Final report for GNC23-364
Project Information
Strengthening Community Connections in the Regenerative Poultry Value Chain
This project aimed to promote a more equitable supply chain in regenerative poultry, working with a diverse group of Latino and white farmers and processing plant workers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. In partnership with the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance (RAA), a non-profit organization, we used a participatory action research (PAR) approach to identify challenges faced by farmers and workers organizing this new value chain. We explored the use of affinity groups and farmer learning circles to promote structures of democratic governance and peer-to-peer learning.
Our research questions included: (1) How do regenerative poultry farmers and processing plant workers currently organize their supply chain, and what are the main challenges they face? (2) What are the benefits and limitations of using affinity groups and farmer-to-farmer learning circles to promote supply chain justice? (3) What current governmental and non-governmental policies and programs exist to support regenerative poultry, particularly for Latino farmers and workers, and what recommendations can we make to better these supports?
The project team, consisting of myself (Dr. Ana Fochesatto), my advisor (Dr. Adena Rissma), and an undergraduate research assistant (Annabelle Jurena), worked closely with the RAA to help implement the PAR activities. Twelve farmer-to-farmer learning circles were organized across the project period (September 2023–November 2025) to increase relationship-building and knowledge-sharing among participants, including current and aspiring producers, and processing plant workers. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted to understand the impact of these activities and the challenges faced by participants as they engaged in supply chain development. Over the full project, 163 stakeholders were engaged, including farmers, processing plant workers, RAA staff, aspiring farmers, and community members who participated in activities or signed up for updates and received final project products.
Researchers created a database of 51 current policies and programs that can support this effort (i.e., cost-share programs, grants, and farmer services). Through community-based discussions, farmers collaboratively developed strategies for building more equitable supply chains. Our team synthesized results and presented them to participants throughout the project so they could use the findings to make strategic decisions. An internal community report was produced and shared with all active stakeholders to support ongoing learning and organizational development within the value chain. A learning circle guide was produced in English and Spanish to share implementation strategies with other organizations and farmer networks. Research findings were also presented at the Regenerative Poultry Convergence in 2024, the American Anthropological Association in 2024, and throughout 2025 in monthly farmer meetings.
We evaluated our impact by tracking the number of attendees at affinity group meetings and learning circles (12 learning circles with 79 unique attendees; monthly farmer meetings with 29 unique attendees). Feedback was collected through post-event surveys (96% reported being "very satisfied"), and evaluation questions in interviews and focus groups assessed the impact of project activities on relationship building, knowledge of regenerative agriculture practices and available resources, and participants' sense of ownership and control over the supply chain. This project also directly supported my (Dr. Fochesatto) successful completion of my PhD (May 2025) and led to a USDA NIFA Postdoctoral Fellowship to continue participatory action research on small-scale meat processing.
This project aimed to better understand and create a more equitable supply chain for regenerative poultry in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Through the proposed activities, farmers and workers learned about structures of shared governance and peer-to-peer learning, including how to run farmer learning circles and affinity groups. We provided opportunities for farmers, workers, and community members to learn from each other about the benefits of regenerative poultry practices and how to implement these on their farms. Participants also learned about programs and policies that can support farms and supply chain development.
The action outcomes from the project activities included changes on the farms and across the supply chain. Farmers implemented regenerative poultry practices, leading to improved soil health, quality of life, and profitability. Farmers shared their regenerative poultry best practices with others, leading to wider adoption. Farmers and workers participated in the development of shared governance structures that fostered equity across the supply chain. Farmers and workers made use of the research gathered about policies and programs relevant to regenerative poultry in each state and contributed recommendations for needed changes.
To evaluate project outcomes, we tracked the number of attendees at learning circles and affinity group meetings, and collected post-event surveys. In the interviews and focus groups, we explored the impact of the learning circles and affinity groups and asked questions to evaluate the implementation and success of this project.
