Since 2004 LFG has provided caring support and expert guidance to help farmers, landowners and communities navigate the complex challenges of land access, tenure, and transfer.

We started with our Farm Legacy Program in response to identifying a huge gap in services around farm succession planning. We developed our unique coaching approach to providing ongoing support and guidance to farm families in planning the transfer of their farms to the next generation or owner.

We hosted a national conference on farm and ranch access, tenure and transfer. We soon realized that to fully address land access challenges at a systemic level, we also needed to reach and support non-farming landowners.

We kicked off our first (of many) region-wide Land Access Projects, a comprehensive, multi-year project addressing the farmland access challenges facing New England’s beginning farmers.

We grew our team over the years, including hiring state field agents. Our team members are distributed across New England. Nearly all have either operated farms, managed or worked on farms, and/or have formal agricultural training.

As a national leader on these issues, we organized and hosted Changing Lands, Changing Hands, the second national conference on farm and ranch access, tenure and transfer.

The third phase of our Land Access Project (LAP3) improved and expanded services to help more beginning farmers access farmland in each New England state, and addressed key gaps identified by both farmers and service providers. We also convened the first national Farm Link Clinic.

We provided training and technical assistance to organizations in more than two dozen states. We weathered the pandemic years with new online delivery methods and tools. We conducted organizational assessments and trainings with racial equity consultants. Our three-year Land for Farmers Project kicked off to provide training and technical assistance to achieve farmland access for more beginning farmers.

We continue to see more requests from beginning and established farmers for services and resources. Agricultural service providers continue to seek us out for technical assistance or to engage in policy or project work, both regionally and nationally. In 2023 we embarked on an equity infused strategic planning process.

2024 marks the organization’s 20th anniversary! Our team continues to grow with more field agents on the ground to meet the needs of farmers across New England. We’re proud to be working along with all of you at the forefront of changing the way land is accessed, held, and transferred to future farmers across the country.