Dear Friends,

It goes without saying that 2019 feels like a lifetime ago. As the Covid crisis has laid bare, the industrial, extractive food system is nothing short of a disaster, and the need to strengthen independent farming and the communities that support it has never been more urgent. We continue to be deeply motivated by our mission to bring about an ecological food culture and by the incredible supporters of the Stone Barns Center. 

In 2019, we took stock of the first 15 years of our work and our partnership with Blue Hill, and began to shape a framework for doubling down on our commitments to bringing about the sustainable, healthy and just food system we seek. Though the pandemic has affected our plans and our timeline, it has also revealed that our instincts were correct: that farm-to-table, for all its strengths, continues to have great untapped potential; that deeper connections among farmers, chefs and everyone in between will be at the center of the change we seek; and that our campus is uniquely positioned to serve as an R&D lab for the experimentation that will bring this vision to life. 

Here are just a few highlights from our 2019 programming:

The 12th annual Young Farmers Conference provided an opportunity for rejuvenation, reflection and inspiration for the 250 young farmers in attendance and the more than 90,000 who engaged via livestream and social media. We were so energized by the expanded voices and perspectives represented on the Stone Barns stage, and to have had the opportunity to learn from leaders generating groundbreaking change across the food system. Thanks to your support, we were able to provide scholarships to half of our attendees, who came from 35 states and 11 countries. We also partnered with three leading food and environmental publications–Heritage Radio Network, The Counter, and Mother Jones–to amplify the stories being shared in sessions and conversations across the conference.

In 2019 we piloted the Regenerative Farming Fellowship, which prepares next-generation farmers to become practitioners and ambassadors of regenerative agriculture. By engaging with the principles of regenerative farming, gaining exposure to the national and regional policy landscape, and developing a deeper connection with the business of food, the inaugural Fellows strengthened their commitment to and practice of resilient agriculture.

2019 was also our second full year of stewardship of 350+ acres in the Rockefeller State Park Preserve under our Conservation Action Plan. During that year, we developed partnerships with 14 leading ecological organizations and collected extensive data on soil health and carbon, plant populations, insect biodiversity, and bird populations with the goal of understanding the impact of regenerative agriculture on conservation lands.

We’ll continue to work toward our vision, and are so grateful to you for the support you have shown through the years even as the challenges of our food system continue to intensify.