Cooperators
- (Educator)
- (Researcher)
Research
This project employed a participatory action research (PAR) approach to strengthen community connections and promote equity in the regenerative poultry value chain. The research was conducted in collaboration with the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance, regenerative poultry farmers, and processing plant workers within the Upper Midwest region (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and South Dakota). Below, I outline the key components of the methods used throughout the project, including the rationale for methodological choices and adaptations made along the way.
Farmer and Worker Affinity Groups: Affinity groups were employed as a way to create structured spaces for collaborative learning, relationship building, and decision-making across the supply chain. We facilitated monthly affinity group meetings for farmers via Zoom throughout the project period (September 2023–December 2025). These meetings allowed for discussion of current challenges and opportunities as farmers implemented silvopasture systems on their farms. A key goal of this space was to create opportunities for decision-making, address challenges in accessing resources, and tackle strategic planning for future collaboration. 29 unique individuals participated in the monthly farmer meetings across the full project. Research findings from interviews and fieldwork were presented to participants during these monthly meetings throughout 2024-2025 as well as individually to RAA staff, ensuring that the community had ongoing access to emerging insights that could inform their decision-making. The research team actively participated as facilitators and observers in these meetings, tracking key challenges and solutions, including the evolution of decision-making processes. The worker affinity group was more limited due to the seasonal nature of the processing plant and high employee turnover during its early stages of operation. The worker affinity group met once at the Poultry Convergence in 2024.
Farmer Learning Circles: To facilitate peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, farmer learning circles were organized, with each session hosted by a different farm or led by a different presenter. We completed 12 learning circles between May 2024 and November 2025, each focused on the specific story of each farm or presenter, their motivations for adopting silvopasture or regenerative practices, their current level of adoption, challenges and innovations, and opportunities for other farmers to learn and provide helpful advice. Eight learning circles were conducted in person through farm tours and on-site demonstrations, and four were held virtually through in-depth presentations and facilitated discussion. Virtual circles were introduced to reduce travel barriers given the geographic spread of the regenerative poultry community across multiple states. Virtual learning circles were recorded and, with permission from each farmer, uploaded to YouTube to extend access to the public. Workers from the poultry processing plant were invited to learning circles to facilitate knowledge exchange across the supply chain. One of the learning circles was paired with a visit to the poultry processor and included a presentation on frameworks of regeneration. We collected post-event surveys to assess participants' learning experiences and document insights from each learning circle.
Semi-structured Interviews and Focus Groups: We conducted a total of 29 semi-structured interviews with regenerative poultry farmers, RAA staff members, and processing plant workers, capturing their perspectives on supply chain challenges, governance structures, and labor conditions. The original project plan proposed conducting 25 individual interviews with farmers and staff and 10 interviews with processing plant workers. After assessing the needs of participants and considering the most effective way to facilitate peer learning and collective reflection, we adapted our methodology to conduct two focus groups and a reduction in interviews. Focus groups took place in early 2024, allowing farmers to share reflections on the previous growing season and collaboratively discuss challenges, strategies, and motivations for the next season. This approach maintained the depth of qualitative insights while fostering group discussion, a key component of participatory action research (PAR).
Database of Policies and Programs: A database of state and federal policies and funding opportunities was created to support regenerative poultry farmers and processing workers. We identified 51 relevant grants, cost-share programs, and farmer services across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and at the federal level. RAA actively utilized the database to guide their grant writing team and farmer technical services team and has assumed responsibility of the database moving forward.
Internal Community Report: In order to share findings back with the community in a way that could support ongoing organizational learning and development, an internal community report was produced and shared with all current producers, RAA staff, and processing plant workers in early 2026 after the project end date. This report synthesized findings from interviews, focus groups, learning circle observations, and fieldwork, organized around themes of what is working (learning, relationships, shared values), shared challenges across the value chain (time and labor, uneven transition costs, communication, barriers to participation), and the role and limitations of learning circles and farmer meetings. The report was designed as a shared reflection tool to support conversation, highlight strengths, and help identify where additional support, coordination, or experimentation may be needed. RAA will use the internal report to guide conversations within the farmer and worker network, inform grant writing when funders inquire about challenges and opportunities, and guide organizational programming and priority-setting for events such as the annual convergence.
