A sense of community and momentum has persisted among participants of the Midwest GRIT program.
AGC was pleased to be part of Midwest GRIT (Grains Resource & Immersive Training)—a beginning farmer training program for folks new to food-grade grain production, offered in partnership with Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (MFAI) and University of Wisconsin-Madison. During its two years of programming, led by Christine Johnson of MFAI, 60 beginning farmers participated in more than 40 learning sessions. The project was advised by a group of AGC members, many members presented to the cohorts, and 14 current AGC members were program participants.
A continued sense of community and momentum has persisted among cohort participants, deepening farmers confidence to pursue food-grade grain production in small diverse operations across the Midwest:
“Midwest GRIT gave me lifelong relationships with fellow farmers as well as the confidence to try growing new crops.” —Morgan Snedden
“Midwest GRIT helped me as a new grain farmer to make an organized plan of action to get growing. I feel I can ask better questions and prepare for initial issues with little stress because I can reach out to so many resources for support.” —Glenda George
“Midwest GRIT gave us a valuable opportunity to access resources and learn various approaches to successfully growing and marketing food-grade grains.” —Juan Carlos Arango
“As a beginning grain farmer Midwest GRIT gave me the resources I needed to succeed. Through the program sessions and guidance from other farmers, I learned how to grow, harvest, process and sell food grade grains.” —Jennifer Duensing
“GRIT gave me three Cs: Contacts to share ideas. Courage to explore ideas. Cash – to be able to say, I made some! (‘Cause it’s hard). —Vickie Renick
Additional regional initiatives for niche grain production and community focused programming have been outgrowths of the GRIT program. For example, Women in Grain: Rooted in Resilience was developed with AGC Partner Michigan Ag Advancement (MiAA) in 2024 - 2025, and the 2025-27 program Deepening Relationships for Staple Crops in Our Communities was developed in partnership with GRIT graduate farmer and AGC member, Fresh Roberson of Fresher Together Farm.
“The narrative of local food crops is just beginning to scratch the surface of the most calorically-dense and culturally-important foods that can be grown and marketed in the Midwest. Values-driven, diverse farmers are uniquely positioned to bring these food-grade grain conversions to the public table, and AGC has been a pivotal partner in advancing this vision. Midwest GRIT has represented not only the ingenuity of our small-scale farmers but the perseverance of community and our shared resistance against the pressures stacked on a farmer in today’s agriculture ecosystem.
The participants of this program and larger communities are the spark asking what a resilient food system really means. It’s been an honor to work and dream with them in these efforts and we continue to envision that future together.”
—Christine Johnson
The project was funded by a USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Grant, which was not renewed. The program has been sunset at this time, though AGC hopes to be part of developing future iterations of this work. Read more about Midwest GRIT-rooted opportunities:
Learn more about how to champion and defend projects for beginning farmers against federal cuts, like Midwest GRIT, by contacting the MFAI team:
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute is a non-profit organization that has been cultivating resiliency through research, education, and policy work since 1984. With a broad coalition of public and private partners, The Institute supports farmers, food systems and communities in the Upper Midwest and beyond through a range of programs and initiatives. They hold firm in the belief that agriculture can sustain both human and ecosystem health, while advancing food security, independence, and justice. MFAI is a proud member of AGC.