Vetter Family Forms the Grain Place Foundation
Don Vetter began implementing organic farming practices on his 300-acre farm in 1953. In 1975 his son, Dave, returned to Nebraska to help. Today, the Grain Place works with organic farmers throughout the region. After Don’s passing in 2015, the family created the Grain Place Foundation to continue his legacy of sustainable farming, field practice and education.
One of Nebraska’s pioneering families in organic farming has announced the formation of a new nonprofit foundation to advance farming in mutually beneficial relationship with nature and communities.
The Grain Place Foundation was formed by the heirs of the late Don and Alice Vetter, who founded the Grain Place Farm, a 280-acre organic farm in Marquette, NE. The foundation will honor and advance their visionary approach to farming by supporting symbiotic management of life forms for the production of food, feed, and fiber. The Grain Place Foundation will engage in research, education and other activities.
The Vetter family will transfer the majority of stock in Grain Place Farm to the Grain Place Foundation. Jay Vetter, Founding Executive Director of the foundation, said, “Our family sees the foundation as a means to develop and promote positive approaches to agricultural management that benefit farmers, rural communities, consumers and nature.”
Dave Vetter, who will continue to manage Grain Place Farm, said, “I am excited to work with the foundation in making the farm an extension of its efforts.” This past summer, the Grain Place Foundation sponsored the 23rd annual tour of the Grain Place Farm, in which hundreds of organic farmers from the northern Great Plains gather to learn and exchange ideas and information about best practices in organic farming.
The founding board of the Grain Place Foundation includes:
Dr. Charles Francis of Lincoln NE, an agricultural professor, researcher and educator; Thomas Harding of Wind Gap, PA, a leading consultant on organic food and farming; David Van Pelt of Lincoln, NE, an agricultural banker; Chuck Hassebrook of Lyons, NE, a renewable energy developer; Dr. Allison Vetter of Conway, AR, a sociology professor and higher education administrator; and Glenda Vetter of Grand Island, NE, a retired social worker.
“The Foundation will enable Grain Place Farm to continue as a pioneering organic farm after our generation is gone and expand its educational and scientific work to encourage the vision of farming that has guided our family," said Jay Vetter. "It is important that the foundation will include leadership from beyond our family and also engage the next generation of our family (Don’s grandchildren) in supporting this venture.”
About the Grain Place Foundation
The mission of the Grain Place Foundation is to advance the management of life forms in symbiotic relationships for the production of food, feed and fiber through operation of and cooperation with farming, field practice, and education. Visit www.grainplacefoundation.org.
To donate to the Grain Place Foundation and become a Friend of the Foundation visit our donation page HERE.
Contact
Jay Vetter, The Grain Place Foundation, 308-850-3020, jay@grainplacefoundation.org.