Data Collection and Evaluation: To measure the project's impact, we collected quantitative and qualitative data through attendance tracking at affinity group meetings and learning circles, post-event surveys to assess participant engagement and knowledge gains, and thematic analysis of interview and focus group transcripts to identify common challenges and successes in building a more just supply chain.
Strengthening Affinity Groups and Farmer Learning Circles
Since September 2023, monthly farmer affinity meetings maintained consistent engagement across the full project period, with 29 unique individuals participating. Attendance fluctuated from session to session, reflecting seasonal demands on farmers but demonstrating an ongoing commitment to these meetings. A key feature of the meetings was the farmer engagement, with core members attending regularly, setting the agenda, and leading projects such as coordinating purchasing or resource sharing across farms, equipment sharing, and shadowing other farmers. Value-chain partners were invited to these monthly farmer meetings as needed to address specific challenges. For example, representatives from A Greener World (AGW), processing plant staff, and other agricultural specialists participated in some meetings to offer needed insights on certification, market access, and supply chain logistics. Insights from researchers were also presented to participants in the monthly meetings throughout the project period, ensuring that emerging insights could directly inform community decision-making.
This flexible approach increased the relevance of the meetings and ensured that farmers received direct support while maintaining autonomy in shaping their discussions. The sustained engagement over time highlights the importance of the meetings in fostering peer learning, trust, and shared governance within the regenerative poultry network. By providing a space where farmers could discuss concerns, clarify uncertainties, and collaboratively develop strategies, these gatherings became an essential tool for organizing across this community of regenerative poultry farmers.
The worker affinity group met once at the Poultry Convergence in 2024. The seasonality of the plant and the challenges of being in early stages of operation led to high employee turnover, which limited the consistency of worker engagement. Incorporating processing workers into governance conversations remained a challenge due to workplace constraints, seasonal employment, and barriers related to financial insecurity and immigration status. However, project stakeholders continue to be committed to worker engagement and this research project led to a proposal (now funded and active) to implement a PAR project specifically focused on worker perspectives in the RAA-owned poultry processing plant.
Impact of Farmer Learning Circles on Knowledge Sharing
Over the course of the project, 12 farmer learning circles were conducted between May 2024 and November 2025, with a total of 79 unique individuals participating (39 farmers/ranchers, 11 processing plant workers, 7 agricultural service providers, and 22 other stakeholders including aspiring farmers and community members). Eight learning circles were hosted in person (on-farm tours and a processing plant visit), and four were conducted virtually. These sessions provided opportunities for farmers, aspiring farmers, and processing plant workers to exchange knowledge, troubleshoot challenges, and strengthen relationships within the regenerative poultry supply chain.
Learning circles were hosted at diverse farm operations including Salvatierra Farm, Organic Compound, Callejas Farm, Wild Apple Beef Farm, Feed the People Co-op, Henry Nissley's Farm, and Patchwork Farm and Gardens. Virtual learning circles featured presentations by the Sommerfield father-son team, AJ Granelli of Makoce Agriculture (promoting Indigenous growing practices on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota), Rodrigo Cala on integrating livestock into vegetable production, and a research presentation by Daniel Ajpop Garcia and Arnulfo Perrera on their poultry-centered regenerative agroforestry research at Salvatierra Farm. One learning circle was held at the RAA processing plant, combining a presentation on frameworks of regeneration with a tour of the facility.
