Zara is the Colorado field organizer for National Young Farmer’s Coalition, where she works for equity and land access in farming and ranching, as well as a personal passion of organizing around mental health in rural spaces. For Zara, the people who show up and keep showing up–community champions–are her superhero celebrities. She studied human rights and has a history in activism and arts before eventually circling back to agriculture, where she felt most at home. Zara has worked on different large scale cattle ranches before settling down on a direct to consumer ranch and farm that produces beef, lamb, hay and CSA vegetables for her community in southeastern Colorado. She feels most like herself around animals, especially cattle and good (and naughty) dogs that stick by your side (it’s true–she has a dog named Sticks).

Roundtable Facilitator

Bringing the Next Generation to the Farm/Ranch

My name is Shahid Mustafa and I am the founder of Taylor Hood Farms.The farm is named in honor of my maternal grandfather Archie Taylor and Tom Hood who were occupational farmers in the early 20th century.

Taylor Hood Farms has 6 acres of available land for seasonal vegetable production. We also have chickens, goats, and rabbits on our farm, whose manure we incorporate into our compost.

Our plan is to create multiple demonstrations of sustainable agricultural practices, become a USDA certified organic farm, and train a new generation of farmers to take part in what will become a burgeoning agrarian society. We hope to become an incubator for regenerative organic farmers, and be an inspiration for farmers to adopt the regenerative organic practice.

Taylor Hood Farms is located in Multiple sites in and surrounding El Paso, Texas. We are a small diverse farm dedicated to educating and training community members about growing food and local food systems. We are committed to providing community members access to a variety of fresh, nutritious locally grown vegetables.

Items that we are currently growing can be found at local Farmers’ Markets, restaurants, Desert Spoon Food Hub, and Skarsgard Farms from Albuquerque.

Roundtable Facilitator

Rooted in Land, Regenerating Futures: The Agrarian Commons Model in Southern New Mexico

The Agrarian Commons presents a transformative model for land stewardship—one that shifts ownership from private control to collective care. Developed by the Agrarian Trust, this framework supports land access, long-term tenure, and regenerative agriculture for next-generation, historically excluded farmers. It centers ecological restoration, community governance, and land justice. Learn more at agrariantrust.org.

This roundtable will be led by Shahid Mustafa, a farmer, educator, and land steward in Southern New Mexico who is working to return a historic Hispano family farm to production through regenerative practices and Commons-based governance. Melissa Lopez-Sullivan will support the conversation by sharing insights from ongoing collaborations, including efforts to build youth education, food sovereignty, and cooperative infrastructure.

Together, we will explore how the Agrarian Commons model can take root in arid landscapes, restore ancestral land relationships, and regenerate soil, culture, and community. Participants will engage in dialogue around local implementation, collective ownership strategies, and the possibilities of building a future where land is held, cared for, and cultivated by and for the people.

Alan Lewis navigates government affairs and food and agriculture policy for Natural Grocers, a Colorado based health food chain founded in 1955 with over 170 stores in 21 states. At the international, federal, state and local level, Alan engages on food, agriculture, nutrition, community vitality, biotechnology, hemp, trade and health issues. He is active in several trade and advocacy organizations and is a fearless writer, speaker and panelist.

Roundtable Facilitator

Real Regenerative Ag

Carlyle Stewart, originally from the Midwest, has been interested in agriculture since he was young. He has spent the past few years working on holistically managed cattle ranches throughout Montana and New Mexico; as a hired cowboy, ranch hand, and custom grazier. He is currently the AgWell Director with the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and the Owner/Operator of Llano Seco Land and Livestock LLC, a small scale custom grazing and sheep/cattle operation. Although not directly from an agricultural family, by channeling the ancestral wisdom of Fulbe pastoralists and ranchers in his lineage, regenerative agriculture and land stewardship developed into a way of life. He has experience working as a youth pastor, community organizer, and chaplain. He is passionate about wellness in agriculture and drawing greater attention to the importance of stress management, suicide prevention, and behavioral health among farmers, ranchers, and farm workers. A lover of stock dogs, good horses, and hardy cattle; and a radical believer in the power of healthy land, communities, and thriving local food systems that can restore balance to our world. 

Roundtable Facilitator

Embracing a Paradigm Shift: Improving Wellness and Behavioral Health Outcomes for Farmers and Ranchers

As we close out a year of new federal administration, dramatic shifts in funding access, and staffing reductions across offices critical to agricultural producers, let us come together to discuss strategies and forecasts for navigating the changing political landscape within which we are working. Learn how to have your voice effectively heard through advocacy efforts, and share your own stories of impact related to policy. Facilitated by Jen Ghigiarelli of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union.

Jen is a regenerative livestock farmer and agriculture advocate who lives in Silt, CO. Jen supports farmers and ranchers across Western Colorado and more broadly throughout CO, WY, and NM as Membership and Strategic Initiatives Coordinator for Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU). Jen is passionate about connecting with producers, providing resources, organizing grassroots policy efforts, and working toward more equitable local and regional food systems. She finds empowerment through advocating at state and federal levels for policy that supports farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, and has done so in Denver, Santa Fe, and Washington, D.C.

Roundtable Facilitator

Shifting Ground: Advancing Ag Policy Impact in a Changing Political Landscape

As we close out a year of new federal administration, dramatic shifts in funding access, and staffing reductions across offices critical to agricultural producers, let us come together to discuss strategies and forecasts for navigating the changing political landscape within which we are working. Learn how to have your voice effectively heard through advocacy efforts, and share your own stories of impact related to policy. Facilitated by Jen Ghigiarelli of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union.

Ariel Greenwood is a land and livestock manager and occasional painter. She has farmed and ranched in North Carolina, California, Montana. With her husband Sam, she now operates a large leased commercial ranch in northeastern New Mexico.

Plenary

Putting It All Together: Applying Regenerative Ranching Principles on a Working Commercial Ranch

This talk features practical examples of how regenerative agricultural principles can be applied in a commercial ranching context in the semi-arid southwest. Grass Nomads LLC, a due of first generation livestock managers, is applying the principles of regenerative agriculture on a 120,000 acre leased ranch in New Mexico. Learn how creative partnerships, stockmanship, adaptive water development, wetland enhancement, and planned grazing all play a part in running a for-profit livestock operation while improving the range.