The Farm Ministry: 40 Years of Hope, Harvest, and Helping Hands

“I have learned that a refugee or immigrant fearful of not becoming a permanent status, a farmer facing liquidation or foreclosure of his farm, a family having to pay rent and have no money to purchase food for the children, flood disaster victims who have lost everything they own, or the veteran who is disabled because he served and is not able to work to feed his family, they all are looking for hope. They find hope in knowing someone cares and is making the effort to help them and feed them. This makes all the difference in the world.” – Keith Turner.

In Rockingham County, Virginia, The Farm Ministry is an over 40-year-old ministry started by Keith Turner that supports farmers and underserved populations, such as refugees and immigrants. The Farm Ministry provides farmers with educational resources and the purchase of their farm products through donated funds. These farm products, beef, cheese, eggs, and pork, are donated to feed underserved communities in and well-beyond Rockingham County. Last year, The Farm Ministry distributed beef in 26 counties of Virginia and to flood disaster victims in four counties of Kentucky and North Carolina, McDowell County, and West Virginia.

With four ministries – the cheese ministry, the beef ministry, the pork for the pantry ministry, and the financial planning ministry for farmers – The Farm Ministry is run entirely by volunteers. Outreach ministries and churches, such as Harrisonburg Baptist Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia, distribute this produce, creating transformative relationships between churches, farmers, immigrants, and refugees within the Harrisonburg community and beyond.