White House, USDA to honor ag ‘champions of change’
July 28, 2014 | 11:43 AM
The Obama administration will honor 15 local agricultural “Champions of Change” in a ceremony at the White House on Tuesday.
Those to be honored “are doing extraordinary things to build the bench for the next generation of farming and ranching,” the White House said in a news release.
“These champions are leading in their industries and communities, inspiring others who want to find careers and a life on the land, and providing food, fiber, fuel, and flora around the world.”
The program will feature Agriculture Department Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden, who will discuss efforts to make sure that beginning farmers and the growing ranks of agriculture — women, young people, immigrants, socially disadvantaged producers, returning veterans and retirees — have access to the programs and support they need.
The event will include a discussion about how to continue growing and supporting the next generation of farmers and ranchers.
The honors are part of the Champions of Change program the Obama administration created “to feature individuals, businesses, and organizations doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities,” the White House said in a news release.
The event will be streamed live on the internet beginning at 10 a.m.
Here are short biographies of the honorees.
Fifth-generation beginning farmers with three young children, they grow certified organic corn, soybeans, oilseeds and small grains on 380 acres in Cottonwood County. They also raise a small number of livestock, and have a direct-market popcorn business called Patriot Pops.
A fourth-generation farmer, he works for Darden Bridgeforth & Sons, which grows cotton, corn, wheat, soybeans, and canola using cutting-edge agronomic techniques and land conservation practices. Bridgeforth graduated from Alabama A&M with a degree in soil science in 1980 and is active in the university's agricultural initiatives. As chairman of the National Black Growers Council, he advocates on behalf of black farmers in the United States and abroad.
Carter operates Southern Belle Farm, 30 miles outside of Atlanta, which offers “you pick” strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and peaches, as well as a fall corn maze and educational school tours. Carter was recently elected as the American Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Rancher Committee chair.
Kubiszak is the retail manager for Brookside Farms, a fifth-generation family farm in southwest Michigan that grows and packs blueberries for distribution through MBG’s cooperative marketing network. She returned to the farm after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in social work from Cornerstone University. She also sits on the board of directors for the Van Buren County Farm Bureau as the promotion and education chair.
Haynes has held a key management role in his family’s northern Alabama egg farm since graduating from the University of Alabama, where he studied business. He will graduate from the Alabama Leaders for Agriculture two-year leadership program in August.
Litvinas is the manager of the UDairy Creamery at the University of Delaware’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She shows student interns and employees how to operate an agricultural business and teaches the importance of sustainable agriculture.
Hunt, while a student there, worked with Litvinas on community outreach for the UDairy Creamery. After earning a degree in animal science and agricultural marketing, he returned home to New Jersey to become managing partner of his family’s Windy Brow Farms, LLC, and opened The Cow's Brow Creamery .
As co-founder and executive director of the National Young Farmers Coalition, Shute advocates for policy change, provides business services, and creates networking opportunities for new growers. She also own and manage Hearty Roots Community Farm, a diversified vegetable farm in Clermont, N.Y.
Raised on a cow-calf operation in central Arkansas, McClung went to Eastern Oklahoma State College and Oklahoma State University on livestock judging scholarships, and earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science with emphasis on business and agricultural economics. His wife, Chantel, works for Farm Credit of Western Arkansas. Together they run 7 Diamond 3 McClung Cattle Company near El Paso, Ark. He is executive vice president of the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association.
A refugee farmer from Burundi, she is a single mother of five who speaks five languages. In 2013, she was a founding member of the Immigrant Farmer Marketing Cooperative, a USDA-Rural Development project to assist socially disadvantaged farmers.
Owner of a mixed row-crop and herb farm, Pottinger graduated from the University of Kentucky, majoring in agriculture economics. Upon graduation he joined the Kentucky Farm Bureau Young Farmers, Kentucky Corn Growers and Kentucky Soybean Association, where he serves on the board. He has just started a year of service with the Corn Farmers Coalition.
