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Kiss the Ground Grant Recipients

Meet the farmers bridging the gap between our communities and the regeneration of our land

In 2025, Kiss the Ground awarded 215 grants totaling $500K to support farmers and ranchers with equipment, supplies, and regenerative agriculture training—impacting 73,000 acres across the U.S. We remain committed to helping farmers and ranchers transition to regenerative practices by reducing the financial barriers and risks that come with it.

Get to know the remarkable people transforming millions of acres into regenerative agriculture for human and planetary health.

For every $100 donated to Kiss the Ground, we inspire and catalyze the transition of 10 acres into regenerative agriculture, working directly with farmers and partners.

Kiss the Ground Grant Recipients

Get to know each farmer by clicking on their profile. We will be adding more recipient features throughout 2025. 

Molly Taylor
PT Ranch | Ione, CA
Expanded Paddocks

Herb Young
Squeeze Citrus | Thomasville, GA
Study Nutrient Levels

Eric Shin
Nalwoodi Denzhone Community | San Carlos, AZ
Adaptive Grazing Plan

Levi Kokes
Kokes Cattle Company | Crook, CO
Integrate Livestock Grazing

Martha Kimmerly
Provenance Farm | Whitehouse Station, NJ
Silvopasture Supplies

Miles Brown
JL Brown Farms | McKenzie, AL
No-Till Drill

Sara Faivre
Wild Type Ranch | Mount Horeb, WI
Adaptive Grazing Plan

Matt Vermeersch
Mud Ridge Ranch | Red Oak, IA
Perimeter Fencing

Kris Vandenberg
Vetted Farms | Maxwell, TX
Infrastructure & Equipment

Dana Ngo
Teravana | Cazadero, CA
Infrastructure

Jonathan Elliott
Living Pastures Farm | Marshall, VA
Adaptive Grazing

Aileen McDonald
ML Ranch LLC | Red Lodge, MT
Virtual Fencing

Cheryl Alston
Little Washington Growing Group | Goldsboro, NC
Infrastructure

Scott Landers
Landers Family Farm | Cooper, TX
Equipment

Courtney Grimes-Sutton
Mace Chasm Farm | Keeseville, NY
Coral Expansion

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Molly Taylor | PT Ranch

Acres in Transition: 525 acres
Grant Amount: $20,000

The Plan

We are expanding our pig paddocks to ensure we do not overuse the existing ones and can provide a truly pasture-raised pork product. We move the pigs according to a grazing plan to ensure we are not over-utilizing the paddocks, and we measure our soil health using Savory’s EOV method which we are trained in. Typically, pastured pork operations over-utilize their paddocks, and we aim NOT to do this. This grant will help us expand this critical enterprise while maintaining the integrity of our regenerative goals. We plan to install exterior hard fencing and interior electric fencing by April 2025. After we set up the watering system in May, we can invite the pigs in!

“We continue to have demand for our healthy meats locally, but we simply cannot keep up! This grant will allow us to increase production of our pork and supply residents locally. Amador County has a relatively low median household income, and we strive to keep our meats reasonably priced so our local community can afford to purchase them.”
-Molly Taylor

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WATCH MOLLY'S STORY

Herb Young | Squeeze Citrus

Acres in Transition: 5 acres
Grant Amount: $15,000

The Plan

Citrus Squeeze, a small-scale, family-run citrus farm, plans to conduct a study that aims to identify whether the regenerative practices at Citrus Squeeze result in higher nutrient levels in their fruits compared to conventionally grown citrus grown nearby and harvested in the same time frame. Citrus Squeeze also plans to use regenerative agriculture to help reverse the impact of HLB/Citrus Greening that has devastated the citrus population in the U.S.  

“The key to successful regenerative agriculture will be financial sustainability. The cost of a regenerative citrus grove on a small scale can not be viable without the valuation of Nutrient Dense products. This study can justify the market price to insure success.”
- Herb Young

"How has the grant most impacted your journey towards regeneration and how has your project built capacity for regenerative agriculture in your community/region?"

“Proving the increased nutrient density of regeneratively grown produce will justify considerable value-add for my crop and be a tremendous motivation to move other growers to regenerative. With my first modest harvest I shipped to 36 states! The demand for nutrition is growing exponentially.”

