Picture a Farmer...
Is this person you imagined a little older? That’s not surprising. Almost a third of farmers in Michigan are over age 65. Less than 10% are under 35.
In the 21st century, few choose farming as their livelihood. It’s hard enough for a daughter or son to take over for aging parents; it’s especially harder for someone without a farming background to break into the business. The good news is there’s a slew of resources available to help those who want to farm. MIFarmLink arose out of a need for additional ways to address the changing demographics of farming and rapidly disappearing farmland.
History
Origins and Early Collaboration
In 2019, a coalition of 20 public and private farmland conservation leaders—including representatives from ALPAC, NAP, and the Washtenaw County Conservation District—began researching the development of a farm linking program to connect new farmers with available land.
Program Launch and Expansion
Ottawa County launched the MIFarmLink pilot program in 2021 with USDA grant funding. In 2022, Ottawa County partnered with Washtenaw County conservation leaders to secure additional support, and by 2023, MIFarmLink transitioned to the Washtenaw County Conservation District to expand its reach across southeast Michigan.
Statewide Platform
In October 2025, the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts became the new home for MIFarmLink, enabling direct outreach and support through Michigan’s network of 75 conservation districts.
Mission and Vision
Our mission is to secure Michigan’s agricultural heritage for future generations by bridging the gap between farmers seeking land with farmland owners.
Our vision is a thriving and diverse agricultural economy where Michigan farmland remains in the hands of farmers.
MIFarmLink Team
Jill Dohner
Program Director
Jill is working with a group of passionate agricultural advocates from across Michigan to grow the MIFarmLink program, an effort started in Ottawa County, moved to Washtenaw County, that helps protect farmland by connecting agricultural landowners looking to sell/lease land with beginning farmers looking for land to farm.
She graduated from Michigan Technological University with a Master's in Forest Ecology and Management. Jill owns Rustic Roots Farm where she tends honeybees, poultry, goats, a fruit orchard and garden, greenhouse production, and woodworking. Jill has served on the Washtenaw County Conservation District board for 10 years prior and now is a Farm Bureau member in District 3. She has experience in forestry at the Greening of Detroit and ReLeaf Michigan, as well as working with a diversity of farmers through the Washtenaw Farmer Cooperative. jill.dohner@macd.org
Alexa Tedeschi
Communications & Development Coordinator
Alexa is passionate about content creation and science communication, with a strong background in photography, video, and storytelling. She’s currently pursuing a Master’s in Biology through Miami University’s Project Dragonfly program and recently completed a wildlife media internship in South Africa, where she gained hands-on experience in photography, videography, and underwater filming. Alexa has worked with local government cable channels, schools, and nonprofits, using media to connect communities and educate. She’s thrilled to be part of the team and looks forward to helping grow the program in the year ahead! alexa.tedeschi@macd.org
Volunteer with Us! MIFarmLink is looking for volunteers to help grow our statewide farmland linking program! Whether you’re a college student seeking internship credit or an industry professional donating your skills, your time can make a big impact. From website development and outreach to grant writing and fundraising, there’s a place for you on our team—just 5–10 hours a week, with flexible, virtual check-ins. Apply through this form.
Advisory Committee
Join our Advisory Committee! MIFarmLink is seeking passionate volunteers to join our Advisory Committee and help guide our work to connect landowners with the next generation of Michigan farmers. Committee members meet virtually once a month and bring expertise in areas such as farming, conservation, law, fundraising, real estate, and more. If you care about farmland preservation, land access, and the future of Michigan agriculture, we encourage you to apply through this form.
Julius Buzzard | Growing Hope Urban Farm
Julius Buzzard (he/him) is the Executive Director at Growing Hope. Julius also serves on the Washtenaw County Black Farmers Fund, Greenbelt Advisory Commission, Washtenaw County Food Policy Council, and several other food and land access-oriented movements across Southeast Michigan. Julius serves on MIFarmLink because he believes that land access for local, small and historically disadvantaged farmers a crucial and tangible step towards rematriation.
