In memory of legendary organic pioneer and food sovereignty advocate, John Kinsman, Family Farm Defenders is proud to celebrate beginning farmers each year with a food sovereignty prize in his name!
The 2023 winners of the John Kinsman Prize are:
Hannah Frank and Justin Thomas – Rue de Bungaloo Farm (Athens, WI)
Nia Nyamweya – Beauty Blooms Farm (Montgomery County, MD)
Honorable Mention – Bad River Food Sovereignty Initiative (Odanah, WI)
Hannah Frank and Justin Thomas launched Rue de Bungaloo Farm in 2020 on 12 acres of land that has been in Hannah’s family for over a century. Unlike that dairy farm heritage, though, they chose to pursue a permaculture operation focused on mushrooms, perennial fruit, garlic, and pasture pork. They direct market, offer CSA delivery, and also serve their local food bank. While they now commute to their land, they hope to live there, too – along with all the wildlife for which they’ve created habitat. As for climate change, Hannah and Justin shared “the responsibility for pushing back against climate change does not just belong to farmers alone, but we are key to the way events will unfold in the future. What we do matters.”
Nia Nyamweya began Beauty Blooms Farm on a tiny 20’ x 20’ plot at her parent’s home in 2020, but was then able to gain access to a 10 year lease on 6 acres of land at Patuxent River State Park in Montgomery County, MD. She sells some of her produce directly, as well as through farmers markets and food banks. Transitioning land that had been industrially mono-cropped with corn and soy for decades is a challenge, but Nia firmly believes that regenerative agriculture can not only address hunger but also provide culturally empowering food for those of African descent an others in the greater DC foodshed. Nia says “when folks share stories of their ancestral foodways and/or are reconnecting to their heritage foods, it is a healing and learning process that is rich and meaningful.”
Both of these winners will receive a $2500 cash prize, as well as a local food fair trade gift basket at the event.
For the first time this year, FFD has also given an honorable mention prize (with a $500 cash award) to the Bad River Food Sovereignty Initiative. Originally known as Gitigaaning, since 2015 this initiative has built two high tunnels, many raised garden beds, and hosted numerous workshops on how to grow, forage, cook, and preserve indigenous foods. There is also a summer youth internship program for those interested in hands-on food sovereignty work. Initiative Director, Katie Koch, says “From this space, addressing local and global hunger becomes less daunting and more about allowing the ripple effect to flow through and for communities and to gain inspiration from one another as they implement ways to work together and come together around food.”
Since 2011, Family Farm Defenders has given out over 20 awards and $40,000+ in prize money to beginning farmers across the U.S. that exemplify the principles of food sovereignty.
“The John Kinsman Beginning Farmer Food Sovereignty Prize is meant to celebrate and support the next generation of beginning farmers that are now working towards a more diverse, climate just, and equitable food/farm system in the U.S. and across the globe. The U.S. needs more amazing farmers like this year’s winners. And, it is our hope that more grassroots organizations will also be inspired to celebrate similar beginning farmer awards in their own communities and bioregions,” noted John E. Peck, executive director of Family Farm Defenders.