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Eric Shin | Nalwoodi Denzhone Community

Acres in Transition: 60 acres
Grant Amount: $20,000

The Plan

Nalwoodi Denzhone Community (NDC), a 501(c)3 non profit organization, aims to revitalize the Indigenous ecosystem on the San Carlos Apache Reservation through the application of regenerative agriculture principles that revitalize the soil and produce nutrient dense foods for the community. As the only food producing farm on the Reservation and operating in extreme desert conditions, NDC plans to implement a multispecies adaptive grazing plan that combines its new flock of 15 sheep with its laying hen operation with the hopes to create a thriving oasis that will connect people to the land, to their food, and to each other.

“We are creating the model for sustainable living focused on healing for people and for planet on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. We hope to build and demonstrate a food system model based on regenerative agriculture principles that is replicable for the San Carlos community and beyond.”
- Eric Shin

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Levi Kokes | Kokes Cattle Company

Acres in Transition: 8,000 acres
Grant Amount: $35,000

The Plan

Kokes Cattle Company plans to integrate livestock into their diverse crop rotations to enhance soil health and structure in dryland farming systems using Vence virtual fencing technology. By implementing short-duration, high-density grazing on cover crops and crop residues, Kokes Cattle Company hypothesizes that soil health will improve over time, and will compare these results with a control field that employs traditional healing practices, ultimately facilitating the transition to no-till farming in a brittle climate. 

“By demonstrating how livestock integration can accelerate soil health improvements in diversified cropping systems, this project will provide a viable pathway for Kokes Cattle Company to transition from conventional practices to regenerative cropping systems. This project has the potential to inspire broader adoption of regenerative practices, ultimately contributing to the long-term sustainability of our ranch and helping to create a profitable business to pass down to our children.”
- Levi Kokes

Martha Kimmerly | Provenance Farm

Acres in Transition: 6 acres
Grant Amount: $15,000

The Plan

Provenance Farm plans to create a regenerative oasis for animals and fruit/nut production, and show other farmers in the area what can be done. The silvopasture project is set to take place in a 6-acre area, previously a field, which has remained fallow for over 20 years, and will include grafting fruit-producing pear varieties onto the well-established trees, incorporating white pines and larch that will serve as natural shelters to protect the cows and sheep from summer heat and winter winds, as well as planting chestnut and hazelnut trees for harvesting and food for the pigs.

“The average field size in New Jersey is 78 acres, and the New Jersey forests are in decline because of emerald ash borer. Many farmers are reluctant to change, and having a living example that farmers can come to see and learn more about will entice them to take a chance on their land.”
- Martha Kimmerly

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Miles Brown | JL Brown Farms

Acres in Transition: 3,000 with neighbors
Grant Amount: $30,000

The Plan

The goal of this project is to enhance soil health and promote regenerative agricultural practices on JL Brown Farms by acquiring a no-till drill. This essential equipment will enable JL Brown Farms to improve forage establishment and crop productivity while reducing soil disturbance, preserving organic matter, and minimizing erosion with the aim to build resilient, nutrient-rich soil ecosystems, sequester carbon, and increase biodiversity on their rotational grazing cattle farm. 

“JL Brown Farms seeks to serve as a model for other producers in our region, showcasing the benefits of regenerative agriculture and demonstrating a commitment to sustainable, land-stewarding farming methods.”
- Miles Brown

"How has the grant most impacted your journey towards regeneration and how has your project built capacity for regenerative agriculture in your community/region?"

The grant has enabled the ranch to plant more than 600 acres in a single winter grazing season using a new no-till drill, while also expanding regenerative practices across more than 3,000 acres through equipment sharing with neighboring farms. Increased winter forage establishment is improving livestock resilience and protecting soil from erosion. The ranch has also emerged as a regional demonstration site, with Miles speaking to multiple producer groups about regenerative farming, soil health, and long-term profitability, strengthening both local leadership and adoption of no-till systems.

Visit JL Brown Farms
Watch Miles' story

Sara Faivre | Wild Type Ranch

Acres in Transition: 165 acres
Grant Amount: $25,000

The Plan

Wild Type Ranch is converting 50 acres of degraded land into regenerative pasture using an adaptive grazing plan for its animals, including sheep, goats and poultry, as well as planting trees, and starting a Milpa-style community garden. The project includes installing fencing, water infrastructure, and planting diverse nut and fruit trees to reduce erosion. The Milpa garden will establish community engagement with local group like 4-H and FFA and produce will be donated to local food banks. This project is the first step in expanding regenerative agriculture on the farm.