A native Michigander, Julius found his home in Ypsilanti in 2013 and never looked back. He spent the formative years of his career within the local nonprofit and education sectors. He always created ways to tie his passion for growing and environmental justice into each context. Developing meaningful and intentional relationships with the community is at the core of everything Julius does—knowing that together, we can foster a safe, caring, and just food system and community as a whole. Whether it was gardening with his grandparents, participating in community gardens, teaching students how to grow and harvest, or tending his own garden, Julius has lived a life with his hands in the dirt. These experiences have formed three basic principles: relationships matter, food is for everyone, and the land will be our liberator.
Kathy Sample | Argus Farm Stop
Kathy co-founded Argus Farm Stop in Ann Arbor, MI with her husband Bill in 2014, with the goal of growing the focus on and size of local food economy here in Michigan. Argus is designed to grow local food availability to consumers, by offering a year-round, every-day venue for farmers to sell their locally grown products.
In her role at Argus, she interacts with many farms, potential farmers, and people interested in farming. She and her husband have conserved a farm in Dexter; they lease that farm to a young farmer, and farming is part of her everyday conversation. In talking to farmers, the number one issue for new and young farms is access to land.
Kathy worked over the 25 years in the chemical, medical gases and automotive industries, in marketing, strategy and business planning capacities on international projects. Deciding to pursue an entrepreneurial venture in local food systems addressed something she has been interested in all long. Kathy has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Michigan State University.
Koffi Kpachavi
Koffi has been a leader in the non-profit sector for over 25 years. Much of his career has been with the YMCA, leading camps and youth programs in various parts of the country: Camps Mason, Ockanickon, Matollionequay in New Jersey, Camp Colman in Washington State, Camp Loma Mar in California, and Camp Echo in Michigan. Koffi holds a BA in English and French literature from the University of Lome in West Africa.
Koffi and his wife, Teresa, have three boys: Arnaud, Ian, and Yannick. Arnaud, the oldest, is a Conservation Officer for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Ian has started graduate school at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Yannick studies information technology systems at Ferris State University. Teresa works remotely for Stanford University managing online courses for the Continuing Studies program.
When he is not working, Koffi is passionate about environmental issues and is involved in Agriculture. He is the founder and former president of the Fremont Area Bee Club. He is also an enology (oenology) enthusiast with a focus on geology and wine-grape growing around the world. He co-leads educational sessions in France and the U.S.
Contact Koffi: Staff - Koffi Kpachavi — Grand Traverse Conservation District (natureiscalling.org)
Becky Huttenga
Becky Huttenga, a lifelong resident of Ottawa County, grew up as a 4-H kid on a 24-acre hobby farm in Spring Lake Township before heading off to Michigan State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science and 30 credit hours of Masters level graduate study in Animal Science at MSU. While raising her two children, Becky developed a diverse resume, from nutritional sales at Purina Mills to restaurant management at her family’s Grand Haven business to Program Assistant for MSU Extension’s 4-H program. Her passion for being the bridge between natural resources and agriculture sparked when she became Executive Director at the Ottawa Conservation District in 2011. She joined Ottawa County in 2015, where she now leads countywide initiatives in farmland protection, agriculture, and economic development. Becky currently resides in the City of Grand Haven.
Becky, a Farm Bureau member, serves on the Ottawa Conservation District Board of Directors, Michigan Association of Conservation Districts State Council, West Michigan Agribusiness Talent Council, National Agricultural Land Network Advisory, Careerline Tech Ag Program Advisory, and on numerous planning committees for agricultural outreach events. Her favorite career accomplishments include hosting two radio shows, founding Michigan’s first statewide land linking platform, MIFarmLink.org, and being named one of Mlive’s Women Who Shape the State in 2023. She is also currently serving as one of two Land Transfer Navigators in Michigan, a partnership between American Farmland Trust and USDA-NRCS to help increase the number of farmed acres under a succession and transfer plan. www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-huttenga-7844411b/
