In 2023, the USDA announced the availability of $1 billion over the next 10 years to help individual farmers, ranchers and rural businesses invest in renewable energy.
Embrace the innovative path of utilizing your land for renewable energy production. This opens the door to a reliable income stream that is a proven complement to existing farming and ranching practices.
It’s a win-win scenario that promotes long-term profitability while contributing to more stability and resiliency by diversifying our energy mix.
$1.5B
in federal funding in 2024
USDA Makes $1.5 Billion Available to Help Farmers Advance Conservation and Climate-Smart Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a nearly $11 billion investment to help bring affordable clean energy to rural communities throughout the country.
Nadia Neziri is a Wisconsin Field Organizer based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nadia holds a bachelor’s of science in environmental policy and planning, with a minor in environmental science from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. Nadia’s grandparents were farmers, and she was raised in rural northeast Wisconsin, where many of her friends and neighbors came from farming families. Through college she became involved in food systems, conservation work, and land stewardship, and worked in several internships and jobs to support our shared environment and natural resources. From planting over 2,500 trees while working at a nature preserve, to assisting in environmental policy writing for the UW system, to canvassing for supporters of farmers and rural Americans during the 2022 midterm election, Nadia has been actively engaged in conservation efforts since she was 16. Nadia has long aspired to work in agriculture in some capacity, and she is excited to pursue that dream with Farm-To-Power.
Ben Kelahan is a co-founder of Farm-To-Power. He has over three decades of experience in federal, state, and local legislative advocacy campaigns. Ben’s specialties are coalition building, grassroots organizing, government relations, community engagement, political consulting, and lobbying. To that end, Ben also currently serves as Chairman of the Board for The Advocacy Group (TAG), which brings together top-tier lobbyists nationwide to exchange best practices and compare client issues.
He is also the founder and executive director of ReNew Mexico and co-founder of Western Freedom, two Western coalition-based organizations fighting for legislative and regulatory changes within the energy sector.
Ben resides in Loudoun County, Virginia, with his wife and kids.
Ryan serves as Farm-To-Power’s National Field Operations Director, supporting our field staff across the organization with training, data, and reporting needs.
After many cycles of volunteering on campaigns, Ryan translated this experience into full-time activism in 2021, organizing for statewide electoral campaigns and eventually working as a campaign manager for down-ballot races. Most recently, he worked in healthcare advocacy, working to ensure equal and unfettered access to a variety of essential healthcare services.
He is excited to bring this skillset to the fight to protect our planet and empower rural communities to energize our future in a sustainable, reliable way.
Ryan lives in a rural county in Southwest MI with his husband, 2 dogs, and 4 cats.
Farm-To-Power recently announced the addition of Michael Dora as their Indiana State Director. Most recently, Michael has served USDA Rural Development as their State Director, where he aided in awarding many REAP Grants throughout rural Indiana to small businesses and farm families.
Michael studied production agriculture as a Boilermaker and then went on to start farming with his wife to grow a first generation operation to nearly 5000 acres of row crops, raising cattle and managing an 800-sow farrow-to-finish operation. Michael served his local community on the school board, as an EMT on their local the volunteer fire department and now serves the largest signally accredited Community College in the nation, Ivy Tech.
Michael and his wife Denise enjoy evening golf cart rides around their lake community and watching their grandchildren fish and play sports.
Michael understands and believes in property rights and the ability of farmowners to be able to use their land in a manner that allows sustainability on the farm.
Steve Boe is a native of Taylor, Wisconsin, where he grew up on a small 40-cow dairy farm in western Jackson County. Boe graduated from Blair-Taylor High School in 2002 and received a degree in agricultural education and political science at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Currently, Steve has worked as a research assistant for Representative Mark Radcliffe in the Wisconsin State Assembly, as a FFA advisor at Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan High School, as the Director of Local Affairs and District 4 Coordinator for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, and most recently was the agriscience teacher and FFA Advisor at the Melrose-Mindoro School District.
