The results are in, and we’re excited to announce the incumbent representatives to the National Young Farmers Coalition Policy Committee for the 2024-25 term!
The Policy Committee is the body of farmer representatives that most regularly collaborates with the Young Farmers Policy Team in our policy work. It was formed in line with our expressed commitment to our policy work being farmer-driven, and exists to ensure young farmers, especially Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) farmers, have a formal voice in setting our federal policy platform and that it reflects the on-the-ground needs of our farmer members.
The 2024-25 members are:
- Tanama Varas, Northeast BIPOC Representative
Colchester, Vermont – Farm Manager and Farmer Training Program Educator at the University of Vermont - Alaena Robbins, Northeast Representative
Limington, Maine – Farm Manager of Broadturn Farm - Patrick Brown, Southeast BIPOC Representative
Henderson, North Carolina – Farmer Owner/Operator - Tegan Alspaugh, Southeast Representative
Chattanooga, Tennessee – Farm Manager and member of the Southeast Tennessee Young Farmers Chapter - Lydia Nebel, Midwest Representative
Kansas City, Missouri – Farm Director and President of the KC Young Farmers Chapter - Alexis Albanez, Northwest BIPOC Representative
Denver, Colorado – Farmer at Frontline Farming and member of the Mile High Farmers Young Farmers Chapter - Michelle Week, Northwest Representative
Portland, Oregon – Farm Owner - Kirsten Couevas, Southwest Representative
Los Lunas, New Mexico – Farm Owner/Operator and member of the Federal Policy Board - Pork Rhyne, At-large Representative
Greensboro, North Carolina – Retired (for now) farmer, known as “The Pork Evangelist” - Nicolás Garcia, At-large Representative
Kansas City, Missouri – Campesino at Treehouse Urban Farm, Production Manager at Boys Grow, and Secretary of the Kansas City Young Farmers Chapter
We’re filled with gratitude for everyone who self-nominated for the coming term. Your high levels of experience and expertise are assets to your region and our coalition. Please keep an eye out for the next election season. We hope you will consider running again.
We look forward to working and growing with you all in our policy setting process!