Alana Baker Dunn, River Bend Farms

"Be sure that agriculture always has a seat at the table. Find a way to make sure you have advocates for agriculture involved in your community organizations, from local government to the Chamber of Commerce to fundraising groups. It is vitally important that our voice is represented outside of our own agricultural groups."

Alana Baker Dunn is a partner at River Bend Farms and has been for the past decade. Alana grew up on a farm but never had an interest in coming back to it after she became an adult at first. However, Alana says that in 2013, the Good Lord intervened, and an opportunity to go back to her roots was placed before her. She's never looked back!

River Bend Farms has been in Alana's family for six generations. She cites her greatest achievement as being able to raise her own family on the same farm that has meant so much to her. The importance of caring for the land and appreciating its beauty has been the values Alana works to instill in her children and the visitors to her farm.

Alana stresses the importance of advocacy for agriculture throughout communities and state governments. It is essential to create lasting networks and connections so that the voices of agriculture can be heard by all, not just those already in the community; Alana strives to express these things to anyone wanting to make their own impact in the agricultural community.