by Stephanie Campbell, CFSA Outreach Coordinator | Nov. 17, 2015 —
- The USDA estimates that about 70% of farmland will change hands over the next two decades.
- The average age of farmers today is 57.
- As many as 50% of US farmers will retire in the next 10 years.
In 2013, Ben Street was living and working in front of a computer in Charlotte, NC, when he realized what he would really love to be doing was farming. He grew up in the suburbs of D.C. without a trace of agronomy. Street always cared about fitness, which led him to an interest in nutrition. From there, Street found himself curious where his food came from, which blossomed into a desire to farm. He realized that he liked hard work, good food, and maintaining an active outdoor lifestyle, and was energized by the idea of providing healthy food for the community.
So, he went online looking for local farms and emailed almost fifty farmers, offering to volunteer. Joe Rowland, of Rowland’s Row Family Farm, responded. A Farmer-in-Training (FiT) at the Lomax Farm in Cabarrus County, NC, Rowland met Street in the field and they talked endlessly about farming while weeding bush beans. Not long after, Street attended all of the training meetings at Lomax and spent weekends volunteering at Rowland’s farm.
Fast forward to this year when Street became a FiT at Lomax himself.
While Street still works a full-time day job, he spends the rest of his time at Lomax–farming evenings and weekends, even living in a pop-up camper to save on rent. He’s up and out by 5 a.m. on Saturdays to sell at the farmers market where sales are as variable as the weather. The other days present huge learning curves that present themselves to all beginning farmers: soil science, crop diversity, crop planning and rotations, pest management, irrigation, harvesting, processing, food safety, equipment operations and maintenance, organic standards, marketing, taxes, licenses, and business planning.
“Programs like Lomax are necessary to ensure the future of sustainable food systems, which will surely become increasingly imperative to the survival of humanity. Lomax has provided me with the tools and resources necessary to attain a real world experience in what it takes to be a farmer.”
“Do you ever feel like quitting?” I ask.
“Sometimes,” he admits.
But then he lights up and shares how exciting it is to see something grow, to know that he is providing nutrient-dense, healthy food for his community. Street is inspired by other new farmers, the wisdom of seasoned farmers, the rewards of working with nature, and how immense it feels to be part of a movement which creates a viable, sustainable future for us all.
This is where CFSA and the Elma C. Lomax Research and Education Farm in Cabarrus County, NC, make the difference. Farmers-in-Training (FiTs) like Street gain access to land and equipment, specialized training and support, and the essential hands-on mentoring from qualified and experienced successful farmers which they need to succeed.
Now knowing firsthand what it takes to be a farmer, Street announced that he has committed full-time to farming as a FiT at the Lomax Incubator Farm! CFSA congratulates him and the other Farmers-in-Training at Lomax for their vision and commitment to becoming sustainable farmers. With the financial support of our donors, CFSA will be able to continue to provide the training and resources they need to join the ranks of successful farmers in the Carolinas.
Your gift to CFSA is one of the best ways you can support local farmers and champion food that is good for consumers, good for farmers and farmworkers, and good for the land.
Please consider giving today.