CAN Participant: Molly Sowash

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

What is the greatest value you get from your Working Group?

I love participating in the beginning farmer working group of CAN because I know that every
month, I have the scheduled opportunity to think regionally! Our conversations allow me to dial out from my specific work in southeast Ohio to think about how to work across 6 states on issues that impact all beginning farmers.

Why is CAN important to the region?

CAN is important because we lose 2,000 acres of farmland every day in the US, the average age of a farmer is 57.5 years old, the number of beginning farmers has dropped by 9% in the last 15 years, and farmers of color and women are deeply underrepresented among farmers and farmland owners compared to their share of the population. The Food & Ag working group’s north star goals are that producers have robust land access across the region that allows Central Appalachia to feed Central Appalachians, producers have the support, tools, and capital necessary to establish and sustain their farms, and farming is equitable and profitable because the risk and reward of farming is balanced. We need to work regionally to make this happen. And happen fast.

Working Group: FASWG Beginning Farmer

Title: Sustainable Agriculture Manager

Organization: Rural Action

State: Ohio

Website: http://ruralaction.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rural-action/

Instagram: @ruralaction

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruralaction