About the Soil Health Initiative
Hendricks Family Farm’s Soil Health Initiative is focused on better understanding local soil health needs and connecting farmers and landowners with useful information and resources. We’re starting by listening. Through surveys, outreach, partnerships, and future field learning, we want to understand what people are seeing on their land and what support would actually be helpful. What we learn will help shape future education, soil sampling, research partnerships, and other opportunities to participate.
Take the Soil Health Survey
Meet Kathy Ward
Kathy Ward is the founder of Hendricks Family Farm and the driving force behind the Soil Health Initiative. Kathy believes healthy soil is an important part of healthy farms and communities, but she also believes we need to listen to farmers and landowners before deciding what resources they need. Her long-term vision is for HFF to bring farmers, universities, students, Extension, and agricultural partners together to turn soil health information and research into something practical for the people working the land.
Help Shape the Initiative
Participate · Soil Health Initiative
Your experience can help shape the initiative.
HFF wants to understand which soil-health questions, field concerns, and participation opportunities matter to the people who know the land firsthand.
Take the Soil Health SurveyWho we want to hear from
If your work, property, or professional experience connects you to agriculture and land management, your perspective can help HFF understand what deserves attention.
Primary audience
Farmers
People making practical production and land-management decisions.
Primary audience
Agricultural landowners
People stewarding farmland now or considering its long-term agricultural use.
Also invited
Producers
Growers and operators with direct experience of soil and production conditions.
Also invited
Agricultural professionals
Advisors, conservation staff, and technical professionals serving agricultural communities.
Secondary audience
Researchers and educators
People who can contribute context while keeping farmer and landowner needs central.
The Soil Health Survey
Share what HFF should understand first.
The survey is intended to help HFF learn which local priorities, concerns, and future activities deserve closer attention.
- Share your perspective on local soil-health priorities.
- Describe the questions and field concerns that matter to you.
- Help HFF plan useful future outreach and field learning.
What happens next
The survey begins the planning process. HFF can use the themes it hears to guide future outreach and field learning.
Share your perspective
Complete the Soil Health Survey with the context you think HFF should consider.
Stay connected
Check back for updates as HFF reviews community priorities and develops the next phase.
Learn about future opportunities
Future Field Day, sampling, and field-learning opportunities will be shared as details are confirmed.
Questions about participating
Who should complete the survey?
HFF especially wants to hear from farmers, agricultural landowners, and producers. Agricultural, conservation, research, and education professionals may also contribute relevant perspective.
Does completing the survey commit me to soil sampling?
No. Completing the survey shares your perspective; any future sampling opportunity would be described separately.
When is soil sampling expected?
A public sampling schedule has not been confirmed. HFF will share future field opportunities as details are established.
How will survey responses be used?
HFF plans to use responses to understand community priorities and guide initiative planning. Additional response-use information will be provided with the final survey.
How can I stay involved?
Future opportunities will be shared as details are confirmed. You may also contact HFF at YOUR_HFF_CONTACT_EMAIL.
Add your experience to the conversation.
A few minutes of perspective can help HFF understand which questions should guide the next phase.
Take the Soil Health Survey