For many young farmers, regenerative agriculture practices, sustainability and conservation efforts have been high priorities in their farming operations, according to the 2022 National Young Farmer (NYF) Survey. 

“I think there’s not a lot of debate among younger folks about the realities of climate change,” shares Lindsey Shapiro, who serves as the Farm Bill Campaign Coordinator for Pasa Sustainable Agriculture (Pasa). “There’s a growing awareness that climate catastrophe is not a made-up thing, and with that awareness there’s a recognition that farming can play a part in what the solution can look like.” 

According to the NYF Survey, 86 percent of respondents considered their farming practices to be regenerative agriculture, emphasizing soil health to improve soil degraded by heavy chemical and machinery usage. Additionally, 83 percent stated their farms existed primarily for land conservation or regeneration purposes. 

However, as recognition of regenerative agriculture’s role in combating climate change grows, so does awareness of the many barriers preventing young people from getting into farming, as well as the high expectations placed on small farmers. 

A 2023 study published in the journal Land found that interest in farming among first-generation farmers often stemmed from idealism, but the practical realities made it challenging to sustain their goals long term. Barriers such as land access and affordability, expensive equipment and lack of mentorship can make entering the farming industry daunting at the very least. 

“We want [farmers] to grow nutritious food, and create good jobs, and make sure their food is affordable and be more efficient than any business could possibly be,” says Shapiro. “There’s an avalanche of responsibility that we pile on farmers and there’s increasingly an understanding that we need to take some of that responsibility on as communities.” 

That’s where nonprofit organizations like Pasa and the Rodale Institute step in. Both organizations have led efforts in helping Pennsylvania farmers establish and maintain their farming businesses.

Pasa offers pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs for current and beginning farmers interested in vegetable or dairy farming. It hosts annual and seasonal educational events for farmers and community members eager to learn about sustainable and regenerative food production methods. 

“Our annual conference has been trending younger and younger,” notes Shapiro, when asked whether Pasa has noticed an increase in interest among young people. “They’re all very enthusiastic.” 

The Rodale Institute has also observed a significant increase in young people’s enthusiasm for starting regenerative farms. The nonprofit integrates research, media, communications and health sciences into various internship programs focused on regenerative agriculture. Their farmer training program, RIFT, has experienced substantial growth in interest.

“In the last three years, the [RIFT] program has been exploding,” remarks Dan Kemper, master trainer for Rodale Institute’s Farmer Training program. The RIFT program is designed for people with little-to-no farming experience, offering comprehensive training in every aspect of the farming business. 

“We teach people everything they need to know about finances, science and production, allowing them to be the owner and operator of their own business,” adds Kemper, highlighting the program’s promising future growth.

Farm training programs for young adults aren’t the only ones gaining traction in Pennsylvania. At Homefields, a 19-acre nonprofit farm in Millersville, a recent grant from United Way of Lancaster County is providing funding for the farm to establish farm training programs with four local high schools. 

According to a Homefields press release, the $22,000 grant will enable 40 high school students to acquire transferable skills for jobs in farming, nurseries and greenhouses.

While many in the regenerative agriculture community are driven by concerns over environmental sustainability and conservation, and the weight of preventing climate catastrophes, both Kemper and Shapiro expressed optimism for the future.

“Young farmers are interested in regenerative agriculture to create a living for themselves that isn’t extractive or exploitative,” affirms Shapiro. “We can find a place in the world that doesn’t exploit other people.”

Riley Hurst Brubaker is a freelance writer based in Central Pennsylvania. She has been immersed in the regenerative agriculture world for most of her life and continues to help out on her family’s farm while working to establish her own career in media and communications. She has previously published works for Chatham University’s student news outlet and PublicSource.