On September 18, 2025, DBAN hosted its inaugural Network Gathering as part of the Farm Aid 40 pre-festival events. This event brought together 74 individuals from 27 organizations for a full day of trainings and collaborative group activities. The purpose of the Network Gathering was two-fold, it was both a space to advance knowledge and to build relationships and community in person. After months of meeting online, the opportunity to come together in one space helped to deepen relationships among network members, and create channels of communication that will help us better support producers.
There was a diverse array of offerings at the Network Gathering we learned from knowledgeable staff at Farm Aid, RAFI, and FLAG, as well as other agricultural service experts. Together we worked through case studies of financially distressed farmers, discussing how we would approach assisting the producer. We had the honor of hearing from Benny Bunting and RuthAnn Karty, two incredible farm advocates who each have over 40 years of experience supporting farmers.
Most importantly, we took this opportunity to honor the legacy of those that dedicated their lives to working with farmers and paved the way for the success of this network and the broader farmer-led movement.
“I particularly felt grateful for the sessions and folks at the gathering that shared about the historical work and support they have been offering to people working in agriculture over the past 30+ years!”
Training Videos
Welcome
Shorlette Ammons, Executive Director of Farm Aid, welcomes us to the DBAN Network Gathering and Farm Aid 40 by acknowledging the decades of work that have led us here. Scott Carlson of FLAG, Mary Oxendine of Farm Aid, and Zacha Muniz of RAFI review the purpose of the DBAN project and goals for the day’s event.
Agriculture 101
This session, led by Stephen Carpenter, provides a quick snapshot at farmers and farming in 2025, particularly financially distressed farmers, and looks at how the history of agriculture shapes the present.
Stephen Carpenter is the Deputy Director and Senior Staff Attorney at Farmers’ Legal Action Group (FLAG). Stephen’s work has centered on discrimination in agricultural lending, disaster assistance, and federal farm and farm loan programs, among many other issues.
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Casework Examples
In this session, Zacha Muniz walks through some real-life case examples that direct service providers may encounter and the group practices identifying the farmers’ needs.
Zacha Muniz is the DBAN Project Manager at Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) and a Puerto Rican farmer. A firm believer in food sovereignty and agroecology, Zacha is a voice for the farmers on the island struggling against an unjust food system.
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Getting Started: What Information Do You Need From a Farmer?
This session, led by Margaret Krome-Lukens, focuses on what questions to ask farmers to get all the information you need to provide good help and why those questions are important.
Margaret Krome-Lukens is the Policy Co-Director at Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI), where she works to ensure that policymakers hear the experiences and needs of farmers and community stakeholders. She focuses on fair access to credit for farmers, especially at FSA.
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FSA Direct Loan Servicing
This session, led by Mike Forsberg, reviews the different options available at FSA for borrowers in financial distress, with a focus on direct loan borrowers. The session covers options like loan restructuring, write-downs, and set-asides, with attention to how direct service providers can support a farmer through the primary loan servicing process with FSA. Participants will leave with an understanding of what options might be appropriate in different situations, and what makes FSA loan servicing distinct.
Mike Forsberg worked for FSA for almost 40 years and retired in 2024. He graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in Agricultural Business and Agricultural Economics in 1985.
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Agricultural Civics 101
A number of different types of government can affect the success of a farm: local, state, federal, and some that seem not to fit in those categories. This session, led by Stephen Carpenter, looks at the way these various governments work and interact. It also looks closely at how federal agencies, including USDA, create the rules and regulations that affect farmers. Finally, the session discusses the way farmers can challenge USDA decisions – “adverse decisions” as they are called, through USDA’s National Appeals Division.
Stephen Carpenter is the Deputy Director and Senior Staff Attorney at Farmers’ Legal Action Group (FLAG). Stephen’s work has centered on discrimination in agricultural lending, disaster assistance, and federal farm and farm loan programs, among many other issues.
Basics on FSA Loan Applications
This session, led by Fello Peréz provides attendees with knowledge, tools, and practical skills to help producers complete a FSA loan application. The session includes information about when FSA loans are appropriate, what information producers will need to complete the application, and the benefits and risks of FSA loans.
Fello Peréz is the Puerto Rico Farmer Resources Coordinator at Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI), as well as a farmer and agronomist in Puerto Rico. At RAFI, he assists farmers in the areas of conservation, resilience, and advocacy through different programs.
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Agricultural Mediation
This session, led by Kiley Fleming, focuses on helping producers in financial distress to navigate the mediation process to constructively resolve agricultural disputes. The session includes information about when mediation is an appropriate tool for financially distressed producers, the variety of services offered by USDA-funded mediation programs around the country, state-based legal requirements for lenders to participate in mediation, and how direct service providers can become an agricultural mediator.
Kiley is the Executive Director at Iowa Mediation Service and the founder of outSIGHTin. She oversees statewide mediation and conflict management efforts, along with providing consultation services through private individual and group coaching.
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