Erin is a social scientist partnering with AFT’s national staff to advance collaborative research with farmers, ranchers, landowners, rural communities, and other partners to better understand the social drivers of agricultural resilience. Erin has a doctorate in Earth, Environment, and Society from Portland State University. Her research focuses on understanding the human dimensions of complex environmental challenges, including how water governance and climate change impact decision-making for farmers in agricultural regions. She has extensive experience conducting research in agricultural regions in North America, South Africa, and Australia.

Roundtable Facilitator

Kiera McCabe, a Diné farmer and founder of Skoden Farm, is dedicated to growing traditional foods that nourish and sustain her community. As a beginner farmer with three years of hands-on field experience, her work is deeply rooted in who she is and where she comes from. Kiera recently graduated from Fort Lewis College with a Bachelors in Sociology and Human Services, alongside minors in Business Administration and Native American & Indigenous Studies and a certificate in Regenerative Food Systems. A massive turning point in her journey was participating in the 2024 Bidii Baby Foods Farmer-in-Rezidence program. This was an incredible opportunity that allowed her to learn, grow, and build the foundation for her farming operation. She now operates her 2.5 acre farm in Aztec, New Mexico and provides internship opportunities.

Plenary Panelelist

Preserving Heritage Crops and Livestock: A discussion with stewards in the Southwest
It takes many hands to keep the tradition of raising heritage crops and livestock going. More than food, crops and livestock that exist on the margins of commodities embody culture, biodiversity, and stewardship of a holistic approach to agriculture. In this panel discussion, hear from producers who are maintaining a place-based, sustainable agricultural practice by growing culturally relevant and ecologically resilient crops and livestock. Learn about how they navigate a premium market as a small-scale producer. Understand the challenges faced by those in both the early and later stages of their lives and careers as farmers and ranchers. And, get to know what makes some of the resilient heritage crops and livestock grown in the Southwest special.

Moderator: Mary-Charlotte Domandi
Panelists:
Kiera McCabe (Skoden Farms)
Sarah Jones (Jones Family Farm and the Rye Resurgence Project)
Tyrrell Tapaha (weaver and sheepherder)

Sicada currently farms in Fruitland, NM on the Navajo Nation. She has roots in Utah and Northern California and is Diné through her father’s side. She holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s from Stanford University, both in Earth Systems, with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture and food systems. She started working on farms in 2019, completed the Bidii Baby Foods’ Farmer-in-REZidence program in 2025, and started her own farm, ReRooted Farm, in 2026 to increase the local supply of traditional foods. She also works as a project specialist for The BEN Initiative, aiming to create easier pathways to success for other beginning tribal farmers.

Roundtable Facilitator

We all see ways our societies could improve as stewards of this Earth, but on our own, it can feel daunting to make the change we want to see. Whether it’s at the federal, state, local or grassroots level, our voices are most powerful when they are heard together. For those of us feeling tired of moving at the pace of bureaucracy, we can start creating the futures we want now when we feel empowered as members of a strong community. How can we unite our communities together to achieve a shared vision? How can community be a source of strength and inspiration in our efforts to be the best stewards we can be?

Tyrrell Tapaha is a Dine weaver and fiber artist from Goat Springs, AZ. Their work encompasses the intergenerational pastoral living handed down through Tapaha’s grandfather, great-grandmother, and other relatives willing to teach.

Tapaha produces woven textiles and felted objects for both aesthetic and utilitarian uses. These textiles are made with raw natural fibers predominately grown on the Navajo Nation and hand-dyed with local flora from the Four Corners Region. Tapaha’s weavings are tied to a life lived and intimately interwoven with feelings, memories, and experiences.

In addition to their fiber and textile work, Tapaha also works full-time as a sheep herder in the Four Corners region of the Navajo Nation.

Plenary Panelist

Preserving Heritage Crops and Livestock: A discussion with stewards in the Southwest

It takes many hands to keep the tradition of raising heritage crops and livestock going. More than food, crops and livestock that exist on the margins of commodities embody culture, biodiversity, and stewardship of a holistic approach to agriculture. In this panel discussion, hear from producers who are maintaining a place-based, sustainable agricultural practice by growing culturally relevant and ecologically resilient crops and livestock. Learn about how they navigate a premium market as a small-scale producer. Understand the challenges faced by those in both the early and later stages of their lives and careers as farmers and ranchers. And, get to know what makes some of the resilient heritage crops and livestock grown in the Southwest special.

Moderator: Mary-Charlotte Domandi
Panelists:
Kiera McCabe (Skoden Farms)
Sarah Jones (Jones Family Farm and the Rye Resurgence Project)
Tyrrell Tapaha (weaver and sheepherder)

Justin Howard is a Hotline Operator for Farm Aid, where he serves as a frontline resource connecting farmers and ranchers across the country to vital crisis support, legal networks, and operational advocacy. Deeply committed to the future of resilient agriculture, Justin brings extensive experience in regional food system coordination, technical training, and regenerative agriculture development to his daily work. Having spent years collaborating with diverse agricultural networks to build localized food hubs, he understands the unique operational and community challenges producers face today. As a facilitator, Justin leverages his background in community-led problem-solving to foster collaborative, action-oriented dialogue centered on keeping farmers thriving on the land.

Roundtable Facilitator

Weathering the Storm: Managing Farm Stress Amid Climate Disaster

Farmers and ranchers across the country are experiencing the effects of extreme weather, and our region is no exception. Drought, wildfires and extreme temperatures have an impact on our land, livestock and our own mental health. Together, we’ll share the ways that climate-related stress shows up on our farms and ranches and explore strategies for cultivating resilience before, during and after a disaster hits.

Ashley is a member of Farm Aid’s Hotline team, supporting farmers and ranchers across the country as they navigate challenges ranging from financial pressures and extreme weather events, to farm transitions and other issues affecting agricultural businesses. She also operates a small diversified vegetable farm in Golden, Colorado. Through her work both on the land and on the hotline, Ashley has developed an understanding of the many ways climate-related stress affects farms, ranches, and rural communities. She brings a practical perspective and compassionate approach to identifying opportunities for support and strategies for resilience.

Roundtable Facilitator

Weathering the Storm: Managing Farm Stress Amid Climate Disaster

Farmers and ranchers across the country are experiencing the effects of extreme weather, and our region is no exception. Drought, wildfires and extreme temperatures have an impact on our land, livestock and our own mental health. Together, we’ll share the ways that climate-related stress shows up on our farms and ranches and explore strategies for cultivating resilience before, during and after a disaster hits.