Farmers Union Member Joseph Childs Selected for Prestigious International Program

WASHINGTON- Wisconsin Farmers Union member Joseph Childs has been selected to participate in the prestigious World Farmers' Organization (WFO) Gymnasium Program for 2024-2025. Launched in 2017, the WFO Gymnasium Program aims to train young farmers to fulfill their potential as future leaders and advocates of modern agriculture.

The Gymnasium Program is a series of activities focused on agricultural advocacy and policy development. Participants were chosen through a rigorous application process that evaluated their involvement in their national farm organization, among other criteria. Childs and 19 other top applicants received full funding for the program expenses, while partial funding was provided to an additional 10 individuals.

Childs' application centered on the challenges confronting small and beginning farmers, alongside his keen interest in exploring international policies and practices addressing climate change and economic disparities.

He expressed, "Our farming families shouldn't have to rely on full-time off-farm jobs to make ends meet. I'm eager to discover how other nations are revitalizing agriculture to its former glory," said Childs. "Being accepted into the Gymnasium Program is a great honor. Having dedicated the past few years to making a difference in the agriculture community I grew up in, I anticipate this program will provide numerous opportunities for me to enhance my service to my farm and community."

"Joseph's selection is a testament to his commitment to excellence in agriculture. We look forward to seeing the impact he will make on his community, his organization and family farming here at home and abroad," said Rob Larew, NFU President.

Throughout the 30-month program, participants will engage in various technical sessions covering key processes such as the United Nations (UN) Decade of Family Farming, World Food Forum, and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties, empowering them to become effective advocates for the WFO.

WFO is a member-based association, bringing together national farmers' organizations and agricultural cooperatives from all over the world. Since its inception in 2017, the WFO Gymnasium Program has successfully trained and empowered 67 active young farmers from all around the world and offered them more than 70 high-level advocacy opportunities at international conferences to effectively elevate the global farmers' voices into critical policy-making discussions.