In March 2023, hundreds of farmers and their allies gathered in Washington, DC, for a three-day mobilization called Farmers for Climate Action: A Rally for Resilience. While there, we were excited to speak with many farmers from across the country about the climate resilient practices they’re putting into place on their farms, the ways in which they’re being impacted by climate change, and the kind of support they need to steward their land and mitigate climate change for all of us.

On Tuesday, March 7, this coalition of more than 50 farm organizations held a rally with inspiring speakers and music performances by John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson and more. After the rally, we marched down Pennsylvania Avenue to demand support for farmer-led climate solutions, racial justice and the prioritization of communities over corporations in the 2023 Farm Bill. Farm Aid was honored to co-sponsor this event with our partners at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

Watch the clips below to hear from farmers on why they attended the rally and how they see climate change impacting family farm agriculture.

Alana Henry

Young Family Farm, Kansas City, MO

Janet Aardema

Broadfork Farm in Chesterfield, VA

Mark & Candi Fentress

CWO Farms in Detroit, MI

Jeremy Smith & Trish Jenkins

Cycle Farm in Spearfish, SD

Sophia Buggs

Lady Buggs Pharm in Youngstown, OH

Jasbir Singh Sidhu

Farmer in Sanger, CA, and member of the Punjabi American Growers’ Group

Graham Christensen

Christensen Farms in Oakland, NE

Jeff Dickinson

Stratford Ecological Center in Delaware, OH

Ryan and Sarah Voiland

Red Fire Farm in Granby, MA