Jessica Culpepper
Executive Director of @FarmSTAND.bsky.social. Fighting for a fair food system in courtrooms and communities. A fair food system is possible!
- I'm so proud Frank is our newest board member! Please consider giving $25 to help FarmSTAND support rural communities in 2026 secure.actblue.com/donate/fs-gi...
- The food system touches the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the safety of our community members. Watch to see how FarmSTAND is standing up against Big Ag ▶️ youtube.com/shorts/FC9h2...
- I had such a great time talking with @ourhenhouse.org about the fight to hold Big Ag accountable and build a food system that actually serves people, animals, and our planet. Grateful for the thoughtful, energizing conversation. Tune in here: ourhenhouse.org/ep862 🎧🐔
- @jessculpepper.bsky.social of @farmstand.bsky.social drops truth bombs about big ag in our latest episode. Her insights cut to the heart of why our food system continues to harm so many while benefiting so few. Listen on your fav podcatcher, watch on our YouTube, or check out ourhenhouse.org/ep862
- The Trump admin told the EEOC to stop protecting workers by ending enforcement of disparate impact discrimination cases (i.e., policies that discriminate in practice). That cannot stand. @farmstand.bsky.social + partners are suing to defend food chain workers & hold corporations accountable.
- Six workers died in a Colorado dairy last week. Fathers, sons, husbands. If this happened in any other factory, it’d dominate headlines. At a factory farm, it’s dismissed. This is the deadly cost of ag exceptionalism. Proud of @farmstand.bsky.social's work to end it. www.cpr.org/2025/08/29/c...
- We’re live at the hearing in Urban Sustainability Directors Network et al v. USDA, where @farmstandorg is representing plaintiffs challenging the unexplained termination of critical climate + equity grants in agriculture.
- Big moment: In response to Judge Howell's questioning, the government admitted it “wouldn’t be in accordance with best practices” to decide which grants to terminate by using search terms.
- Judge Howell: “I would agree with you on that.”
- This case is about more than process. It’s about fairness, transparency, and protecting the future of agriculture and our climate. Proud to stand with our clients.
- Reposted by Jessica CulpepperBrooke Rollins is throwing farmers lives into chaos, all to do Trump’s anti-DEI bidding. Our client in our case against USDA, Agroecology Commons, describes the last few months of mayhem:
- Reposted by Jessica CulpepperMass deportation of immigrant farm workers will not create employment opportunities for Americans. The truth is that Big Ag doesn’t want domestic labor because its business model is based on paying vulnerable people low wages. Learn more in our latest blog ➡️tinyurl.com/blog-ag-jobs
- Warren Wilson College made me who I am: rooted in service, sustainability & hard work. Small liberal arts colleges are struggling, & cutting disaster funds for the hardest‑hit one is wrong. Thank you John Ager for shining a light on this. #NCpol www.citizen-times.com/story/opinio...
- I expected cruelty from Trump 2.0. I didn’t expect USDA to gut social infrastructure by canceling grants midstream because they included words like “equity.” Now people are losing jobs, farmers are losing land, and communities are losing vital support. We’re suing. Communities deserve better.
- JUST FILED: We’re suing USDA for illegally cancelling contracts that supported a healthier nation and fairer food system. w/ @earthjustice.org farmstand.org/case/stoppin...
- Reposted by Jessica CulpepperGood read 👇 This is why we fight for a better food system -- one that is fair and nourishing for farmers, workers, animals and the earth.
- Reposted by Jessica Culpepper3 college grads’ dreams became nightmares when their “internships” turned out to be a factory farm exploiting them for cheap labor, part of a growing trend of visa abuse used by Big Ag. Learn more about our suit to stop this injustice:
- U.S. factory farms are exploiting visa workers under the guise of “cultural exchange.” @farmstand.bsky.social's latest lawsuit exposes the system—and @ninaelkadi.com's must-read piece lays it bare. This isn’t a one off abuse. It’s the business model.
- A lawsuit against Livingston Enterprises Inc. and Worldwide Farmers Exchange alleges that three Guatemalan citizens, who came to the U.S. on J-1 visas, worked dangerous jobs on factory farms under false pretenses. @ninaelkadi.com reports:
- Trump says he’s helping farmers, but gutting USDA’s climate-smart grants does the opposite. It strips small farmers of tools to cut costs + build resilience. Big Ag wins. We need food system policy that centers people, not propaganda. farmstand.org/trumps-anti-... theguardian.com/environment/...
- Hope is strategy. Justice is non-negotiable. On May 16th, I’ll share how @farmstand_org stays grounded in long-term change, refusing to trade one form of justice for another. Animal protection, racial justice, worker power, and democracy are all one fight. tinyurl.com/245hwd5j #WeAreAVA
- 📢 We're hiring at @farmstand.bsky.social! ⚖️ Staff & Senior Attorneys 💻 Digital Comms Associate 🌾 Rural Organizer Join us in fighting for a food system accountable to people, not profit. Apply or share with your people! 🔗 farmstand.org/join-our-team/
- New reporting from @leahjdouglas.bsky.social: Trump admin is laying off key staff overseeing bird flu—just as the virus jumps from farmed animals to pets. This is a public health crisis. @farmstand.bsky.social's latest: how BigAg is using this moment to gain power. farmstand.org/trumps-plan-...
- Reposted by Jessica Culpepper🎉👏🎊Victory for @lspnow.bsky.social, local democracy and clean water in Winona County, Minnesota🎉👏🎊 When a megadairy tried intimidation to get its way, the community and FarmSTAND fought back—and won 💪
- Reposted by Jessica CulpepperOn March 18, Chief Justice Natalie Hudson announced that the Court would not hear an appeal filed by Daley Farm of Lewiston, LLP. landstewardshipproject.org/lsp-applauds...
