After 10 years of building a community of LGBTQ+ people in agriculture, we got to stand on
stage in Minneapolis, in front of our community and say it for the first time:

We are Open Fields Alliance!

If you weren’t there, here’s what happened and how you can be part of what comes next.

Same community. More room to grow.

In 2015, about 30 LGBTQ+ people and allies came together in Atlanta and found each other.
That gathering grew into Cultivating Change, and it helped people know they belong in
agriculture. That mattered. It still does.

But over time, we started hearing a new question: “Now that I’m here, what’s next?” So we’re adding to the promise.

Belonging is our foundation. It isn’t our finish line.

Open Fields Alliance is the same work, with more: more people, more ideas, more perspectives,
more of us.

Five moments from Annual Conference

That’s the idea behind our new name. Here are five moments from the weekend when it came to
life.

1. The keynote and the reveal

   Coach Kiah’s keynote, “Roots That Rise: The Legacy You Lead,” set the stage. Cultivating Change is the roots. Open Fields Alliance is what rises from them. Then the lights went down, and our new name and logo appeared for the first time.

   
   

2. The opening reception

   Drag performers Connie Taylor and Maiden Taiwan kept the room lively as we celebrated our new name and brand. Thank you again to Bader Rutter, our brand partner, for making this come alive.

   
   

3. Fireside Chat: Belonging as Wellness

   This conversation met the moment. It explored how taking care of ourselves through our identities can drive who we are in our careers and as leaders. Because if you’re spending your energy focusing on how to show up, you’re leaving behind your energy to lead. Like all of our speakers, the panel was fantastic.

   
   

4. The celebration dinner

   We honored four people and organizations who are helping this community grow:

   
   Change Maker Award: Mikayla Bodey
   OFA Ally Award: Nate Stephens
   OFA Student Scholar Award: Kaley Mumma
   Agriculture Influencer Award: Bader Rutter

   
   Stay tuned for more information on our 2026 awardees soon!

   
   

5. A keepsake, and $10,000 for our community

   Everyone left with our first ever commissioned poster marking our first Annual Conference as Open Fields Alliance. And together, we raised $10,000 to keep building our community.
   
   

   

Now, the party

Here’s our promise to you: We’re creating more rooms for you to grow in. We’re finding more ways for you to connect. We’re paving the path for you to become leaders in the sector. This isn’t a declaration that every field is open today. It’s a commitment to keep opening them. And we’d love for you to celebrate the start of it with us, wherever you are.

During the last week of January 2027, we’re inviting our community and supporters across the country to host their own Open Fields Alliance Launch Party.

When we say party, we mean whatever works for you. Gather a few friends or coworkers for a toast. Bring your team together over lunch. Invite your local community to a happy hour. Or go big with a venue in your area. There’s no minimum number of people and no right way to celebrate.

We’ll send you social media assets and print-ready branded materials. You bring the people, the place, and the good time. (Parties are organized and paid for by each host.)

Sign up to host a launch party →

Our roots are Cultivating Change. Our horizon is bigger. We can’t wait to step into it with you.