Oldham County – Community Farm Alliance

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 was passed in the House of Representatives with a vote of 260 to 165 on December 11th, 2019. The bill will now move to the Senate as it continues through the legislative process in Congress. This bipartisan bill aims to make some changes to the H2A program and aid undocumented farmworkers in the United States. According to the Kentucky Career Center, over 763 Kentucky farmers are utilizing the H-2A temporary agricultural workers program bringing over 3,500 guest workers into Kentucky. The H-2A visa program helps American farmers fill employment gaps by hiring workers from other countries.

In this hour, listeners will hear several perspectives on H2A in Kentucky. Ben Abell of RootBound Farm in Oldham Co. and Ford Waterstrat of Sustainable Harvest in London, Ky, talked about their experiences with maintaining farm labor and having H2A workers on their farms the past two seasons. Juan Carlos, one of the H2A workers at RootBound Farm shares what the program means to him, and Stephen Barlett of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee talk a little bit about the issues that farmworkers face.

Photo: Ford Waterstrat & Family, Sustainable Harvest Farm

Photo: Ben Abell, RootBound Farm

Photo: Juan Carlos, RootBound Farm

Currently, we are standing up against Senate Bill 1 for a full op-ed by featured guests, Ben Abell and Bree Pearsall, visit the Community Farm Alliance website at cfaky.org/take-action/. To take action in protecting our immigrant neighbors and agricultural communities. Call 1-800-372-7181 and ask your Senator to vote NO on SB 1.

Resources Used in this Episode:

The Farms:

Sustainable Harvest Farm

RootBound Farm

Elmwood Stockfarm

Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC): http://www.floc.com/wordpress/

Information about the H2A program: https://www.farmers.gov/manage/h2a

H2A Program in KY:

http://apps.kcc.ky.gov/employer/AlienLaborCert.aspx

Information about H.R. 5038 Work Force Modernization Act:

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr5038

Farm Worker Modernization Act One Pager

https://www.calstrawberry.com/en-us/News/News-Details/farm-workforce-modernization-act-passes-out-of-house-in-congress

https://www.idahostatesman.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article238506133.html

Aired: February 7, 2018

“The Business of Farming”, Sister Kathy talks to Myrisa Christy, Program Manager at KY Center for Ag & Rural Development (KCARD). Myrisa shares her memories of growing up on a tobacco farm, her dream of helping farmers transition after the tobacco buy out and about the upcoming Eastern Kentucky Farmer Conference.

Then Sister Kathy chats with Joyce Pinson, farmer from Friends Drift Inn Farm Produce in Pikeville. Joyce shares about the flood her farm was hit with last spring and her hopes for the future.

Tonight’s show ends with long-time CFA member and Farmer, Bree Pearsall speaking about farm family’s need for affordable health care at CFA’s 2017 Annual Meeting. Bree owns and operates Rootbound Farm with her husband Ben Abell in Crestwood, Kentucky.

Find other episodes and Breaking Beans stories here:

http://cfaky.org/blog

Download this and other past episodes here:

https://archive.org/details/@breakingbeans

The Breaking Beans Variety Radio Show airs on 88.7 WMMT (online too!) the first Wednesday of every month at 6pm featuring stories, interviews, recipes, and news from the food and farming worlds in the Appalachian region!

Hosted by Eastern Kentucky Food Systems Collaborative Coordinator, Sister Kathy Curtis.

Breaking Beans: The Appalachian Food Story Project is an initiative of Community Farm Alliance to tell the story of how local food and farming in Eastern Kentucky can contribute to a bright future in the mountains. Eastern Kentucky is at the point where it can foster a food system that is equitable and accessible to all, provides fresh nutritious food, and serves as an economic generator that builds community wealth. With a rich history of food and farming, stories of how Eastern Kentucky is already growing in that direction – and the challenges along the way – are important for informing people and policy alike.

Tag: Oldham County

Breaking Beans Radio Show #31: H2A Workers in Kentucky

Breaking Beans Radio Show #25: The Business of Farming