*This is the first in a series of posts written by Guidestone’s AmeriCorps OSM/VISTA member Gunnar Paulsen about Guidestone’s Colorado Land Link events forthcoming in March – the 2ndAnnual Land Link Forum and Certified Farm Succession Training. Stay tuned to learn more about Farm Succession, Conservation Tools for Farm Succession Planning, and a Colorado Land Link success story.
I recently had a chance to speak with Leland Swenson, keynote speaker for Guidestone’s 2nd Annual Land Link Forum, and ask him a few questions about the role of Land Link programs in the farmland access puzzle in Colorado and across the country. A lifelong agricultural advocate, Leland has held positions including Executive Vice President of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, President of the National Farmers Union, and is currently the State Executive Director of the Colorado Farm Service Agency.
In addition to that impressive list of leadership positions, Leland has held tenure on the California FarmLink board of directors. Established in 1999, California FarmLink is one of the most accomplished Land Link programs in the country, assisting with upwards of “125 successful leases, partnerships, and other arrangements tailored to the needs of the landowners and growers.” Leland said of his time there that “we were the only program out there helping with younger producers” and that “California FarmLink became “the program that gained the support of the banking interests and the Farm Service Agency and all its programs.” California FarmLink now holds direct lender status from the Department of Corporations, and provided 23 direct loans between $5,000 and $25,000 to small-scale farmers.
When asked about the Colorado Farm Service Agency’s role in assisting with farm transfer issues, Leland highlighted that there are offices across the state where “producers can go close to home to get advice and services they need from real people – from people who live in those communities.” These services include farm loans, commodity programs, and conservations. For a list of county offices, click here; and for a detailed list of CO FSA programs click here.
Leland Swenson
I asked Leland for his perspective on the role of Land Link considering the statistic widely publicized by the University of Vermont’s FarmLASTS Project that 70% of farmland, or approximately 400 million acres, is set to change hands within the next 15 years: “Its exciting to see the Colorado Land Link Program continue to grow and make connections with CSU Extension, and this growth comes at a very important time when the age of farmers continues to climb.” Leland emphasized how Land Link supports the core of rural communities, farmers, by helping them find access to land and technical resources that will help them succeed. “It really is an exciting time,” said Leland, citing national trends to support the next generation, including USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s creation of the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers, increased access to community banks, and rural development assistance for agriculture.
If you’d like to hear more from Leland, the 2nd Annual Land Link Forum presents a few opportunities: join us for the whole event and hear Leland’s keynote address “Preserving Colorado Agriculture” on Friday over dinner, then on Saturday join the breakout session Leland will be leading, “Financing Opportunities for New and Existing Farmers and Ranchers.” If you aren’t able to join us for the entire Forum, there are also registration options for either Friday or Saturday. To learn more about the event and to register, please click here.