Next Gen Farming
Farmer Connections
Next Gen Farming
Common Ground Producers and Growers Mobile Market and Mobile Food Hub is committed to the next Generation of urban and rural farmers. We have partnered with Kansas State Research and Extension Office for education and training. This has allowed Common Ground Producers and Growers Mobile Market to hire city youth workers through the City of Wichita The Way to Work employment program.
This program allows the youth to be exposed to careers and opportunities they may never have been able to experience otherwise. Through these partnerships, we are able to expose young people to farming and community. Our youth are the next generation of farmers. The young men were able to experience for themselves what role they play in the food chain system. For the first time they were able to see carrots and potatoes coming straight out of the ground compared to how they normally would see them in the store. They experienced the power of production of your own food and the gift to be able to feed someone else.
This allowed them to see the importance of leadership and the need to serve others. The next generation has a bright future and some tough work to do but if we continue to show them that there is power in knowing where your food comes from and there is power in serving your community. By educating, empowering and demonstrating servant leadership there will be no problems the next generation of rural and urban farmers won’t be able to solve.
Food access has to become as important to our community’s as safe streets, good education and housing. No one president, no one political party, and no one government project can solve the food issue. It will take all of us both young and old rural and urban working to meet the needs of our community. We can change the system and make it more equitable and inclusive. The change is here, the real question becomes what is my role and what can I do to promote change?