Grady farmer Jody Hardin has been selected as a witness to testify next week before members of Congress in Washington.
Hardin is one of a select few farmers from around the country chosen to testify at an upcoming hearing held by the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on Healthy Food Initiatives, Local Production, and Nutrition in the 2012 Farm Bill.
Hardin is a fifth-generation family farmer and president of the Arkansas Farmers Market Association. He and his family raise nearly 150 acres in vegetables each year, both conventional and organic, that are sold in regional wholesale markets and directly to consumers through a community supported agriculture (CSA) program with 80 family subscribers and in their own farm stores that feature local and regional specialty crops. Hardin will testify about the business opportunities to be found in local and regional markets as well as infrastructure, training, and crop insurance barriers that are limiting growth – and how the federal government can invest in future growth.
“I live and breathe local foods,” Hardin said, “and this is the highest honor that someone like me could have to speak on behalf of the nation’s small acreage sustainable farmers. My great-uncle testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee for 30 consecutive years – I’m proud to continue that legacy.”