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Dear Friends,

It goes without saying that 2019 feels like a lifetime ago. As the Covid crisis has laid bare, the industrial, extractive food system is nothing short of a disaster, and the need to strengthen independent farming and the communities that support it has never been more urgent. We continue to be deeply motivated by our mission to bring about an ecological food culture and by the incredible supporters of the Stone Barns Center. 

In 2019, we took stock of the first 15 years of our work and our partnership with Blue Hill, and began to shape a framework for doubling down on our commitments to bringing about the sustainable, healthy and just food system we seek. Though the pandemic has affected our plans and our timeline, it has also revealed that our instincts were correct: that farm-to-table, for all its strengths, continues to have great untapped potential; that deeper connections among farmers, chefs and everyone in between will be at the center of the change we seek; and that our campus is uniquely positioned to serve as an R&D lab for the experimentation that will bring this vision to life. 

Here are just a few highlights from our 2019 programming:

The 12th annual Young Farmers Conference provided an opportunity for rejuvenation, reflection and inspiration for the 250 young farmers in attendance and the more than 90,000 who engaged via livestream and social media. We were so energized by the expanded voices and perspectives represented on the Stone Barns stage, and to have had the opportunity to learn from leaders generating groundbreaking change across the food system. Thanks to your support, we were able to provide scholarships to half of our attendees, who came from 35 states and 11 countries. We also partnered with three leading food and environmental publications–Heritage Radio Network, The Counter, and Mother Jones–to amplify the stories being shared in sessions and conversations across the conference.

In 2019 we piloted the Regenerative Farming Fellowship, which prepares next-generation farmers to become practitioners and ambassadors of regenerative agriculture. By engaging with the principles of regenerative farming, gaining exposure to the national and regional policy landscape, and developing a deeper connection with the business of food, the inaugural Fellows strengthened their commitment to and practice of resilient agriculture.

2019 was also our second full year of stewardship of 350+ acres in the Rockefeller State Park Preserve under our Conservation Action Plan. During that year, we developed partnerships with 14 leading ecological organizations and collected extensive data on soil health and carbon, plant populations, insect biodiversity, and bird populations with the goal of understanding the impact of regenerative agriculture on conservation lands.

We’ll continue to work toward our vision, and are so grateful to you for the support you have shown through the years even as the challenges of our food system continue to intensify. 

"We continue to be deeply motivated by our mission to bring about an ecological food culture and by the incredible supporters of the Stone Barns Center."

Peggy Dulany, Chair, Stone Barns Center Board of Directors

Highlights

2019 Programming

Young Farmers Conference

The 12th annual Young Farmers Conference, held December 4-6, 2019, welcomed more than 250 farmers, chefs, artisans and entrepreneurs from 35 states and 11 countries to the farm. The conference provided beginning farmers with the opportunity to learn from peers and experts about technical aspects of farming, advocacy, business acumen, climate science and more.

Conservation Action Plan

Stone Barns is building the case that regenerative agriculture, grazing livestock in particular, can help achieve conservation goals, build resilient ecological systems and protect critical species and wildlife habitats in our region. As called for in our Conservation Action Plan, we are filling a gap in existing research and monitoring to help gather data to prove that conservation and regenerative agriculture can be a net positive for the environment. In our first year, we established strong baseline data for key indicators of grassland ecosystem health.

Regenerative Farming Fellowship

In 2019, in collaboration with the National Young Farmers Coalition and Arizona State University, Stone Barns launched the Regenerative Farming Fellowship. The goals of the fellowship are to positively impact farmers, their communities, their business, and the ecosystems they steward by engaging farmers not currently using regenerative methods in a dialogue around resilient practices and equipping them with the will and the skill to implement these practices.

Board and Financials

Our Board of Directors

Focused on amplifying the impact of public, education and training programs to create a healthy and sustainable food system that supports us all.

Peggy Dulany

Board Chair

Fred Kirschenmann

President Emeritus

Donors

FARMER

$100,000+

  • Peggy Dulany
  • The Fine and Greenwald Foundation, Inc.
  • General Mills
  • Larry and Victoria Lunt
  • The Estate of David Rockefeller
  • The Builder's Initiative*
  • Unilever
  • The Walton Family Foundation*
  • Amy and John Weinberg
SHEPHERD

$50,000-$99,999

  • Bertha Foundation
  • Farvue Foundation
  • David Lyons
  • Elaine Musselman
  • Sarah K. de Coizart Article TENTH Perpetual Charitable Trust
  • Whole Foods Market
HARVESTER

$25,000-$49,999

  • Anonymous
  • Bloomberg Philanthropies
  • Agnes Gund
  • Mimi and Peter Haas Fund
  • Lisina M. Hoch ✝
  • Lesley and Bill King
  • Newman's Own Foundation
  • Susan and David Rockefeller

2019 Financials

income

$13,762

All numbers in thousands. These numbers are based on audited financials.

expenses

$9,877

All numbers in thousands. These numbers are based on audited financials.

Statement of Financial Position

Total Assets

$105,204

Total Liabilities

$1,232

Net Assets Without Donor Restrictions

$103,669

Net Assets With Donor Restrictions

$303

Total Net Assets

$103,972

Total Liabilities and Net Assets

$105,204

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