Before his work, Boe served as a congressional intern for Congressman Ron Kind in Washington. Steve’s experiences have allowed him to become a leader in the agriculture industry, gain experience in policy, and be in touch with local communities in Wisconsin.
Steve is active with the Taylor FFA Alumni, member of Taylor Lutheran Church, is on the Jackson County Fair Board, and serves as the Co-Service Director for the Taylor First Responders. He is the past president of the Jackson County Thrivent chapter and served as a State FFA Officer from 2003-04.
Marilyn “Mati” Ihinger is a Wisconsin Field Organizer based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Mati holds a bachelor’s in politics and government and international relations from the Paris Institute of Political Studies, Reims Campus, and has a year of studies at Northwestern University.
She has experience in community engagement and local organizing through her work with the Eau Claire City Council and her campaign background across Wisconsin’s 3rd congressional district.
Sam is from rural southeast Ohio, where he helps operate a community nonprofit organization, Morgan Community Support and Solutions, with other alumni from his high school. Having obtained his Masters in Public Administration from Ohio State University with a focus on nonprofit management, Sam is pursuing a career in the public and nonprofit sectors to continue building his skills and knowledge that he can take back to his own nonprofit organization.
Being from rural America and having an undergraduate education in STEM, Sam is passionate about the unique problems that rural Americans face and the solutions that Farm-To-Power aims to provide.
Kate Stymiest (she/her) is a Field Organizer with Farm-to-Power in Michigan and a proud Alma College graduate. She is passionate about promoting renewable energy and working closely with farmers, landowners, and environmental organizations to make a positive impact.
Kate joined Farm-to-Power because she believes in the power of grassroots organizing and the importance of renewable energy for our future. She is excited to be part of this movement and to work toward a greener, more sustainable Michigan.
When she’s not organizing, you can find Kate exploring the outdoors with family, diving into a good book, or relaxing with her cat.
Rachael Stewart is the Southwest Regional Director of Farm-To-Power for New Mexico and Arizona. She is currently a rancher in southern Arizona and a mother to four children. Rachael transitioned from fitness to farming in 2020 and never looked back. She is passionate about animals, the environment, and helping her community.
Rachael founded a non-profit organization that helps small farmers/ranchers grow by gaining access to resources and land. Rachael completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Global Business and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA). She works with the National Young Farmers Coalition and is on the board of Slow Food Phoenix.
In her spare time, she loves to work on her ranch, Stewart Pastures, and spend time with her horses.
With an inspiring journey that began in the gardens with his grandmother, LeVar Eady has cultivated a profound connection with plant life that spans over decades. This deep-seated passion for botany led him to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Morehouse College, where he specialized in plant science and ecology. His academic journey was complemented by further studies in Anatomy and Medical Terminology at Stanford University and Analysis II at the University of California, Berkeley.
LeVar’s professional journey is equally impressive. As the founder and CEO of BluRok Farms, based in his birthplace of Albuquerque, New Mexico, he has channeled his expertise into his venture, BluRok Farms, born out of a determination to grow the best plants possible while fostering an environment that empowers individuals to become business owners and contribute positively to the planet.
LeVar also has a notable history of managing the Downtown Growers Market in New Mexico, the largest farmer’s market in the state, which features over 300 vendors. This role has honed his skills in creating and managing large ecosystems in the agricultural sector.
Dedicated to community building and education, LeVar has completed several prestigious programs, including the Hood Incubator Program, Uptima Accelerated Business Boot Camp, and The People Accelerator by The People Ecosystem. His achievements are a testament to his commitment to excellence and innovation.
As BluRok Farm prepares to expand into cultivation, LeVar is focused on his mission to provide minorities the euphoric feeling of ownership and to help the world through sustainable agricultural practices. His story is not just about growing plants, but about nurturing communities and living in harmony with nature.
Karson Miller is our Field Community Organizer for Northern Indiana. Karson recently graduated from Huntington University with a BA in Political Science, History, and International Development Studies while receiving many awards from the History Department, including the Ron Frank Memorial Award for Outstanding Scholarship.