Learning circles were intentionally smaller to support hands-on learning, observation of diverse farm adaptations, and peer-to-peer exchange grounded in lived experience. Participants consistently emphasized that seeing systems in practice made abstract concepts more tangible and motivating. As one farmer shared, "I basically learned by going into the brooder and sitting down and watching… I just learned by going and just spending time." For aspiring farmers in particular, learning circles were often described as pivotal experiences that provided hands-on exposure, confidence, and a clearer sense of what participation in the value chain entails.
Key themes emerging from the learning circles included:
- Production Challenges and Adaptations: Farmers discussed their experiences with weather-related mortality, feed adjustments, and rotational grazing strategies. The learning circles provided a space for participants to see how each farm adapted regenerative principles to their specific context, including innovations such as larger custom-built feeders to reduce labor, barn infrastructure conversions from dairy to poultry, and integration of culturally significant crops like amaranth into poultry systems.
- Labor Practices and Ethical Treatment: Conversations emphasized respect and care in poultry handling, with farmers exchanging techniques for humane chicken catching and processing. Workers, in conversation with farmers, contrasted these practices with conventional industrial farms, noting the stark differences in treatment.
- Economic Considerations and Market Access: Farmers openly discussed financial struggles, the need for better compensation structures, and ways to improve market viability. Attendees highlighted how insurance policies and feed costs pose financial risks to small-scale regenerative farms.
- Governance and Supply Chain Transparency: Learning circles served as a space for dialogue between farmers and other supply chain partners, allowing them to address logistical concerns such as feed quality, processing efficiency, and supply chain decision-making. They fomented cross-value-chain understanding as farmers and processing workers discussed issues related to bird transport, pre-slaughter feeding protocols, and how on-farm decisions shape working conditions in the plant.
Post-event survey results from all 12 learning circles indicate that the farmer learning circles were well received, with 96% of participants reporting they were "very satisfied" with the events. 67% gained "a lot" of new knowledge and an additional 26% gained "some" new knowledge about regenerative poultry practices or the supply chain. 80% of respondents reported the event helped build relationships with others in the regenerative poultry community "to a great extent" or "somewhat." 96% were "likely" or "very likely" to apply the knowledge or insights gained in their own work. 81% strongly agreed that the event contributed to building a more equitable and sustainable regenerative poultry supply chain. In-person gatherings were seen as crucial for building relationships and fostering a sense of community. Virtual circles expanded accessibility and reach, particularly for participants who face travel barriers given the geographic spread across multiple states.
While the learning circles produced strong outcomes in knowledge-sharing and relationship-building, their limitations also became clear through this research. These spaces can surface structural problems around labor, pricing, infrastructure, risk distribution, and decision-making, but they do not have the authority or resources to resolve them. As one farmer noted after attending a workshop, "If I can see this poultry cooperative system come to life where we live in our region, then I will die happy… I think I'm gonna stay in farming, because this is the solution." Their strength lies in building relational infrastructure and shared knowledge; their limits point toward the need for parallel investments in programs, partnerships, and development strategies that can help address structural problems often centered on lack of capital.
Database of Policies and Programs
The database of funding opportunities was compiled over the full project, ultimately listing 51 of the most relevant state and federal programs relevant to the regenerative poultry community in Minnesota and Wisconsin. RAA staff reported that this was an important tool for identifying relevant programs and guiding their grant writing team and farmer technical services team. Direct farmer use of the tool was lower, reflecting that while the database increased awareness of funding opportunities, bureaucratic complexities remain a significant challenge for farmers doing sustainable agriculture, especially immigrant farmers. The database was updated throughout the project in line with the evolving needs of the community and the changing policy structures. Ownership of this tool has been turned over to RAA to continue to build on it as an organizational and farmer resource.
Farmer and Worker Perspectives
Regenerative Poultry Farmers: Based on 29 interviews and 2 focus groups, farmers currently engaged in regenerative poultry production face both successes and persistent challenges as they implement silvopasture practices. Many reported improvements in soil health and animal welfare, and shared that their collective data tracking systems have improved over the course of the project. Farmers articulated a strong alignment around core values including treating animals with respect, maintaining dignity in work, caring for land and ecosystems, and building something that can endure for future generations. As one farmer expressed, "My vision for this farm is to grow food in a way that benefits the land and the end consumer… my vision is to raise something that I feel good about eating myself and putting on my own table."
However, persistent challenges included unpredictable weather, high propane costs for first Spring flock, inefficiencies in feed delivery, and uneven transition costs. Farmers raised concerns about developing clear decision-making processes across the supply chain. Systemic disparities in access to resources, infrastructure, and technical support led to frustration, particularly among Latine farmers. As one Latine farmer commented on these structural inequities, "They denied me loans because it was a government program, and it made me see the inequality faced by people of our race and color." Many farmers expressed that while this project's investment in monthly meetings and learning circles was valuable, they need even more community development and engagement. They desire stronger community networks, better training, and more structured decision-making mechanisms, such as formalized farmer governance bodies.
Processing Plant Workers: During interviews with workers at the processing plant, we learned about the benefits of working at small-scale organic meat processing as well as persistent challenges. Workers said they appreciated the camaraderie among their diverse team and the opportunity to connect with regenerative farming practices. Workers expressed pride in being part of a system that prioritizes animal welfare, with one noting, "I always give workers the example: If those chicks had a happy life outside, why give them a difficult one in their final minutes?" However, challenges included unreliable equipment, physical strain from malfunctioning tools, outdated machinery, and gaps in structured onboarding and training for new hires. Workers also faced barriers to broader participation in governance related to seasonal employment and financial insecurity. When asked about the idea of affinity groups, shared governance across the value chain, and structured feedback mechanisms, workers expressed cautious optimism but noted a need for clearer guidance on how these initiatives would function.
Comparison to Dominant Industrial Systems
Regenerative poultry systems, in this case, offer a meaningful departure from dominant industrial models by prioritizing perennial landscapes, slower growth cycles, animal welfare, and more direct relationships across the value chain. Yet these systems are not insulated from the broader economic and institutional pressures that shape U.S. agriculture. Unlike contract growers in confinement poultry production (whose labor is tightly controlled by vertically integrated corporations), regenerative farmers in this study retain greater autonomy over land management and production decisions. At the same time, they continue to face financial volatility, limited infrastructure, and uncertainty around governance and shared decision-making.
Processing plant workers similarly describe important differences from prior experiences in industrial facilities, including a stronger sense of community and closer alignment with the values of regenerative agriculture. However, these gains coexist with ongoing challenges: seasonal employment, the operational instability typical of a young and growing plant, and uneven communication structures within the workplace.
Across roles, two themes consistently emerged. Participants share a deep commitment to building a different kind of food system that is rooted in ecological stewardship, dignity in labor, and relational accountability. Yet this commitment alone cannot overcome structural constraints, including uneven access to capital, time scarcity, and economic precarity. Peer learning spaces and facilitated gatherings helped reduce isolation, surface shared challenges, and strengthen trust across the value chain. At the same time, their impact remains bounded by material and organizational limitations that require longer-term structural attention.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation summary:
Curricula/Factsheets:
- A Learning Circle Guide titled "Farmer Learning Circles in Practice: Stories, Lessons, and Implementation Strategies for Value Chain Peer Learning" was produced in English and Spanish. The guide shares stories and lessons from 12 Farmer Learning Circles, provides a facilitation framework with step-by-step implementation strategies, a sample agenda, learning circle principles (farmer-led, cross-value-chain, culturally grounded, peer-driven, action-oriented), and profiles of each learning circle hosted during the project. The guide was designed for use by other farmer networks, non-profit organizations, and extension professionals interested in implementing peer learning approaches.
- A Policy and Programs Database was compiled listing 51 relevant state and federal funding opportunities for regenerative poultry farmers and processing workers.
