Listening to the Land: Supporting Local Farmers through Community Conversations

By Sarsa Buck

At the Colorado Farm and Food Alliance, we believe that rural resilience begins with truly listening to the people who steward our soil and feed our communities. That's why we are partnering once again with Gunnison's Mountain Roots Food Project Healthy Futures/Colorado AmeriCorps to conduct a second round of surveys and in-depth, in-person interviews with farmers, ranchers, and producers across the North Fork Valley.

These conversations cover a wide range of topics, but at their heart is a simple question: What do you need to keep going?

By hearing directly from those on the land, we aim to better understand the challenges they face, the gaps in support systems, and what kind of practical help could make a real difference. Our goal is to gather insights and data that can shape meaningful projects, initiatives, and collaborations tailored to the unique needs of our local agricultural community.

We also hope to collect stories- of perseverance, innovation, and connection- that can serve as inspiration for others walking a similar path. In a time of global uncertainty, building local strength matters more than ever.

This round, we are taking a dual approach - starting with a self-survey for area producers along with an in-depth one-on-one interview. People can choose to complete either the survey or both. We do value people’s time and input, so we will provide a gift card as a token in honor of your contribution for Delta, Montrose, and Gunnison county producers and farmworkers who complete the survey and the interview (up to the first 25 respondents). 

Together through listening and learning, we can build a future rooted in resilience, collaboration, and care for the land. Contact Sarsa sarsa@colofarmfood.org for information or if you are ready to participate in this project.