Hi All- Below is my formal intro to the pasture based network I am now part of. I am passing this along for your use and hope you can share it with others, too. We are hosting a webinar later in March to provide more information (details are below).
I’m reaching out because I’ve been helping to organize a new network designed for pasture-based farmers like us, and I’d love for you to be a part of it. FACE (Farmers for Animals, Communities and the Environment) is the first national, pasture-based farmer network focused on advocating for policy changes that support farms like ours. If you’re curious to learn more, please check out our website, and consider registering for our upcoming webinar.
We built the FACE Ag Network because we know that giant corporations and their lobby groups are pouring millions into policies that prop up industrial farming and often make it harder for us as farmers to survive. We also know that some challenges we face as independent pasture-based livestock and poultry farmers are unique and may not be priorities for other farm organizations. The FACE Ag Network is a platform to speak directly to decisionmakers like legislators, local ag officials and journalists about our need for more resources, competitive markets, and more.
FACE is supported by the ASPCA and the Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT), two organizations with a long history of partnering with and supporting pasture-based farmers. These organizations will provide training and logistical support.
I’m excited to get this off the ground because I have been Certified Animal Welfare Approved for 6 years, but I have realized the lack of a farmer network. I have a great network of pasture based producers who have supported our farm and now I am happy to support high-welfare farms and farmers in the same way.
If this sounds like something you may be interested in, we’re hosting an informational webinar on “Policy and Pasture: Advocating for Pasture-Based Farming and Farmers through the FACE Ag Network” Tuesday, March 31st at 1:00pm ET and I’d encourage you to sign up here. Even if you are unable to attend, all registrants will receive a follow-up email with a link to the webinar recording.
I’d also be happy to hop on the phone to answer any questions or give you more background on the types of policies we’ll be advocating for.
Thank you,
Elizabeth Collins
Graceful Acres @ Otter creek Farm