Empowering Agtivism: Judith McGeary on Building a Regenerative food system
Hi, y’all! Johanna here from the TX Soil Sisters.
( The podcast media player is below w/ links to things we talk about. Or listen here.)
Welcome to the Soil Sisters Podcast! In this episode, we wrap up our Southern Family Farmers and Food Systems conference series with special guest and SFFFS Conf. event co-producer Judith McGeary. (This conversation was recorded on August 19, 2025.)
Discover the integral role of advocacy in agriculture with Judith McGeary, the executive director and founder of the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA).
Explore the mission and achievements of FARFA, including significant legislative wins that support small farmers and local food producers. The conversation delves into the importance of civic engagement, the challenges and opposition faced from large agribusinesses, and the opportunities available for cottage food producers.
Judith also provides actionable advice on how you can become an effective 'agtivist' with an invitation to become more involved in shaping future agricultural policies.
Whether it's buying local food, engaging with policymakers, or attending conferences, there are numerous ways to support a sustainable food system. Tune into this episode and get inspired to join us!
Happy farming and healthy living, y’all.
Jo (and Crystal) ❤️
Judith McGeary is an attorney, activist, and sustainable farmer. After earning her Bachelors of Science from Stanford University and her law degree with high honors from the University of Texas at Austin, she clerked for a Federal Appeals Court and went on to private law practice. During that time, she became a passionate advocate of sustainable agriculture, and she and her husband established their own livestock farm. After seeing how government regulations benefit industrial agriculture at the expense of family farms, she founded the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance to promote common-sense policies for local, diversified agricultural systems. Judith has been profiled in the Texas Observer and Edible Austin, appears in the documentary Farmageddon, and has been interviewed on numerous radio shows across the country. Judith has served as the Vice Chair of the U.S. Secretary's Advisory Committee on Animal Health and is also active with Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, the Weston A. Price Foundation, and the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund.
Connect on Social: IG @farmandranchfreedom | FB @farmandranchfreedom
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Time Stamps & Links
00:00 Welcome to Soil Sisters Podcast
00:31 Introducing Judith McGeary and FARFA
01:48 Judith's Journey from Law to Farming Advocacy
03:27 The Battle Against National Animal Identification System (NAIS) and Big Agribusiness
04:54 The Importance of Regenerative Agriculture
06:23 Historical Parallels and Antitrust Movements
08:42 Challenges Facing Small Farmers
11:17 FARFA's Legislative Successes
17:09 Cottage Food Law and New Opportunities
22:31 Federal Issues and Labeling Regulations
29:22 Agtivism 101: How to Get Involved
31:33 Understanding Political Realities
32:10 Effective Advocacy Strategies
34:39 Personal Experiences with Advocacy
37:58 The Power of Persistence
45:02 Challenges with the Farm Bill
49:31 Encouraging Local Food Systems
57:54 Invitation to Engage and Final Thoughts
Soil Sisters Radio Hour on KLKT 107.9, Radio Lockhart
If you live in Lockhart, you can catch the Soil Sisters Radio Hour live each WEDNESDAY from 5-6p on KLKT 107.9. If you don’t live in Lockhart, you can listen to the livestream at KLKT.org.
