Why Young Farmers & Ranchers—and Why Alaska Can’t Wait

Throughout the United States, the agricultural industry faces a quiet but dangerous crisis. In 1982, the average age of a farmer was 50.5 years old. Fast-forward to 2022—the most recent USDA Census of Agriculture—and that number has climbed to 58.1 years old, the highest ever recorded.

The crisis is obvious: the people responsible for feeding this nation are approaching retirement age. And while we all know a farmer never truly retires, the reality is that if this trend continues unchecked, it threatens the long-term stability of American agriculture itself.

In Alaska—where less than one percent of the state’s land is in agriculture and supply chains are already fragile—the loss of even a handful of producers isn’t a statistic, it’s a food security event.

The reasons this trend exists are the exact reasons Young Farmers & Ranchers programs must exist. The barriers to entry for young farmers today are not just high—they are, in many cases, nearly insurmountable.

Talking with other young producers—and living this reality myself—the barriers are not theoretical. They are access to land, capital, and mentorship; burnout; widening age gaps in leadership; institutional gatekeeping; and the relentless geographic isolation and inflation that touch every industry in Alaska.

This is why I am excited to start YF&R to confront these barriers head-on—not with slogans, but with relationships, representation, and a seat at the table. YF&R is where knowledge will be shared and not leveraged, where young producers are developed into leaders instead of dismissed, and where isolation is replaced with a peer network that understands Alaska’s unique challenges.

The timing is right. Food security is finally a statewide conversation, and the Division of Agriculture may become a full Department by the time this is published. That level of attention signals something rare: Alaska is ready to invest in its agricultural future. Opportunities like this do not come often.

This is our moment. If young producers do not step forward now—if we do not organize, speak with one voice, and claim our seat at the table—the decisions will be made without us. We need to  unify and, pardon the expression, make hay while the sun shines. Because if we hesitate, the vacuum will be filled, the age gap will widen, and the future of Alaska agriculture will be shaped by those who will not be here to live with the consequences.

So, what can YF&R actually do—and what goals can we realistically achieve? I have identified several, and I welcome continued input as this work grows: 

• Secure formal representation by working with boroughs and the state to create designated seats for young farmers and ranchers on agricultural boards, ensuring our perspective is not just heard, but embedded in decision-making.

• Revamp the Alaska Revolving Farm Loan program, demanding transparency, consistency, and fairness, and advocating for a dedicated allocation of funds specifically for young and beginning farmers.

• Expand access to capital by working with outside lenders, credit unions, and private partners to bring new financing opportunities into Alaska’s agricultural sector.

• Build a statewide peer and mentorship network that connects young producers with one another and with experienced operators—reducing isolation and shortening the learning curve that burns so many people out.

• Produce a formal, Alaska-specific barriers-to-entry document, clearly identifying the obstacles facing young producers and outlining actionable steps to reduce or remove them.

• Represent Alaska nationally, engaging Congress and the American Farm Bureau to ensure Alaska’s challenges and successes are visible—and positioning our state as the national example for how to confront the generational crisis in agriculture.

These goals are not finalized and do not represent an official platform. They are starting points. The direction, priorities, and success of Young Farmers & Ranchers in Alaska will ultimately be determined by the young farmers and ranchers who choose to step forward, participate, and shape it. If you are reading this and see something missing—or something that could be done better—that input is not just welcome, it is necessary.

If there is one place to start, it is this: we need to bring forth a new generation of young farmers and ranchers into the Farm Bureau. Alaska has one of the youngest farming populations in the nation, and it’s time for that strength and energy to be reflected here at home—in our membership, our leadership, and our decision-making.