Advocating for farmers doesn’t start in Washington—it starts in the fields, in early mornings, and in the lived experiences of those who grow our food every day.
For Community Farm Alliance, participating in the National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) DC Fly-In was an opportunity to bring those experiences directly to policymakers. As Sandra Ballew Barnes shared, “Being on the Hill; sharing our farmers’ stories, is a crucial step in bringing the farmers’ voice in the room.” Meeting with Kentucky’s congressional delegation ensured that the needs of small-scale farmers back home were not just acknowledged, but heard.
For Farmer Liaison Kenya Abraham, the experience was both fast-paced and deeply meaningful.
Spending a day and a half on Capitol Hill felt like “speed dating”—a whirlwind of back-to-back meetings where small groups had just 30 minutes to make their case to congressional staff. Each conversation required focus, coordination, and clarity. Teams prepared in advance, studying detailed “playbooks” on each office and aligning their strategy before stepping into meetings.
Once inside, the conversation moved quickly—like a volleyball match—passing ideas and stories between advocates before delivering them across the table. The goal was simple but powerful: ensure that the realities farmers face every day were understood by those shaping policy.
But beyond the logistics and strategy, Kenya described advocacy as something much deeper.
“Being an advocate for farmers… feels like carrying something living,” she wrote.
It means carrying early mornings in the dark, the weight of uncertainty in markets and weather, and the generational knowledge embedded in the land. It means representing not just policy positions, but livelihoods, risks, and dignity.
Walking into the “polished halls with marbled walls,” advocates stood at the intersection of soil and statute—translating lived experience into policy language. The results weren’t always immediate. Some meetings left participants energized and hopeful; others underscored how slow change can be. Most left them simply tired.
And yet, the experience remained profoundly important.
“It’s an honor to do this work,” Kenya reflected, emphasizing the importance of F.O.C.U.S—Fixed On Change Until Success.
For CFA, the Fly-In reinforced a core truth: advocacy is not just about policy. It’s about people. And ensuring that the voices of Kentucky farmers continue to shape the decisions that impact their futures.
Kenya left us with this moving recollection of the trip:
The Fly-in Experience with NFFC
Being an advocate for farmers with NFFC feels like carrying something living.
There’s such a huge weight to it.
You’re not just representing a policy or a position.
We are carrying early mornings in the dark,
and heavy feed buckets in the cold wind.
We carry our hands in the soil.
We carry the risk of drought and the gamble of markets.
We carry the prayer over seeds.
We carry families who have built something slowly.
We carry our heritage.
We carry risk and our loss.
And Always, We Carry Dignity.
Entering those polished halls with marbled walls, we stand at the intersection of soil and statute.
Sometimes you leave energized! – Feeling heard, respected, and hopeful.
Sometimes you leave frustrated! – Knowing how slow systems move, and you’re just pushing
along at a hamster wheel.
Mostly you leave tired! – Because it is absolutely exhausting to try and translate this lived reality
into policy language.
But we should always leave with pride! – Pride because I know that I’ve carried the fields into the
halls of power and made them listen, without leaving my boots at the door.
It is an honor to do this work with NFFC and may we continue to stay on FOCUS.
Fixed On Change Until Success
Kenya Abraham, Farmer Liaison
SLAK Market Farm LLC, Lexington, Kentucky
Interested in learning more about CFA’s policy work or getting involved? Stay connected and join us in advocating for farmers across Kentucky.
