Farmers & Ranchers: Valued Workforce

Jim Cochran is a pioneer in the farming community in developing new methods to share the wealth generated by his farm with its workers. The farm’s 50 employees have been represented by the United Farm Workers since 1999, and participate in a unique Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

Stewardship Council

In current American culture, people pursue jobs because they are seen as valuable or honored. Leonard has been teaching young people how to be organic farmers for over a decade. His work supports our culture’s increasing recognition that farmers are valuable and careers in farming are respectable and important in our modern world.

Paul Muller and Full Belly Farm demonstrate the value they place on their workforce by paying workers well above the minimum wage and helping families maintain stability by providing year-round employment. They also provide long-term workers with health care benefits and assist their workers to purchase homes in the community.