Niman Ranch Awards Nearly $250,000 in Grants and Scholarships to Keep Young Farmers on the Land

Westminster, Colo. (November 7, 2023) – The Niman Ranch Next Generation Foundation, the philanthropic arm of sustainable and humane meat pioneer Niman Ranch, awarded nearly $250,000 in scholarships and grants to young farmers and future rural leaders. This is the largest annual amount the Foundation has awarded since the program started in 2006, supporting 53 young people across nine states.

“Beginning farmers and ranchers face numerous barriers getting started, from technical knowledge to land and capital access. The Next Generation Foundation scholarships and grants provide opportunity and hope for the future of family-scale farming by investing in young people dedicated to stewardship and animal care,” shared Elle Gadient, Niman Ranch Next Generation Foundation Board chair and past scholarship recipient.

The scholarships are used by recipients to offset the cost of higher education while the grants, up to $10,000, are investments to support humane animal care and regenerative agriculture practices to provide opportunity for more young and beginning farmers. The Foundation also awarded six gilt grants to beginning Niman Ranch hog farmers. The gilt grant matches farmer investments in breeding stock to expand their hog herd as well as providing business planning support, regular education sessions and farmer mentorship.

“We feel so grateful to be able to partner with a company like Niman Ranch that strives to give back to their farmers,” said Trisha Zachman of Feathered Acres Farm in Belgrade, Minn., a 2023 Regenerative Agriculture Grant recipient. “Thanks to this grant we are able to significantly speed up the process of our transition to regenerative farming.” The Zachmans are using the $10,000 grant to expand fencing for rotational grazing and construct pasture farrowing huts. A cornerstone of regenerative agriculture is integrating livestock on the land to build soil health.

The investment in the next generation is made possible by partners of the Niman Ranch brand. Collectively with the support from companies that sell Niman Ranch products, the consumers who serve Niman Ranch to their families and the farmers who raise the premium product, the Foundation has invested over $1.4 million in hundreds of young leaders who are committed to sustainable agriculture and thriving rural communities.

2023 scholarship and grant recipients include:

Andy Arnold, Elizabeth, IL 

Eric & Mikala Boor, Osceola, IA 

Madison Boyle, Danbury, IA 

Kallin Crile, Wayland, IA 

Callie Ferneding, Carroll, IA

Jake Ferneding, Carroll, IA

Kailyn Frederick, Falls City, NE   

Alayna Gerhardt-Crile, Wayland, IA

Joel Gindo, Elkton, SD 

Ryan Goertzen-Regier, Newton, KS

Carter Goetz, Bridgewater, IA

Amos Graber, Lockridge, IA 

Nikkita Grimm, Media, IL

Andrew Haan, Parkersburg, IA

Joshua Haan, Parkersburg, IA

Conner Hildreth, Rockwell City, IA 

Maggie Hutton, Chestertown, MD 

Brooks Ingels, Randalia, IA 

Ava Jovaag, Austin, MN 

Kaitlin Kleiboeker, Stotts City, MO 

Alison Knutson, Centerville, SD 

Kasandra Knutson, Centerville, SD 

Sadie Kuehn, Mingo, IA 

Lindsay Larson, Nelson, WI

Kody McCleary, Mendon, IL

Abby Moen, Decorah, IA 

Morgan Moen, Decorah, IA 

Cade Nolte, Wilton, IA 

Mason Nolte, Wilton, IA  

Andrew Oberreuter, Danbury, IA 

Noah Oberreuter, Danbury, IA 

Keara O’Brien, Ames, IA  

Andrew Olson, Galesburg, IL

Jocelyn Ramos, Denison, IA 

Josie Riggs, Falls City, NE 

Haley Robb, Doniphan, NE 

Ethan Roberts, Sidney, IA 

Ryan Roberts, Sidney, IA 

Molly Scott, Wellsville, MO 

Chevelle Spaulding, Castana, IA 

Mark Sperfslage, Seneca, KS 

Levi Steinkamp, Wall Lake, IA

Tate Stewart, Moline, KS 

Bennett Talsma, Chandler, MN 

Logan & Mariah Thome, Saint Ansgar, IA 

Macy Tiefenthaler, Breda, IA 

Ephraim Van Zante, Fremont, IA

Morgan Wegs, Mount Sterling, IL  

Peyton Wegs, Mount Sterling, IL 

Wyatt Wiebe, Dawson, MN

Kelsey Wilson, Holliday, MO 

Jason Wright, New Market, IA 

Trisha & Nolan Zachman, Belgrade, MN

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ABOUT NIMAN RANCH

Niman Ranch is a community of over 600 independent family farmers and ranchers who raise pork, beef and lamb traditionally, humanely and sustainably to deliver the Finest-Tasting Meat in the World®. Niman Ranch is the largest farmer and rancher network in North America to be Certified Humane®. The protein of choice for America’s most celebrated chefs, Niman Ranch is also the premier option for discerning home cooks looking for meats Raised with Care®, with no antibiotics or added hormones—ever.