Rodriguez was born in Los Angeles, the son of Mexican and El Salvadoran immigrants. His family moved to the Chelan Valley in Central Washington before he entered school to work in the tree fruit industry. He will enter Washington State University this fall to study horticulture. After graduation he hopes to work in the tree fruit industry as a field representative for a fruit warehouse or chemical company, and would like to own his own orchard.
A Cochiti Puebloan and Kiowa Indian, she is the granddaughter of a Pueblo farmer. She earned a master’s degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law’s Food and Agricultural Law program, and worked with the Indigenous Food and Agricultural Initiative. She consults for First Nations Development Institute, a nonprofit whose mission is to strengthen Native American economies.
Slieman is founder and CEO of a company that grows produce inside climate-controlled greenhouses using hydroponics, a method of growing plants without soil. He holds a master’s degree in business from the University of California at San Diego and a computer science/business bachelor’s degree from the University of California Riverside. He also sits on the board of directors of the San Diego County Farm Bureau and will graduate this year from the California Leadership Farm Bureau program.
Tharp is a second-generation farmer who, with her husband and parents, owns and operates Legan Livestock and Grain, a commercial swine, corn and soybean farm in west central Indiana. She represents agriculture on local community boards.
Born in Sweden, Wineland moved to the United States, becoming a U.S. citizen and serving in the Army. She earned a master of science degree in international relations from St. Mary’s University, and studied at Georgetown University; National War College; Air University, and Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government while serving in the military. Wineland, who with her family raises grapes and operates a butcher shop, completed the Nebraska LEAD Program, Nebraska Ranch Practicum and cow-calf college.
▪ White House — Champions of Change
Those to be honored “are doing extraordinary things to build the bench for the next generation of farming and ranching,” the White House said in a news release.
“These champions are leading in their industries and communities, inspiring others who want to find careers and a life on the land, and providing food, fiber, fuel, and flora around the world.”
The program will feature Agriculture Department Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden, who will discuss efforts to make sure that beginning farmers and the growing ranks of agriculture — women, young people, immigrants, socially disadvantaged producers, returning veterans and retirees — have access to the programs and support they need.
The event will include a discussion about how to continue growing and supporting the next generation of farmers and ranchers.
The honors are part of the Champions of Change program the Obama administration created “to feature individuals, businesses, and organizations doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities,” the White House said in a news release.
The event will be streamed live on the internet beginning at 10 a.m.
Here are short biographies of the honorees.
Ryan and Tiffany Batalden, Lamberton, Minn.
Fifth-generation beginning farmers with three young children, they grow certified organic corn, soybeans, oilseeds and small grains on 380 acres in Cottonwood County. They also raise a small number of livestock, and have a direct-market popcorn business called Patriot Pops.
Bill Bridgeforth, National Black Growers Council, Tanner, Ala.
A fourth-generation farmer, he works for Darden Bridgeforth & Sons, which grows cotton, corn, wheat, soybeans, and canola using cutting-edge agronomic techniques and land conservation practices. Bridgeforth graduated from Alabama A&M with a degree in soil science in 1980 and is active in the university's agricultural initiatives. As chairman of the National Black Growers Council, he advocates on behalf of black farmers in the United States and abroad.
Jake Carter, American Farm BureauYoung Farmers and Ranchers Committee, McDonough, Ga.
Carter operates Southern Belle Farm, 30 miles outside of Atlanta, which offers “you pick” strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and peaches, as well as a fall corn maze and educational school tours. Carter was recently elected as the American Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Rancher Committee chair.
Kristin Fritz KubiszakMBG Marketing ‘The Blueberry People,’ Paw Paw, Mich.
Kubiszak is the retail manager for Brookside Farms, a fifth-generation family farm in southwest Michigan that grows and packs blueberries for distribution through MBG’s cooperative marketing network. She returned to the farm after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in social work from Cornerstone University. She also sits on the board of directors for the Van Buren County Farm Bureau as the promotion and education chair.
Lee Haynes, Nature's Best Egg Company, Inc., Cullman, Ala.
Haynes has held a key management role in his family’s northern Alabama egg farm since graduating from the University of Alabama, where he studied business. He will graduate from the Alabama Leaders for Agriculture two-year leadership program in August.
