FACT Celebrates the Success of the 2024 Humane Farming Mentorship Cohort
By Katie Meade, Program Organizer & Humane Farming Program Associate
At FACT, we are thrilled to announce the successful completion of the 2024 Humane Farming Mentorship Program! This year’s cohort of 25 mentees, guided by experienced and passionate mentors, achieved remarkable progress in their humane farming practices. Together, they addressed challenges, refined strategies, and built more sustainable operations—creating positive ripple effects across their farms, communities, and the animals they care for. The impact of this mentorship is evident in the lives of 39 cattle, 30 sheep, 170 goats, 160 pigs, 4,300 layer chickens, and an astonishing 9,990 broiler chickens raised humanely on pasture in 2024 by the mentee cohort.
Inspiring Growth
The mentorship program continues to foster significant growth and learning for farmers across the country who are raising various species in a wide range of climates. On the West Coast, Shannon Kane of Wild Grown Farm in Redmond, OR (www.wildgrownfarm.com / @wildgrownfarm) scaled up her pastured poultry operations and successfully added turkeys. Shannon shared, “Working with our mentor helped us to scale our pastured poultry operation much quicker than we even expected! Our mentor's advice and expertise were crucial to our success, and we’re grateful for this experience.”
In Jourdanton, TX, at Wild Texan Farm (www.wildtexanfarm.com / @wildtexanfarm), Matt Barattino reflected on the invaluable support he received to scale up his pastured poultry and add pigs to his growing business: “I truly enjoyed getting to know our mentor and the guidance she gave us throughout the year. Her encouragement and advice directly impacted the huge growth our farm experienced this year. Thanks to our mentor, we were able to overcome several challenges and set our farm up for even more growth in 2025!”
Forward Thinking
The expertise of our mentors also helped mentees navigate specific, complex challenges. On the East Coast Mentee and farmer Stacie Edwards of Edwards Family Farms in Nebo, NC (www.edwardsfamilyfarmsnc.com / @edwardsfamilyfarmsnc) shared a sentiment that many farmers can relate to in her closing report: “This mentorship has helped more than I ever imagined. I went in scatterbrained and came out with clear and solid goals. I am blessed to have met a lifelong farmer friend in the process. With her support, I was able to plan which enterprises would take me to the next level as a meat producer and build a plan to get there... I am forever grateful.” Stacie will participate again as a mentee in the 2025 Production Farmer cohort, continuing to work with her mentor, Ashlyn Bristle (www.rebopfarm.com), on new goals for the year.
The Mentorship Program has had a notable impact on a farm's future, with mentees reporting increased confidence, higher standards of animal welfare, and more resilient farm business strategies. Marty Thomas of Kakadoodle Farms in Frankfurt, IL (www.kakadoodle.com / @kakadoodlefarm) shared, “My FACT mentor not only guided me through complex decisions but also became a trusted advisor in my farming journey. With their advice, we tackled challenges... optimizing our infrastructure to sustain laying hens during the harsh winter months. Their insights were invaluable in refining our go-to-market strategy, allowing Kakadoodle to enhance our distribution efficiency and reach new customers...setting us up for continued growth and success.”
Improving Farm Resilience
As we reflect on and celebrate the incredible accomplishments of the 2024 cohort, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the trusted mentors who shared their time, expertise, and passion. Their dedication has inspired a new wave of humane farmers who are making a meaningful difference for animals, the environment, and their communities.
Congratulations to the 2024 cohort—we can’t wait to see the continued impact of your hard work in the years to come.
Be sure to check out and support some of FACT’s mentors at their humane and pasture-based farms!
www.rebopfarm.com, www.jodarfarms.com, www.cookfarmny.com, www.newstoryfarm.com, www.fawncrossingfarms.com, www.rnffarms.com, www.nettlevalleyfarm.com, www.grettasgoats.com, www.ballyhoofiberemporium.com, www.bluerockstation.com, www.happyflappyfarm.net, www.vernalviberise.com, www.MulliganCreekAcres.com, www.archway.farm/, www.heritagemeadowsfarm.net, www.overthemoonfarmiowa.com, www.beyondorganicsfarm.com, www.ardentacres.com, www.joyofillinois.com