The Best Research Findings Come From Nearby Farms, Says Missouri Farmer Josh Payne
On 300 acres of pasture in Concordia, Missouri, Josh Payne is reshaping what it means to farm. What began as a conventional row crop operation tied to family land has transformed into a diverse, pasture-based system. Today, Payne and his family raise about a…
Shane Hartzler on Farmer-led Research: Farmers Listen More to One Another
On a sixth-generation dairy farm in Rittman, Ohio, Shane Hartzler is balancing tradition with a drive to make smarter, more profitable decisions for the future. At Cross Roads Dairy, Hartzler milks about 90 cows on a 300-acre farm that includes pasture. “I enjoy the lifestyle, the challenge of the…
Farmer Cheryl Wheeler Believes Doing Research “From The Ground Up” will Inspire Others to Follow
While birds chirp and crickets rattle between the tomato vines of Efinity Harvest Farm in Trotwood, Ohio, Cheryl Wheeler, farmer and co-founder wears a smile as she warmly talks about her experiences leading From The Ground Up (FTGUp) research. The farm produces fresh, organically grown produce…
How Farmer-Led Research Is Strengthening a Community Food Initiative in Southwest Ohio
In the Riverview neighborhood of Hamilton, Ohio, Hamilton Urban Garden Systems (HUGS) has spent a decade improving food and nutrition security for residents in this food desert. HUGS has been working to ensure that every man, woman and child in Hamilton and…
Farmer Donee Boykin says ‘From The Ground Up’ is elevating farmers voices
On a quiet patch of land in Trotwood, Ohio, sunlight filters through rows of vegetables and herbs at Endigo’s Herbals & Organics, LLC. The air carries the scent of fresh soil. It is a sign that the land is alive,…
