KC Farm School’s 2025-2028 Strategic Plan
Developed collaboratively with our staff, board, and community in November 2024, this plan guides our next three years of inspiring people of all ages, ancestries, and abilities on-farm, hands-on to connect to land and soil, food, community, and opportunity.
Each of our seven Core Values guides the next three years of our work at KC Farm School as highlighted below. You may download the full Strategic Plan here.
Solutionary
We are innovative and bold.
We’re not afraid to experiment, learn, and adapt. From regenerative practices to community-based circular economies, we lead with creativity and courage to find better ways to feed and sustain our community.
Current Initiatives: Food production and education for all ages. Shared spaces including greenhouse, community garden, and incubator plots. Circular economies such as Pay-What-You’re-Able, barter and trade, recycled merchandising, and resource reuse.
Strategic Goals: Review current initiatives for mission alignment; pilot a new technology or regenerative practice; create maintenance procedures for initiatives; develop risk management framework including income diversification, emergency funds, and succession planning; implement Salesforce; assess progress and refine future direction.
2025 (Year 1) Update:
Streamlined operations by partnering with Missouri Organic Recycling for bulk potting soil production
Installed a solar-powered water catchment system in collaboration with regional farmers and partners
Added an electric box truck for farm operations and community use
Community
We are inclusive and collaborative.
Community is at the heart of everything we do. We build belonging through shared experiences, volunteerism, and partnerships that make joy, healthy food and land access possible for all.
Current Initiatives: Community Roundtables and Annual Surveys. Committees, Volunteers, and Agritourism. Community Events, Land and Resource Sharing. Let’s Grow Wyandotte!, Farmers Market, and Plant Sales. KC F.A.R.M.E.R.S and WyCo Farmers Market Coalitions.
Strategic Goals: Review current initiatives; increase multilingual signage and materials; enhance outreach in Wyandotte County; enhance staff training; expand food system and community TA. Strengthen community feedback loops; launch on-farm store; grow partnerships and visitors; form a youth advisory board.
2025 (Year 1) Update:
Expanded outreach across Wyandotte County with deeper local partnerships
Increased multilingual and accessible signage, materials, and on-farm experiences
Launched ongoing staff training in inclusive education and outreach practices
Hired a dedicated Education & Outreach Director to grow community impact
Continued expanding technical assistance for farmers, vendors, and partners
Education
We embrace curiosity and exploration.
We inspire lifelong learning through hands-on, place-based education. Every program and on-farm opportunity connects people to the land and empowers them with skills for the future.
Current Initiatives: Field Trips, Ag Explorers, and Jr. Growers. Farmers on the Rise Youth Apprenticeship Program. Workshops and Education Committee. Let’s Grow Wyandotte! for families and school gardens. Staff professional development and Growing Growers participation.
Strategic Goals: Strengthen and document all education programs; expand partnerships and research opportunities; build outdoor classroom at Common Ground; cross-train staff and apprentices in farming, business, marketing, and education; develop advocacy framework for food sovereignty and environmental justice; build indoor classroom; establish Earth & Sky School; assess progress and improve systems.
2025 (Year 1) Update:
Documenting KC Farm School’s education model to share regionally and beyond
Expanded partnerships across Kansas and Missouri
Participated in applied research to improve on-farm water systems
Gratitude
We honor Earth’s gifts and share abundance.
We lead with appreciation, celebrating the land, our people, and all who make our work possible. Gratitude strengthens relationships and reminds us that generosity is regenerative.
Current Initiatives: Volunteer Appreciation Dinner and Staff Appreciation Week. Farm Fest and Community Lunch. Land Acknowledgement practices. Gleaning and food donation partnerships. Thank you campaigns. Regenerative agriculture practices.
Strategic Goals: Review current initiatives for mission alignment; increase staff and community recognition; enhance participation in resource-sharing and community meals; build a public gratitude space on-farm; develop a robust gratitude program for donors, partners, and volunteers; integrate more gratitude practices into org culture; assess and sustain progress.
2025 (Year 1) Update:
Increased participation in shared resources like tool lending, greenhouse space, and incubator plots
Grew community engagement through regular partner gatherings and shared meals
Continued investing in staff and community appreciation initiatives
Regeneration
We prioritize rest and renewal for planet and people.
We care for the Earth and each other through regenerative agriculture, sustainable systems, and staff wellness practices that model ecological balance.
Current Initiatives: Regenerative agriculture practices (no-till, cover cropping, interplanting) and prairie restoration. Native gardens and Eco-Team leadership. Staff sustainability and wellness benefits including PTO, Wellness Days, bartered benefits, and free produce.
Strategic Goals: Align staff wages and benefits with industry standards; purchase electric vehicle; update sustainability plan; map carbon footprint; train all staff in regenerative practices; reduce plastic use and transition to sustainable materials; refresh farm infrastructure; implement prairie burn plan; install renewable energy; integrate animals into the ecosystem through silvopasture; assess and evolve practices.
2025 (Year 1) Update:
Completed a full infrastructure inventory and needs assessment across the farm
Continued regenerative ag training for all staff (with hands-on expectations of 10% time per week at minimum)
Began developing KC Farm School farm-specific SOPs and long-term sustainability planning
Advanced carbon footprint analysis (ongoing)
Shared our work through regional storytelling, including podcast feature, and through media
Empowerment
We inspire our community to build a resilient future.
Empowerment means investing in people so they can grow skills, confidence, and leadership to make tomorrows better than today for all life and the earth.
Current Initiatives: Let’s Grow Wyandotte! program. Staff cross-training and professional development. Participation in the Growing Growers Apprenticeship Program.
Strategic Goals: Analyze Let’s Grow Wyandotte! for impact and update practices; cross-train all staff; expand financial support for continuing education; launch Empowerment Fund to support staff, volunteers, and participants in professional and personal growth; assess all progress.
2025 (Year 1) Update:
Strengthened the Let’s Grow Wyandotte! program with a team-based leadership model; Expanded outreach and added more member-only workshops and TA
Implemented organization-wide cross-training and immersive onboarding
Equitable Opportunities
We co-create equitable opportunities for everyone.
Equal access to resources and opportunities is woven into every decision we make. We work to remove barriers to ensure that everyone can thrive.
Current Initiatives: Pay-What-You’re-Able, barter, SNAP, and Double Up Food Bucks programs. Shared land and resources. Community Lunches, and Roundtables.
Strategic Goals: Increase storytelling about equity in action; evaluate and enhance recruitment practices; improve physical and linguistic accessibility; deepen integration across programs; partner with health providers to offer Medical CSAs; assess and report on progress annually.
2025 (Year 1) Update:
Increased participation in Pay-What-You’re-Able, SNAP, and resource-sharing programs
Improved physical accessibility with raised beds, wider pathways, and adaptive tools
Partnered with experts to design sensory-friendly spaces and train staff
Continued expanding bilingual access across programs and communications