Be the Link: Connections to People and the Land

By Melissa Webreck, Farm Service Agency

It's time once again for the USDA Farm Service Agency's annual county committee elections. We're introducing you to current committee members across the nation throughout the nomination period, which runs now through Aug. 1, 2024. This week, meet Adam Hill, chairperson of the FSA urban county committee in Philadelphia.

Connected to the Land

Adam developed his love for agriculture while studying indigenous farming techniques in Guatemala and southern Mexico. When he returned to the U.S., he wanted to grow and help promote sustainable farming practices and stay connected to the land.

"Food and farming are such an integral part of our culture and who we are, and I wanted that to be my work. I also just really love growing food and having my hands in the earth," he said.

Adam has worked and managed several operations in and around Philadelphia, including an intensive urban market farm on vacant lots and a five-acre community supported agriculture operation.

"I even managed a two-acre mixed vegetable farm behind the walls of the Philadelphia Department of Prisons while training inmate participants," Adam said.

Now, Adam is the director of urban agriculture and community garden programs at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS). PHS helps Philadelphians grow and share fresh, high quality and culturally appropriate food with their communities.

"I help support 180 urban growing sites around Philadelphia with everything growers need to be successful, from materials and supplies to technical assistance and capacity building," Adam said. "This includes operating four community-based greenhouses where we propagate 280,000 vegetable seedlings annually and distribute them to Philadelphia growers who are sharing their harvests."

Adam also manages PHS's Urban Agriculture Tool Library where growers in their program can borrow more than 500 tools at no cost.

Connected to the People

The 2018 Farm Bill directed USDA to establish county committees specifically focused on urban agriculture. Philadelphia is now one of several cities with an urban FSA county committee, which works to encourage and promote urban, indoor and other emerging agricultural production practices. Additionally, these committees may address areas such as food access, community engagement, support of local activities to promote and encourage community compost and food waste reduction.

Adam has served on the urban county committee in Philadelphia since its inception.

"I was excited about the USDA becoming more accessible to urban and small-scale growers," Adam said. "I wanted to help the USDA better serve growers in Philadelphia, particularly growers from historically marginalized populations."

In this role, Adam helps FSA staff serve urban farmers in Philadelphia. Urban committee members are nominated and elected to serve by local urban producers in the same jurisdiction. Producers on the committee help deliver FSA farm programs at the local level, and work to make federal farm programs serve the needs of local producers.

"A lot of the urban county work is still so new, so a lot of the role is helping with outreach and spreading the word to growers," he said.

Each year, FSA accepts nominations for a certain Local Administrative Area (LAA) and the LAA up for election rotates each year.

Adam encourages others to consider running for their local committee.

"You can help provide access to services that your fellow producers need and also meet other people in your area," he said. "County committees are one of the few ways that citizens can be directly involved in the federal government and provide oversight of government employees and operations. Every county is different and it's essential to have local knowledge and expertise to help promote and provide fair access to USDA programs."

More Information

For more information on FSA county committee elections, contact your local FSA office or visit fsa.usda.gov/elections.

Melissa Webreck, is the state outreach coordinator for FSA in Pennsylvania.

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