Journal articles:
- A dissertation chapter was finalized and approved by the PhD committee as part of a successfully defended dissertation (May 2025). The chapter draws on empirical data from this project. Dissertation titled: Just Transitions in Animal Agriculture: Visions for the Future and Solidarity Building in the U.S. Midwest
- A book chapter was published drawing on lessons from this case study for a just transition in agriculture: Fochesatto, A. (2025). Who Gets to Farm? Reshaping Just Transitions in (Agri)culture. In A. Willow & B. Abiral (Eds.), Postcarbon futures: Imagining (and enacting) new worlds through transition studies. Routledge.
Workshop/fieldays:
- 12 farmer learning circles were conducted between May 2024 and November 2025. Eight were held in person at farm sites and the processing plant (Salvatierra Farm, Organic Compound, Callejas Farm, Wild Apple Beef Farm, RAA Processing Plant Tour, Feed the People Co-op, Henry Nissley's Farm, and Patchwork Farm and Gardens), and four were held virtually (Rod and Rick Sommerfield, AJ Granelli/Makoce Agriculture, Rodrigo Cala, Daniel Ajpop Garcia and Arnulfo Perrera). Virtual circles were recorded and, with permission from each farmer, uploaded to YouTube to extend public access.
Newsletters: Regenerative Agriculture Alliance newsletter featured farmer learning circle announcements
Internal community report: An internal findings report was produced and shared with all current producers, RAA staff, and processing plant workers. The report synthesized qualitative and quantitative findings across the full project and was designed as a shared reflection tool to support organizational learning and strategic decision-making. RAA will use the report to guide conversations within the farmer and worker network, inform grant writing, and guide organizational programming and priority-setting.
Presentations: Research findings were shared with stakeholders throughout the project. In March 2024, focus group findings were presented to RAA and farmers covering governance, decision-making, and supply chain challenges. Also in March 2024, a presentation on key highlights from farmer engagement was delivered at the Regenerative Poultry Convergence annual meeting, followed by a farmer panel. In June 2024, findings from processing plant worker interviews were shared with RAA to highlight labor conditions, safety concerns, and potential policy improvements. In November 2024, a presentation was delivered at the American Anthropological Association titled "Who Gets to Farm? How (Agri)culture is Reshaping Just Transitions." Throughout 2025, research findings from interviews and fieldwork were presented to participants during monthly farmer meetings to support ongoing community learning and decision-making.
- Fochesatto, Ana (2025, March). “Who Gets to Farm? Just Transition Efforts Redefining the Heartland.” Centering Refugees and Immigrants in the Midwest U.S. Society for Applied Anthropology. Portland, OR.
- Fochesatto, Ana (2024, November). “Who Gets to Farm? Reshaping Just Transitions in (Agri)culture.” Transition Studies: Imagining and Enacting Post-Carbon Futures. American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting. Tampa, USA.
- Fochesatto, Ana (2024, June). “Feathers of Change in Equitable Value Chains: A Case Study on Poultry-centered Regenerative Agriculture.” Midwest Collaborative for Equity, Research, and Food Justice (M-CERF). Virtual.
- Fochesatto, Ana (2024, June). “Feathers of Change in Equitable Value Chains: Creating Shared Ownership and Control through Regenerative Poultry.” Agriculture and Human Values Conference. Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York.
- Fochesatto, Ana, Lous Kemp, Stephanie Coffman, Chris Coffman, Rodrigo Cala, Cliff Martin.(2024, March). “Farmer Learning Circle Report and Farmer Panel.” Regenerative Poultry Convergence. Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota.
- Fochesatto, Ana (2024, November). “Building Solidarity through Perennial Chickens.” American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada.
- Fochesatto, Ana (2024, October). “Community Perspectives on Regenerative Poultry.” Regenerative Agriculture Alliance Beginning Farmer Training. Virtual.
