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UUSWNT Players Impact Fund
- Michele
- Micah Missoula, MT, United States
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KKenna
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JJessica
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Ssean
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AAaron
- Tom United States
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TThomas
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LLinda
My career in agriculture has been gradually building over the past decade. I initially came to farming because I wanted to work outdoors while remaining connected to my community. That very first season, I was hooked and went back to school to learn more about food systems, receiving my Masters in Sustainable Food & Farming from the University of Montana in 2015. I then launched a value-added produce business called Black Bear Soups, that has previously received and repaid a Kiva loan.
Yet, I struggled to access appropriate farmland for my farm dreams to be viable long-term. While owning and operating Black Bear Soups across several leased farm sites, I worked full-time in the nonprofit sustainability sector. I most recently was the Operations & Finance Director for the Community Food & Agriculture Coalition, who is now endorsing me for this Kiva loan.
About two years ago, I had given up on the idea that I would ever farm full-time. Then, to great surprise, I was invited to work on transitioning a farm space from the retiring farmers who had previously managed it. The most exciting part, this project is attempting a new model for farmers like me to access land: a community land trust farm. I am the first lease holder of Montana’s inaugural community land trust farm and as of two weeks ago, I became a full-time farmer.