This is the fourth installment in a blog series featuring the ten recipients of our 2023 Muck Boot Chapter Capacity Grant program. Through this year’s grant program, the chapters received fundraising training and support to help them build long-term financial sustainability.

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Young and BIPOC farmers are dealing with the impacts of climate change every day. Across the country, farmers are facing unpredictable weather, severe storms, historic floods and droughts, and increased pest and disease pressure. 73.3% of young farmers who took the 2022 National Young Farmer Survey said they have experienced at least one climate impact on their farm in the past year. Supporting farmers who are experiencing the impacts of the climate crisis on their operations is a major focus of the Central Illinois Young Farmers Chapter.

In 2021, the chapter started the Central Illinois Disaster and Emergency (CIDER) Fund for farmers in Central Illinois who are experiencing acute and unexpected crises on their farms or in their homes and are in need of quick relief. The year the fund was established, one chapter member lost their entire crop after two historic flooding events that summer, and another chapter member who was later awarded $500 in relief funds was impacted by a late spring drought, hail storms, and a dust storm. The goal of the fund is to provide direct cash assistance to farmers in need with a fast turnaround so they can get the support they need immediately. Through donations and financial support from a regional grocery store chain, the chapter was able to raise money for the fund.

In other states, Young Farmers Chapters are taking on policy work that is not happening in their region, but in Illinois, there are already many organizations focused on policy change. There are not many organizations focusing on community building for farmers, however. In a state dominated by Big Ag, it can be easy to feel isolated as a small-scale, young farmer, particularly after experiencing a crisis. The chapter wants to focus on breaking up the isolation many farmers experience and address the mental health challenges farming communities face. The CIDER fund is a crucial component of that work.

The chapter wants to increase the impact of their fund and hope that will be possible with the Chapter Capacity Grant and the development support they are receiving. A few weeks ago, the chapter had its annual meeting, where they reflected on the launch party they hosted last February that enabled them to raise a lot of money for the fund. They are considering hosting another one this year. They are also thinking about the ways they can deepen the relationship they have with current funders to support the other work the chapter is engaging in.

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Chapters of the National Young Farmers Coalition are the purpose for and partners in our mission to shift power and change policy to equitably resource our new generation of working farmers. Check out our website to see existing Chapters in your area and email us at Chapters@youngfarmers.org to discuss starting a Chapter.