Project Outcomes
This project strengthened agricultural sustainability by fostering economic resilience, ecological stewardship, and social equity within the regenerative poultry value chain. By employing a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, we built community connections and created structures for shared learning and governance among farmers and processing plant workers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and South Dakota.
Economic Benefits: Farmers and workers highlighted the economic challenges of regenerative poultry, including financial uncertainty, infrastructure limitations, and supply chain constraints. Through farmer affinity groups and learning circles, this project helped farmers improve financial viability by facilitating bulk purchasing of feed, equipment sharing, and peer learning on business strategies. These collaborative approaches reduced individual costs and enhanced efficiency. The project’s policy and funding database, listing 51 relevant programs (Programs and Grants for Regenerative Poultry Farming (1)), provided RAA with critical information on financial assistance programs, helping them catalogue available funding and navigate grant opportunities and cost-share programs to sustain the network of farmers. While economic stability remains a key challenge, particularly regarding uneven transition costs borne by individual farmers, these initiatives fostered more resilient strategies for small-scale poultry farmers.
Environmental Benefits: Farmers participating in this project implemented silvopasture systems that integrate native trees, shrubs, and perennial grasses with poultry production, improving soil health, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. Learning circles facilitated hands-on knowledge exchange about rotational grazing, feed sourcing, humane poultry handling, and farm-specific adaptations such as integrating livestock into vegetable production and incorporating culturally significant perennial crops. Processing plant workers also engaged in discussions about improving efficiency and minimizing waste in poultry processing, supporting a more ecologically responsible supply chain. By promoting farmer-led knowledge sharing and spaces for transparent conversations, this project equipped producers with practical tools to adapt and sustain regenerative agricultural practices.
Social Benefits: The social sustainability of regenerative poultry depends on equitable governance, fair labor conditions, and stronger farmer-worker relationships. Through monthly farmer meetings, learning circles, and worker engagement efforts, this project created spaces for collective problem-solving, knowledge exchange, and strategic decision-making. Farmers gained a greater sense of agency in shaping supply chain structures, and processing plant workers expressed interest in affinity groups that could support greater workplace representation. Importantly, this research also surfaced ongoing challenges around communication, transparency, barriers to participation for immigrant farmers and workers, and the uneven distribution of risk across the value chain. The internal community report produced through this project provides a shared reflection tool for the community to continue working through these challenges. While barriers remain, participants are actively working to address them, and this project contributed meaningfully to building the relational infrastructure needed for a more just and resilient supply chain. This project also directly contributed to the PI’s successful completion of her PhD (May 2025) and to receiving a USDA NIFA Postdoctoral Fellowship, a competitive 2-year fellowship to lead a participatory action research project on small-scale meat processing. The NIFA fellowship builds directly on the relationships, methods, and findings from this SARE-funded project.
Throughout this project, my knowledge, skills, and awareness of sustainable agriculture deepened significantly. Engaging directly with regenerative poultry farmers and processing plant workers provided nuanced insights into the economic, environmental, and labor challenges they navigate daily. I developed a greater appreciation for the role of cultural knowledge in shaping farming practices, from the planting of bledo/amaranth to poultry management strategies that diverge from standardized protocols. This work reinforced my commitment to centering farmers’ lived experiences in research and sharpened my ability to facilitate discussions that balance technical guidance with farmer autonomy. I also strengthened my participatory research skills, improving my approach to evaluation, community engagement, and communication of findings. Most importantly, I became more attuned to the power dynamics at play as communities implement systems that diverge from industrial practices and the importance of fostering trust, collaboration, and equitable decision-making.
Additionally, I successfully completed my PhD in May 2025, with a dissertation chapter drawing on empirical data from this project. A book chapter based on lessons from this case study was also published during the grant period. My undergraduate research assistant, Annabelle Jurena, successfully completed her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and continued working on the project, gaining training in community-based research methods and qualitative analysis. She contributed significantly to data collection, learning circle facilitation, and the production of the learning circle guide and internal community report.