Influencing Change

Regenerative agriculture offers solutions that enable farmers to become good environmental and social stewards. Many small-scale farmers, new and returning farmers have increasingly adopted these practices, e.g., cover cropping, crop rotation, no-till, composting, etc. Yet, there is a need to expand knowledge, awareness, and its adoption among the populace.  While agricultural knowledge is passed from generation to generation, the significant roles of small-scale regenerative farmers in stimulating food sovereignty are rarely emphasized. 

The lived experiences of regenerative farmers detail the motivation, challenges, opportunities, and lessons that have sustained their regenerative practices, including their vision for their communities. Regenerative farmers have a passion for growing healthy food and resilient communities. They are motivated by their community to re-imagine their collective future together. 

Our choices impact our health, community, farmers’ livelihoods, and the planet. Therefore becoming receptive to and valuing the voices of small-scale regenerative farmers could positively impact current and future food security. More importantly, we all must empower each other to become agents of change and save our future.

Join us in understanding the story, value, and impact of small-scale regenerative farmers by listening to the stories of Ohio-based regenerative farmers.

Available on      Apple Podcasts | OSU Podcasts

Also, a selection of the images and stories are on exhibit in the Thompson Library through September 8, 2024. https://library.osu.edu/node/15787 

Acknowledgment: This work was supported in part by the Sustainability Institute.

Research artifacts by Sherifat Alabi, Doctoral Student, and Dr. Joy Rumble, Associate Professor.

Photographs by Laura Scholl, Cora Crilow, and Kylie Ramirez, Agricultural Communication Students, Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership.