Mission

We work to organize and encourage cooperation among rural and urban citizens through leadership development and grassroots democratic processes to ensure an essential, prosperous place for family-scale agriculture in our economies and communities.

Vision

We envision a food and fiber system that provides nutritious food for Kentuckians in a manner that is socially, economically, and ecologically sustainable. We envision a system vital to the state’s economy.

Goals

  • Improve the quality of life in rural and urban communities.
  • Hold institutions accountable.
  • Foster development of policies and programs that reflect the mutual needs and priorities of rural and urban communities.
  • Create participatory economic development systems in rural and urban communities across Kentucky.

Beliefs

Prosperity of rural and urban communities are linked.
Economic development depends on those citizens cooperating to restore agriculture.
We believe in agriculture founded on sustainable farming methods and traditional practices, in farms that produce products for people rather than commodities for markets.
We believe in the independent family farmer. They are the most reliable, efficient, careful producers of food and fiber. Healthy farms provide a foundation for a strong community.
We believe that all workers and farmers must be allowed a fair return for their labor.
We believe that communities must be economically stable in order to be healthy. That economic stability must be controlled locally.
We believe that all people have the right to organize in order to identify their own long-term needs and to secure those needs. Democracy must be inclusive. All people – regardless of race, income, gender, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, nationality, or religion – must join together to create responsive policies and prosperous communities.