Michigan will be the home of 10 new Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) projects led by farmers, researchers, teachers and farm organizations. SARE grants fund sustainable farming innovations that contribute to Michigan's economy, ecology and the wellbeing of its farmers and communities.
SARE Farmer Rancher grants
Congratulations to all the farmers and ranchers who have been funded for SARE projects to improve social, economic and environmental sustainability on their farms! SARE just announced six Michigan farmers who were awarded 2025 Farmer Rancher grants.
A SARE Farmer Rancher grant funded Darla Kroft to create a marketing guide for unique crops such as the groundnuts, ocas and African potato mint shown in this photo.
Ryan Fairbanks of Dancing Crane Farm will be evaluating the efficacy and sustainability of hemp seed meal as an alternative feed ingredient for pastured laying hens. Josiah Foster of Growing Hope and partner farm Willow Run Acres will investigate and build two mobile solutions for food safety and sustainability, empowering farmers and communities in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Rebecca Gentner of Tree Hugger Maple will run a feasibility study of implementing solar pumps into gravity lines for maple sap collection. Lance Kraai of New City Neighbors received funding for evaluating the viability of farm meal kits for small-scale farms. Phimmasome Kym Owens of Refugee Garden Initiatives will plant and manage a refugee healing garden. Brittney Rooney of Beaverland Farms LLC will partner with Fisheye Farms to share access to a cooperatively owned soil steamer on urban farms in Detroit, Michigan.
Other 2025 SARE grants
SARE Partnership Grants connect three or more farmers with an agriculture professional or educator to collaborate on a project important to sustainable agriculture. In 2025, Jill Dohner of MI FarmLink and Washtenaw County Conservation District has been funded to survey farmers, host a meet and greet and share results about connecting new and retiring farmers for land access opportunities as part of her project, Key Components of a Successful Negotiation.
SARE Youth Educator grants fund farmers, teachers and youth groups to connect young people with opportunities to engage in growing food and learn about career opportunities in agriculture. Through the Building Healthy Soils, Selves, and Communities project, Kacee Jones of Community Farm of Ann Arbor, Michigan, will create an internship program for youth to focus on climate change and personal growth. Ami Zijlstra will guide youth in learning about soils, plants and water through designing and planting the Prospect Hill Farm School Food Forest.
Source: Michigan State University