Over the last few years, Karson has garnered a lot of experience in local politics, grassroots organizing, and community engagement with various political campaigns and advocacy groups while attending college.
Karson also enjoys being involved with local churches and bible studies, spending time with his fiancé, reading, and free-lance writing in his spare time. Karson resides in Huntington, Indiana.
Based out of Oberlin, Ohio, Myranda Montoye is an Ohio Field Organizer with Farm-To-Power. She is a recent graduate from Oberlin College, where she studied Economics and Politics.
Originally from Michigan, Myranda grew up an active member of her county 4-H program, and continued to work with 4-H during her college years. Also during her college career, Myranda acted as a community organizer focused on non-partisan voter registration and voter education efforts on her campus and in the broader community.
Myranda is excited to bring these experiences to her work with Farm-To-Power, and to help rural landowners take advantage of renewable energy opportunities in Ohio.
Davina Bryan is the Michigan State Director with Farm-To-Power. As a business owner and trade educator, Davina became an advocate for economic and educational opportunities within underserved communities. Inspired to effect change, she attended Grand Valley State University and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Integrative Studies and an emphasis in Human Environmental Relationships.
Her work includes nonprofit fundraising, strategic partnerships and community engagement. She is also an active member of area nonprofit collaboratives. In 2022, Davina founded Bring The Food Fight Home, an educational advocacy group dedicated to connecting consumers with the rich history of rural American farming and bringing awareness to the issues impacting producers and their families today.
With her husband and four children, Davina built a small hobby farm outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan where the family kept goats and chickens with a little help from a loyal guardian Great Pyrenees and a few hard working barn cats.
Davina’s commitment to the Farm-To-Power mission is rooted in the principle that freedom and land rights are hard fought, inseparable American assurances. She believes that American farmers have the knowledge necessary to usher us into a future of clean, sustainable technology and it should be our priority to ensure that their voices are heard. Davina currently resides in Kent County, Michigan.
Don Coram
Don Coram embodies the code of the West, having been born and raised in Montrose County, Colorado, on a family farm/ranch operation. With a background spanning ranching, environmental reclamation, small business, and over 25 years in mining, Don’s life has been marked by a commitment to hard work, honesty, perseverance, and a profound pride in preserving the western way of life.
From 2017 to 2023, Don served as a State Senator for Colorado’s 6th district in Southwest Colorado. Initially appointed to fill a vacancy in 2017, he later secured election to a full term in 2018. However, redistricting prevented him from seeking reelection to the post in 2022.
During his tenure in the Senate, Don’s influence extended across several key committees, including Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources, Judiciary, Water Resources Review, and Wildfire Matters Review. His tenure was marked by significant legislative achievements and a tireless commitment to representing the interests of rural Colorado. Don effectively advocated for policies promoting economic growth, environmental stewardship, and the well-being of agricultural communities.
Prior to his senatorial role, he served as a State Representative for District 58 from 2011 to 2017. Over his six-year tenure in the House, Don served on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Transportation and Energy committees, and as Vice Chair of the State Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. He was also appointed by the Speaker of the House to serve on the 2010 Colorado Congressional Redistricting Committee.
Known for his effectiveness as a legislator, Don earned a reputation as a fierce advocate for rural Colorado, embodying the cowboy spirit in his commitment to the land and its people. He often emphasized that the “R” behind his name stood for RURAL and symbolized his dedication to those communities and the values of the West. His willingness to collaborate across party lines in pursuit of legislative priorities exemplified his dedication to serving all constituents. Today, Don maintains close relationships with former colleagues from both sides of the aisle, advocating for a focus on relationship-building over divisive rhetoric to better serve our communities.
Before his tenure in state legislature, Don held roles as an elected Director and Treasurer of Montrose County School District RE-1J, as well as Treasurer and President of what is now known as the Technical College of the Rockies. Don and his wife of 57 years, Dianna, continue to call Montrose home, embodying a deep connection to their families, community, and the values they hold dear.