“Our production practices, the Milpa garden and our personal commitment to personal growth and walking our talk are living examples of the philosophy of regenerative agriculture. We are all dedicated to the expansion of regenerative agriculture and hope to use the farm as a model for others.”
- Sara Faivre

"How has the grant most impacted your journey towards regeneration and how has your project built capacity for regenerative agriculture in your community/region?"

This grant gave us the cushion and confidence to launch into production earlier than we would have otherwise. This was a learning year for us as we trialed multiple enterprises and tested the market for our products. Being able to seed cover crops and adaptively graze the existing pasture and cover crops on the first 50 acres was a big step toward converting the entire farm. We now have 109 acres of degraded row crop ground being healed through regenerative practices—one year ahead of schedule.

The head start afforded by this, our first grant, gave us leverage with the county to secure cost-share funding for next year for permanent fencing, as well as cost-share for our no-till drill. We plan to utilize the drill on other local properties, in addition to our own. Being able to start at a scale large enough to have product to sell has also established us in the community as a trustworthy provider of pastured proteins. With nearly $25,000 in product sales, we are positively impacting the local food economy.

VISIT WILD TYPE RANCH
READ UPDATES

Matt Vermeersch | Mud Ridge ranch

Acres in Transition: 170 acres
Grant Amount: $15,000

The Plan

Mud Ridge Ranch is using its grant funding to install secure perimeter fencing around the entire ranch with the goal to open all 170 acres for adaptive grazing.  With fencing in place, Mud Ridge Ranch will be able to turn away from commercial row cropping practices and journey back into what the ranch was before, grazing land. The project will utilize adaptive grazing and other regenerative principles to heal the land and support native species that were there before. A secondary objective of this fencing project is to double the stocking density on the land, and over time, gain the customer base to feed twice the number of people off of the farm.

“Our hope is that as local members of the farming community see what we have done on our property, they will reevaluate what they are doing on their own land they steward and the animal husbandry practices they use. We can be the glimmer of hope for other young farmers who maybe want to make a change but because ‘no one does it that way,’ they can't justify the change they want to make.”
- Matt Vermeersch

Visit Mud Ridge Ranch

Kris Vandenberg | Vetted Farms

Acres in Transition: 20 acres
Grant Amount: $25,000

The Plan

Vetted Farms is creating one-acre regenerative plots for veterans to grow vegetables, cover crops, and value-added crops while healing through land-based practices. With grant support, Vetted Farms will build mobile chicken coops, install fencing, and acquire essential equipment like a no-till drill and poultry fencing. The project will launch hands-on learning events for veterans and first responders, with a long-term vision of serving hundreds through workshops, mentorship, and equipment loaning in partnership with organizations like the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Texas.

“I am a mentor to Battleground to Breaking Ground. I want to be able to have 1 acre plots for veterans to plant cover crops, value added crops, and to heal themselves through regenerative and holistic practices.”
- Kris Vandenberg

Visit Vetted Farms
READ UPDATES

Dana Ngo | Teravana

Acres in Transition: 150 acres
Grant Amount: $10,000

The Plan

While Sonoma County is globally recognized for its lavish wine and food scene, Teravana is working to address the large socioeconomic and ecological disparity within the food system of Sonoma County by growing organic, local food for residents who often can’t access it. Through partnerships with schools and restaurants, Teravana is empowering people to grow their own food and build self and community resiliency by reconnecting to regenerative practices in agroforestry and native food ways. With this grant, they plan to expand their farm offerings, localize supply chains in existing affordable restaurants and schools, and introduce native foods into the food system in Sonoma County.

“Teravana’s continued aim is to reconnect people back to nature, demonstrating that the process of regenerating a farm and forest includes looking at our own well-being, and that includes what we choose to grow and consume.”
- Dana Ngo

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Jonathan Elliott | Living Pastures Farm

Acres in Transition: 450 acres
Grant Amount: $10,000

The Plan

Living Pastures Farm is using its grant to efficiently implement Adaptive Multi-Paddock (AMP) grazing practices that will help reduce the amount of time, energy, and labor required in their regenerative grazing operation. Through adaptive grazing, Living Pastures Farm will work to regenerate the landscape and expand its regenerative grazing practices to additional acreage in order to provide more nutrient-dense chicken, pork, beef, and eggs to its local community.

“We’ve come to see regenerative agriculture as regenerating not just the soil and the plants and animal health, but human health and human relationships as well. For us, regenerative agriculture means building a farm and business here that will be able to not only support our family now but successive generations too.”
- Jonathan Elliott

"How has the grant most impacted your journey towards regeneration and how has your project built capacity for regenerative agriculture in your community/region?"

