AFT and Real Farmers Care collaborate to offer self-care grants

American Farmland Trust  will collaborate with Real Farmer Care as the fiscal sponsor to support and advance farmer and rancher self-care and well-being.

Founded in January 2020, Real Farmer Care’s founding mission is to support farmers’ self-care needs and allocate donated funds directly to farmers and ranchers as $100 self-care awards. Self-care is defined as the practice of taking an active role in protecting and improving one’s own well-being and happiness, particularly during times of stress.

Self-care activities can be inexpensive, but rarely prioritized. Farmer self-care can look like a delicious dinner with friends and family at a restaurant where their products are served, a family fun day outing, a deep tissue massage for overworked muscles, a gym or yoga membership to build strength and cultivate relaxation, monthly online therapy sessions to process challenging life stressors, or even a new pair of boot insoles to support tired feet. Research shows that higher levels of self-care play a pivotal role in healthier lives and improved longevity. As levels of burnout continue to increase in farmers, especially those with marginalized identities, initiatives that financially support farmers in taking time to recharge are essential.

“As rigors in responsibilities and challenges continue for farmers, it is critical that now more than ever they have the resources at hand to improve their well-being,” said AFT President and CEO John Piotti. “AFT could not be any more grateful to Real Farmer Care in this alliance to promote healthy farmer and rancher mental health.”

AFT and RFC recognize that BIPOC farmers (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) are disproportionately impacted in access to land, education, and capital by systemic racism. On top of all the common challenges that exist in farming and ranching, BIPOC growers face substantial additional hurdles that impact their everyday wellness and livelihood. Therefore, making space to center and prioritize their needs is paramount. Since Real Farmer Care began awarding self-care grants in 2020, over 50% of the 239 Real Farmer Care grant recipients have been BIPOC and LGBTQ+ farmers.

“I view the impact of Real Farmer Care as a positive feedback loop. The more we care for our farmers and support their well-being, the more successful farmers can be at caring for themselves, our communities, and the land,” says founder Clara Coleman. “Through this collaboration with American Farmland Trust, I am excited to grow self-care programming such as online therapy stipends for mental health, bodywork care for physical health, and wellness retreats for social health so that farmers and ranchers can continue to access ongoing self-care support, thereby creating more resiliency for farmers in this country.”

Since 2020, AFT, with the support of Tillamook and corporate partners like Applegate, Butcher Box, Domino’s, iHeartMedia, Giant Food, major donors, and individual members, has provided approximately $5 million in grants directly to more than 2,000 farmers in 53 states and territories for pandemic relief, increased resilience, land access, and enhanced viability.

The impacts of Brighter Future Fund grants extend beyond individual awardees. These microgrants help drive new solutions for resolving key challenges facing our society by increasing the resilience of farms to climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening local food systems, creating greater equity in opportunities for underserved farmers, ensuring the availability of sufficient clean water and habitat for threatened wildlife, and improving farm viability and community vitality.

To learn more, please visit Real Farmer Care and American Farmland Trust.