Kansas, Missouri orgs partner with NCBA CLUSA to build cooperative paths to rural prosperity

MCPHERSON, KS - Kansas Farmers Union, Missouri Farmers Union, Common Ground Producers & Growers, and NCBA CLUSA are pleased to announce that the associations have received support to launch the Homegrown Prosperity initiative, a two-year effort focused on expanding cooperative education, readiness and early-stage development opportunities for rural communities in Kansas and Missouri. This project is supported in part by a 2025 grant from the Patterson Family Foundation.

The Homegrown Prosperity initiative will provide rural residents with access to cooperative development training, community-based technical assistance, and tailored support for groups exploring cooperative solutions to local economic and social challenges. Through collaboration with grassroots partners and local leaders, the initiative aims to strengthen rural resilience, expand economic opportunity, and build community-owned pathways to long-term prosperity.

“Cooperatives give communities a proven way to shape their own economic future,” said Cristine Nardi, director of U.S. Cooperatives and Economic Development at NCBA CLUSA.

“With support from The Patterson Family Foundation, the Homegrown Prosperity initiative will expand access to cooperative education, helping rural Americans explore community-owned solutions that strengthen resilience, create opportunity and keep wealth rooted locally.”

The following organizations will partner over the next two years to implement the project:

• The National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA) is the primary voice in the United States for people who use cooperatives to build a better world. NCBA CLUSA works to build a better world and a more inclusive economy that empowers people to contribute to shared prosperity and well-being for themselves and future generations.

• Kansas Farmers Union & Missouri Farmers Union are individual grassroots family farm organizations that have worked to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers, and their communities throughout their respective states.

• Common Ground Mobile Farmers Market and Mobile Food Hub has made a significant impact on urban agriculture while providing fresh produce to food deserts and food-insecure areas in the Wichita, KS region.

“We are excited to be working - boots on the ground - with NCBA CLUSA, to provide outreach and education on cooperative development throughout rural Kansas, “said Kansas Farmers Union President Donn Teske. “Cooperatives and cooperation has been one of the foundation stones of Kansas Farmers Union since its founding in 1907. We thank the Patterson Family Foundation for deeming this project a worthwhile project to improve quality of life for rural people.”

“As we strengthen the local and regional food system, and look for ways to support family farmers, the cooperative structure merits consideration as a possible configuration to address challenges and bring different entities together when forming partnerships,” said Missouri Farmers Union President Tom Coudron

“Common Ground Producers and Growers is thrilled to partner with NCBA CLUSA, Kansas Farmers Union, and Missouri Farmers Union on the Homegrown Prosperity grant,” said Common Ground CEO Donna Pearson McClish. “We’re eager to foster meaningful connections in rural communities and to share valuable insights about the incredible benefits of community cooperatives.”

The organizations will share updates on program activities, learning and impact throughout the grant period as cooperative-ready groups and communities participate in training, feasibility exploration and early-stage cooperative development milestones. Look for more information about the initiative on each organization's website in the coming weeks.