If you are hearing the news lately you know the campuses, now educating Gen Z, are rocked by angry students on both sides of the war in Israel. This is an energized group and may indicate a sea change in the level and type of activism in the country in the years ahead. In this episode we’ll learn from three members of “Gen Z” if they believe the passions of their generation could also be felt intensely in efforts to change our food and farming system.

Tim Johnson CEO of California Rice Commission shares how rice growers are
modeling the future of agriculture by delivering a fabulous array of ecosystem services, wealth creation and delicious, healthy food for California and the world.

Alegria De La Cruz has a history of creating spaces and moments for farmworkers and other historically marginalized brown and black people to fairly and wisely engage the powers that be: employers, judges and policy makers.

As 30-year-old Native American rancher, mother and nonprofit
leader, Kelsey Ducheneaux-Scott reflects the power of the millennial
generation born between 1981 and 1996. Indigenous knowledge, the future of
food and her role in the film Common Ground are deeply explored in this
episode.

A 5th generation commodity crop farmer from Indiana, the Heartland of America, Rick Clark had an awakening during a one-inch rain event in 2007 that washed topsoil from his fields. That moment spawned a ten-year journey during which Rick created rich healthy soil that captures carbon and holds water, diversified his crops and increased his profits. This success placed him at the center of the film Common Ground. As the film says, Rick “cracked the code” of large-scale regenerative farming.

Farm boy and entrepreneur Jim Kleinschmit started a company called Other Half Processing to ensure that the hides and other byproducts from cattle and bison production are fully utilized. When USDA began its funding campaign to promote regenerative agriculture, he hatched an idea that has bloomed into a $35 million project to build lucrative markets in Europe and beyond for hides and more livestock byproducts.

After decades of economic decline around the Harris family’s farm, Will
experienced an epiphany that led to a journey to what we now call regenerative agriculture. His story is about a pioneer’s perseverance, love for animals, the land and a community. His example could transform rural America.

Josh and Rebecca Tickell produced and directed the newly released film, Common Ground. It is a compelling look at the expanding acceptance of regenerative agriculture as an antidote to many of the challenges faced by farmers, ranchers, consumers and policy makers. Josh and Rebecca share about why they included a powerful diversity of voices and perspectives to compelling convey their hopes for regenerative agriculture. They describe it as a love letter to all our children as well as a call to the nation’s farmers to embrace regenerative agriculture as the future.