Freedom and the Family Farm

On this weekend leading up to the 4th of July I spent time reflecting about what freedom and independence mean for me as a regenerative farmer.

First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude for the privilege my family has to produce wholesome food for you right here on U.S. soil. We recognize our freedoms would not be here today without the immense sacrifices from our service men and women, past and present. We are incredibly grateful and vow to continue to act courageously to honor their sacrifices.

Next, I want to acknowledge the freedoms that consumers like you pass onto farmers across the country when you choose to vote for family farms with your food dollar.

In doing so, you take power away from the corporate industrial food industry and give freedom of choice and independence back to farmers.

It's true...

In fact, here are 3 specific examples of freedoms you provide to farms like ours that you may not even know.

#1: Freedom from Commodity Price Dictation

Nearly every business in America is free to ask a fair price for their products and services, but this is different in agriculture.

Most farmers are paid solely on what the commodity price and the Chicago Board of Trade dictates. The problem is that the commodity pricing system always rewards quantity over quality - every day of the year.

But when consumers like you choose to opt out of the industrial food system, this fundamentally changes the game so that farmers can ask a fair price from consumers who share their values for quality foods raised ethically.

 

#2: Freedom from Multi-national Agribusiness 

Most rural American farmers think of themselves as independent and self-reliant people. Truth be told, most farmers are desperately dependent upon agribusiness corporations for the latest drug, chemical, or seed treatment to fight off pests and diseases caused by the above system that rewards quantity over quality.

Because of your support, you've enabled our farm and the farms in our producer network to make holistic farming choices that have built health and resilience into our soils and livestock. We can sleep well at night knowing we're not beholden to agribusinesses to keep our crops and animals alive.

Instead, we are gratefully interdependent upon customers like you who have stood beside us for over two decades.

 

#3: Freedom from a Profit-only Mindset 

I've always said that it's challenging for farmers to adopt new belief systems when their paycheck depends on conventional ways of doing things.
 
Back 40 years ago, farmers typically kept 35% of every food dollar sold. Today this number has shrunk to around 12%. The thin margins in agriculture have led farmers to be highly focused on a profit-only mindset to survive. Again, because of your support, you've provided us with the economic margin that gives us the freedom to think and farm holistically to prioritize quality and the health of our land, animals and end consumers of the food we produce.

At Seven Sons, profit isn't the sole goal of what we do. Instead, profit is a necessary result that enables us to accomplish the mission of providing regenerative foods to our supportive community of customers.


On behalf of all farmers across the country, thank you for the freedoms you are providing and the impact you're making to change the food system.

Have a safe and fun Independence Day.❤️ 🇺🇸