Family Farm Action Alliance is working to build a sustainable, inclusive economy in which everyone has the right to share in the prosperity they help build and that respects our land, natural resources, and neighbors around the world. We are a network of farmers, ranchers, working people throughout the food supply chain, and organizations that represent them.
Family Farm Action Alliance is a tax-deductible charitable organization designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization. It is headquartered in Missouri and was formed in 2019 as an affiliate organization of Family Farm Action, a political nonprofit organization designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(4) organization. Together, we represent a seamless chain of action from research and policy development to the adoption of the policy through legislative action by elected officials who support our vision.
OUR MIssion
Today, a handful of monopolistic multinational corporations have unprecedented control over our economy, ensuring it only works for them. This corporate power denies family farmers, ranchers, hard-working people, and local and regional businesses - especially those who have been historically marginalized - a fair chance to prosper.
We know rural America can be a vibrant hub of economic opportunity for all people. We envision an economy free of discrimination, worker abuse, wage suppression and monopoly corporate power and driven by a resilient local and regional food system.
Through sound research and a bold agenda, Family Farm Action Alliance’s mission is to expose the abusive nature of monopoly corporate power, develop policy reforms and market opportunities, and advocate for the advancement of an inclusive economy where all people have a right to share in the prosperity they help build.
WHO WE ARE
Joe Maxwell: PRESIDENT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
joe@farmactionalliance.org
573-721-0927
Joe Maxwell is a co-founder of Family Farm Action Alliance. He focuses his work on a vision of an inclusive U.S. economy that works for all people, providing them an equitable opportunity to share in the prosperity they help build, rather than an economy that works for just a handful of individuals and multi-national corporations.
Over the last three years, Joe has co-authored six policy briefing papers focusing on the abusive power monopolies have over our food and agriculture sectors. His work has been profiled by Huffington Post, Mother Jones, Politico, and The Nation. He has been cited by CNN, The New York Times, NPR, USA Today, Washington Post, and many agriculture and regional outlets.
Joe has held key positions in both political and initiative petition campaigns. During the current election cycle, he has assisted Presidential, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representative candidates in developing their antitrust, agriculture and food policy positions.
Joe holds degrees in agriculture economics and law from the University of Missouri. He served as a Missouri state legislator, and as Missouri’s Lieutenant Governor.
Joe and his brother, Steve, are Missouri family farmers.
ANGELA HUFFMAN: vICE pRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS AND DEVELOPMENT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Angela Huffman is a co-founder of Family Farm Action Alliance. She brings unique experience in integrating research, communications and advocacy which has led to successful policy reforms for economic justice. Her winning strategy centers on building capacity through broad-based, diverse collaborations.
Angela has co-authored six research briefing papers in the past three years focused on the impacts of consolidation in agriculture. She has appeared on NPR and Fox News, and has been cited in Forbes, The Washington Post, Politico, and dozens of regional outlets.
Angela holds an M.A. in Public Policy and Management from the Ohio State University. Her experience also includes financial and grants management and more than 10 years in public service and advocacy.
Angela is renewing her family’s 200-year tradition by becoming the sixth generation to live and farm on their Northwest Ohio homestead.
ANIM STEEL: SECRETARY AND TREASURER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Anim Steel is the executive director and co-founder of the Real Food Generation, which harnesses the power of youth and universities to build a fair and sustainable food system (programs include the Real Food Challenge , the Real Meals Campaign, and Uprooted & Rising).
Prior to Real Food Generation, Anim led national initiatives at The Food Project in Boston, consulted with Economic Development Assistance Consortium, and developed employment training programs at the Bowery Residents Committee.
Anim holds a B.A. in Astrophysics and History from Williams College and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
He is the recipient of a James Beard Leadership Award and received an Echoing Green award for social entrepreneurship. Born in Ghana, Anim grew up in West Africa and Washington, D.C.
Cody Atkinson: Outreach and Engagement director
Cody's experience in candidate, petition, and initiative campaigns brings vital experience to our team. He believes the most effective way to produce change is to build diverse coalitions with a unified voice.
Cody is a former medic in the United States Army and the descendant of five generations of Missouri farmers and ranchers. He holds his Master's Degree in Public Administration from Arkansas State University. His experience also includes field management, message development, and event coordination.
Cody and his wife plan to continue his family's long tradition of land and animal stewardship by raising bison and practicing regenerative agriculture.
Jake Davis: Senior policy advisor
Jake Davis works as an entrepreneur, farmer, and policy advisor at the state and national level. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture Education from the University of Missouri and a Masters of Public Administration from the Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs, Jake has dedicated his career to building a better farm and food system through market development and policy reform.
Over the past decade Jake has provided market and policy expertise to national NGOs including the National Audubon Society, The Berry Center and many more. In 2019, he collaborated in drafting four landmark pieces of legislation to create structural reform of federal farm policy.
His passion for revitalizing rural communities and safeguarding family farmers developed early growing up on a diversified farm in Southwest Missouri. He currently farms in central Missouri, producing pasture-raised pork and vegetables. Jake and his wife, Chelsea, own Root Cellar, a local food hub in Columbia, Missouri.