John Kinsman Food Sovereignty Prize Award Dinner

For Immediate Release – 11/8/25

Contact:
John E. Peck, FFD executive director, 608-345-3918

Family Farm Defenders is Proud to Announce the Winners of the 2025 John Kinsman Food Sovereignty Award:

Sarah Leong and Patrick Hager (Squashington Farm – Mt. Horeb, WI)
Hannah Scates Kettler and Kurtis Kettler) (Minerva’s Meadows – State Center, IA) Jess D’Souza (WonderFarm – Mt. Horeb, WI)

Award Dinner and Ceremony to be held on Sat. Nov. 15th from 5:30 – 8:30 pm at the UW-Madison Pyle Center (702 Langdon St. in Madison, WI) – with keynote speaker: Christine Neuman-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera!

Each year FFD is proud to host the John Kinsman Food Sovereignty Prize – named in honor of John Kinsman, one of the founders and longtime president of Family Farm Defenders who passed away at the ripe old age of 87 on MLKJ Day, 2014.

John was not only an early pioneer of organic grass-based dairying in the Midwest, but was also a tireless champion of civil rights, social justice, and food sovereignty both in the U.S. and around the world.

Since 2011, Family Farm Defenders has given out over 25 awards and $50,000+ in prize money to farmers and others across the U.S. that exemplify and amplify the principles of food sovereignty.

“John Kinsman would be very proud of the three winners of this year’s prize named in his honor. Not only do they capture the true diversity that is found in our nation’s agri-culture, but their efforts to sustain, inspire, and empower their respective communities are a clear example of food sovereignty in action. In these tough times, we can all find hope in those who show us that another world is possible,” noted John E. Peck, executive director of Family Farm Defenders.

The suggested donation for the John Kinsman Award Dinner and Ceremony is $35 – children under 12 are free – and will feature local and native food entrees.

Those who sponsor the prize with a donation of $100 or more receive two complimentary tickets to the event, as well as mention in the event program.

To make an online donation and for more info, please visit out website: www.familyfarmers.org and/or contact: familyfarmdefenders@yahoo.com.

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