The twice-per-decade Farm Bill reauthorization process offers advocates the tremendous, if rare, opportunity to transform America’s food and agriculture systems. To take advantage of this opportunity, advocates from around the country and across the food system must align to push back against Big Ag consolidators and millionaire landowners who have traditionally dominated the legislative process. Together, we can work to shift Farm Bill resources to support farmed animals, people, and the planet.

This year, Farm Sanctuary partnered with Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) to take a bold step. Section by section, the Food & Farm Act shifts the Farm Bill, enhancing access to healthy foods, establishing the first animal welfare title, and redistributing funding to support farmers, reduce waste, and protect our environment.

On Wednesday, March 29th, Rep. Blumenauer and Farm Sanctuary met with dozens of animal, health, justice, farmer, and environmental advocates on Capitol Hill to engage on Farm Bill issues and support the Food & Farm Act’s capacity to make much-needed change. But the celebrations did not end there!

Throughout March and April 2023, Farm Sanctuary co-hosted Shift the Farm Bill satellite parties at 10 universities nationwide. From Portland, Oregon, to St. Petersburg, Florida, students across the country connected with fellow advocates, lobbied for transformative state and federal food policy bills, and enjoyed some delicious, local, plant-based food.

The Shift the Farm Bill satellite parties also provided students with the space to commiserate over shared frustrations. Many participants expressed strong desires for access to safe and healthy food, just compensation, a stable and habitable climate, and equitable distribution of resources. And yet, they’ve been saddled with futures that don’t guarantee any of those things. With its accelerating and intensifying crises, the world they’re inheriting is quashing their enthusiasm, creativity, and idealism — all traits that spur younger generations to revolutionize food and agricultural systems.

The Shift the Farm Bill satellite parties reignited students’ hope for a better future by reminding them of their innate power. Despite the widespread challenges facing students today, youth leaders play pivotal roles in food system transformation. Many know of climate activist Greta Thunberg, whose persistent calls for agricultural reform have inspired a stronger sense of collective efficacy for young people around the globe.

But other examples abound! As law and university students, Grant Nelson and Maria Rose Belding created the Matching Excess And Need for Stability Database (MEANS) and have since redirected over 2.2 million pounds of food to communities in need. After learning about the abuse and mistreatment of farmed animals, 11-year-old Zoe Rosenberg opened Happy Hen Animal Sanctuary, which has grown into one of the largest sanctuaries on the west coast. And in early 2020, a group of Hawaiian high school students launched the Hawai’i Youth Food Council and successfully mobilized students to advocate for healthier, localized food system policies.

Students have every reason to feel disheartened about their potential to shift the Farm Bill. But they also have plenty to be hopeful about, and celebrating Congressman Blumenauer’s Food & Farm Act was an excellent place to start. Between labs, lectures, and long hours in the library, the Shift the Farm Bill satellite parties planted seeds of inspiration for the many students interested in nurturing more just, sustainable, and compassionate food systems. Farm Sanctuary is grateful to have collaborated with so many thoughtful, engaging, and resourceful students as we work to shift the Farm Bill together.

To build the good across U.S. food systems, we have to shift the Farm Bill. Set to spend more than $700 billion over the next 5 years, the “farm” part of the Farm Bill makes factory farming possible – it provides the credit, subsidy, legal, and regulatory structure that benefits Big Ag and hurts nearly all of us: farmers, workers, families, communities, farmed animals, and the environment. Right now, the Farm Bill is a factory farm bailout. But it could be a building block for food system transformation. Read on to hear how student organizers across the country are working to Shift the Farm Bill.