Melinda Litvinas, University of Delaware Creamery, Newark, Del.and Jacob Hunt, Windy Brow Farms, Newton, N.J.
Litvinas is the manager of the UDairy Creamery at the University of Delaware’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She shows student interns and employees how to operate an agricultural business and teaches the importance of sustainable agriculture.
Hunt, while a student there, worked with Litvinas on community outreach for the UDairy Creamery. After earning a degree in animal science and agricultural marketing, he returned home to New Jersey to become managing partner of his family’s Windy Brow Farms, LLC, and opened The Cow's Brow Creamery .
Lindsey Lusher ShuteNational Young Farmers Coalition, Clermont, N.Y.
As co-founder and executive director of the National Young Farmers Coalition, Shute advocates for policy change, provides business services, and creates networking opportunities for new growers. She also own and manage Hearty Roots Community Farm, a diversified vegetable farm in Clermont, N.Y.
Adam McClung, Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association, Vilonia, Ark.
Raised on a cow-calf operation in central Arkansas, McClung went to Eastern Oklahoma State College and Oklahoma State University on livestock judging scholarships, and earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science with emphasis on business and agricultural economics. His wife, Chantel, works for Farm Credit of Western Arkansas. Together they run 7 Diamond 3 McClung Cattle Company near El Paso, Ark. He is executive vice president of the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association.
Fabiola Nizigiyimana, Worcester, Mass.
A refugee farmer from Burundi, she is a single mother of five who speaks five languages. In 2013, she was a founding member of the Immigrant Farmer Marketing Cooperative, a USDA-Rural Development project to assist socially disadvantaged farmers.
Quint Pottinger, Affinity Farms, New Haven, Ky.
Owner of a mixed row-crop and herb farm, Pottinger graduated from the University of Kentucky, majoring in agriculture economics. Upon graduation he joined the Kentucky Farm Bureau Young Farmers, Kentucky Corn Growers and Kentucky Soybean Association, where he serves on the board. He has just started a year of service with the Corn Farmers Coalition.
Jesus Rodriguez, Chelan, Wash.
Rodriguez was born in Los Angeles, the son of Mexican and El Salvadoran immigrants. His family moved to the Chelan Valley in Central Washington before he entered school to work in the tree fruit industry. He will enter Washington State University this fall to study horticulture. After graduation he hopes to work in the tree fruit industry as a field representative for a fruit warehouse or chemical company, and would like to own his own orchard.
Vena A-dae Romero, Cochiti Youth Experience, Cochiti Pueblo, N.M.
A Cochiti Puebloan and Kiowa Indian, she is the granddaughter of a Pueblo farmer. She earned a master’s degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law’s Food and Agricultural Law program, and worked with the Indigenous Food and Agricultural Initiative. She consults for First Nations Development Institute, a nonprofit whose mission is to strengthen Native American economies.
Pierre Sleiman, Go Green Agriculture, Encinitas, Calif.
Slieman is founder and CEO of a company that grows produce inside climate-controlled greenhouses using hydroponics, a method of growing plants without soil. He holds a master’s degree in business from the University of California at San Diego and a computer science/business bachelor’s degree from the University of California Riverside. He also sits on the board of directors of the San Diego County Farm Bureau and will graduate this year from the California Leadership Farm Bureau program.
Beth Tharp, Coatesville, Ind.
Tharp is a second-generation farmer who, with her husband and parents, owns and operates Legan Livestock and Grain, a commercial swine, corn and soybean farm in west central Indiana. She represents agriculture on local community boards.
Desiree Wineland, Cambridge, Neb.
Born in Sweden, Wineland moved to the United States, becoming a U.S. citizen and serving in the Army. She earned a master of science degree in international relations from St. Mary’s University, and studied at Georgetown University; National War College; Air University, and Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government while serving in the military. Wineland, who with her family raises grapes and operates a butcher shop, completed the Nebraska LEAD Program, Nebraska Ranch Practicum and cow-calf college.
▪ White House — Champions of Change
