in the evolution of prairie flowers across the seasons, in the subtle differences between the bee species that pollinate them, or in the hidden life of a creek bed. These are things you come to understand over time by paying attention.

Apr 1, 2026

Small Dollars for Big Impact: How Micro-Grants Radically Improve Small Farm Operations

Small Dollars for Big Impact: How Micro-Grants Radically Improve Small Farm Operations

When conservation is captured in acres, not feet, how do we talk about the impact of urban farms within the agricultural ecosystem?  I would argue one way is through ingenuity, creativity, and community impact. Most urban farms in the Midwest were not created solely focused on making a profit. The farmers have a strong desire to give back to their communities and the earth all while growing their small businesses. Last year, we profiled three urban farmers in and near Kansas City, Missouri who received micro-grants of $3,500 through a partnership between American Farmland Trust and a Kansas City-based urban agriculture non-profit, Cultivate Kansas City.

Jul 2, 2026

Annalise Lallana

Farmer Profile: Michelle Bieneck

Farmer Profile: Michelle Bieneck

AFT programs highlight peer learning for farmers committed to advancing conservation, land stewardship, and community resilience in their communities. This Farmer Profile is funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service to highlight inspiring farmers who work to protect, steward, and manage U.S. farmland.

Jun 29, 2026

Carly Boyer

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