New kind of young farmers taking root, Statesman 9/27/11

For the Austin American Statesman, Addie Broyles discusses the “new variety of farmers and new ways to learn and sell,” including the NFI Incubator Farm program.

A few generations ago, people got into farming because they grew up on a farm, and there wasn’t much of a choice about who would keep the farm going. But as farmers sold off their land to developers and Americans moved away from rural areas, young people went into more lucrative careers and left the farming to someone else.

But now, as we’ve started paying more attention to where our food comes from and the environmental and health impact of conventionally grown produce and factory farmed animals, people of all ages — from recent college graduates to empty nesters who’ve already had one or two careers — with no farm or ranch background are getting into the field, literally.

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