The grant was a major help in us getting our business towards long-term financial sustainability while using regenerative practices. This year marked a major step towards breeding most or all of our own cattle, which will in the long run will provide better margins on our beef and create more predictability and stability for our expenses. The grant has really helped us get the infrastructure we need to do that.

We are one of a limited number of farms in the northern Virginia area producing grass-fed beef that is available for purchase to the general public. Many local families now get all or a significant portion of their beef (and chicken and pork) from us and return year after year.

Visit Living Pastures Farm

Aileen McDonald | ML Ranch LLC

Acres in Transition: 100 acres
Grant Amount: $20,000

The Plan

ML Ranch plans to implement high-density, short-duration grazing throughout its property using virtual fencing technology. By utilizing GPS-enabled livestock collars, ML Ranch will be able to more effectively manage its cattle without the need for physical fencing, with the ultimate goal of regenerating the land and creating healthier pastures. They hope to use the virtual fencing for several years and plan to track measurable improvements in soil health, water retention, and biodiversity throughout the property.

“If we put up the virtual fence, we could really control where the cattle go, we could bring back the lands and increase the grasses, we could also keep more of the rainfall on the property so it doesn’t run off, and we might be able to get rid of some invasive species. I think it would bring back more wildlife into the area—when the tide rises, everything would rise with it.”
- Aileen McDonald

"How has the grant most impacted your journey towards regeneration and how has your project built capacity for regenerative agriculture in your community/region?"

Virtual fencing collars were deployed across 1,300 acres, enabling precise high-density, short-duration grazing without the need for costly new fencing infrastructure. The technology allows the ranch to adapt grazing decisions in response to weather patterns, while reducing labor demands for cattle moves and improving quality of life for the ranch family. Early results show improved pasture recovery, stronger regrowth, greater plant diversity, and more efficient forage utilization.

Cheryl Alston | Little Washington Growing Group

Acres in Transition: 8 acres
Grant Amount: $10,000

The Plan

Farmer Cheryl Alston has created garden sites throughout the city of Goldsboro and maintains a three-acre garden on leased land from the city and owns a 19-acre farm. She is using her grant to build a structure for Barney’s Produce Mart, a project that will provide access to fresh, local vegetables for members of the community and engage residents in the production of food by growing healthy, chemical-free produce using regenerative practices. 

“Our goal is to ensure that everyone has access to nutritious fruits and vegetables, helping to improve overall health and well-being. Our mission is to cultivate a healthier community by offering a wide variety of fresh produce at affordable prices.”
- Cheryl Alston

"How has the grant most impacted your journey towards regeneration and how has your project built capacity for regenerative agriculture in your community/region?"

“The grant has allowed us to utilize natural resources for regenerative practices. This will help us to fertilize and grow our crops naturally as well.

Visit Little Washington Growing Group

Scott Landers | Landers Family Farm

Acres in Transition: 3200 acres
Grant Amount: $40,000

The Plan

Scott Landers has been practicing minimal till and cover crops, but is now looking to take this to the next level by going full no-till. Through his grant, he will obtain two key pieces of equipment—a roller-crimper to terminate cover crops and a no-till drill to successfully plant through the “mulched” cover. In addition to adapting no-till methods on his own farm, Scott plans to educate and share his new equipment with nearby farmers who are also interested in regenerative agriculture.

“Row crops (grains) are a major form of farming in East Texas, but there is no regenerative farming. This will be a demonstration for what is possible in our region.”
- Scott Landers

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Watch Scott's Story

Courtney Grimes-Sutton | Mace Chasm Farm

Acres in Transition: 165 acres
Grant Amount: $10,000

The Plan

Mace Chasm Farm manages a 100% grass-fed, rotationally grazed cattle herd that has outgrown its current cattle corral. Therefore, Mace Chasm Farms plans to use its grant to expand its cattle corral to an appropriate design and size that offers increased safety for the farmers as they move the herd through the corral, and a more comfortable and intuitive process for the cattle. This will allow Mace Chasm Farms to continue its successful regenerative grazing management more efficiently.

“Our implementation of silvopasture systems to further increase the biodiversity in our fields and offer shade to both forage and forager during the heat of summer is an exciting step toward an ag landscape that withstands climate swings and also sequesters more carbon.”
- Courtney Grimes-Sutton

Visit Mace Chasm Farm