- Reposted by Jessica Culpepper👏 👏👏Big win for our oceans 🌊 against industrial aquaculture by Center for Food Safety www.centerforfoodsafety.org/press-releas...
- My son tried to kick my daughter out of his Lego build. Without missing a beat, she yelled, "I HAVE THE RIGHT TO BUILD!" Leading the resistance one Lego at a time. Somewhere, a Supreme Court justice just broke into a cold sweat.
- Reposted by Jessica CulpepperFaster meatpacking line speeds put workers at even greater risk of injury. This corporate giveaway will be devastating to workers sentientmedia.org/meatpacking-...
- Reposted by Jessica CulpepperMeatpacking companies know their facilities are deadly but drag their feet fixing safety problems. Workers, including children, suffer the consequences. investigatemidwest.org/2025/03/12/o...
- Farmers are already battling extreme weather, trade wars, and market barriers—now Trump’s actions are adding more uncertainty. If we want a just, resilient food system, trust has to be the foundation. Now it’s being eroded—along with the future we need. @civileats.com civileats.com/2025/02/26/f...
- Reposted by Jessica Culpepper“This bill is legislator overreach, circumventing an ongoing legal review of this law. It’s fundamentally about stripping farmworkers of gains made in the 2021 measure."-FarmSTAND's Kelsey Eberly www.denverpost.com/2025/02/26/c...
- 🚨Big Ag exploits labor, animals & the environment—but rural communities are fighting back. @farmstand.bsky.social is proud to rep Driftless Water Defenders alongside Jim Larew & @publicjustice.bsky.social in suing an Iowa slaughterhouse for polluting local waters. cbs2iowa.com/news/local/i...
- I'm really proud of our team, especially Holly and Skye, for the work they put into this. Great @sentientmedia.org piece by @ninaelkadi.com on the broader issue and our notice letter here: sentientmedia.org/iowa-slaught...
- Reposted by Jessica CulpepperWe need MORE information and about bird flu, not less. “This idea that science cannot continue until there’s a political lens over it is unprecedented,” said Anne Schuchat, a former principal deputy director at the CDC. kffhealthnews.org/news/article/cdc-tr…
- Reposted by Jessica CulpepperNEW: In @teenvogue.com, @jessculpepper.bsky.social explores why factory farming supercharges diseases like bird flu, and how transformation to a food system that respects worker, public, and animal health is the only solution for keeping us safe: www.teenvogue.com/story/bird-f...
- Thankful for the opportunity to talk about the dangers of Bird Flu in @teenvogue.com, especially in light of Trump's recent response to pull funding from efforts to curb the spread. A healthy food system is possible, and we need you to join the fight!
- bird flu was already a problem before a Trump admin *and* an increasingly likely RFK Jr. as HHS Sec. @jessculpepper.bsky.social of @farmstand.bsky.social writes @teenvogue.com about how our food system got us here—and why totally overhauling it is the only answer.
- Reposted by Jessica CulpepperNEW: The USDA has removed webpages and fact sheets from its website on efforts to promote racial and gender diversity, including recommendations from its equity commission on how the agency could improve its relationship with minority farmers. www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
- BigAg's choices to confine animals cruelly in unsanitary conditions is the root cause of our egg prices skyrocketing. It's also life threatening. Trump's decision to stop any government support to disrupt the spread of H5N1 bird flu is extremely dangerous but exactly what we can expect more of.
- The price of eggs in the US is spiking, mostly due to #H5N1 bird flu. Solving the problem requires urgent, important communications from the CDC & FDA* and rapid development of research by the NIH** * Currently paused by Executive Order ** Grant reviews now all canceled www.kcur.org/news/2025-01...
- Proud to see our very own @davidmuraskin.bsky.social featured in this important @vox.com article! He sheds light on the devastating impact of factory farms on Iowa’s communities and environment. A must-read for anyone invested in the fight for a fair food system. www.vox.com/future-perfe...
- Reposted by Jessica CulpepperHear from our executive director @jessculpepper.bsky.social er.bsky.social about what makes FarmSTAND unique. We’re building collective power and using bold legal actions to transform the food system www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3rC...
- Reposted by Jessica CulpepperBig Ag knows it’s no match for people power ✊ @lspnow.bsky.social stood up to a megadairy and won, and FarmSTAND stepped up to fight back when the sore losers sued our allies www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUjm...
- Reposted by Jessica CulpepperGet the latest news on the fight for a fair food system delivered right to your inbox. Our January newsletter will feature what we’re watching and ready to fight for in the new administration: mailchi.mp/0596a87dcf2b...
- 1/ Workers at JBS's Greeley plant are bracing for another round of exploitation under Trump 2.0. Ted Genoways and Mary Anne Andrei capture the stakes in their must-read article for @thefern.org. 🔗https://thefern.org/2025/01/at-a-colorado-meatpacking-plant-a-vulnerable-workforce-braces-for-trump-2-0/
- 2/ At @farmstand.bsky.social we’re fighting back. Right now, we’re representing Haitian workers at this very plant alongside Towards Justice. They’ve filed charges exposing how JBS exploits immigration threats to silence workers and perpetuate abuse. 🔗https://t.ly/3hhv-
- 3/ This isn’t new. As our senior attorney Amal Bouhabib writes, Big Ag thrives on fear. Trump’s immigration policies are a tool used to maintain control and stifle resistance. 🔗https://farmstand.org/how-big-ag-thrives-on-trumps-immigration-threats/
- /4 These stories reveal structural issues in a food system built on exploitation. It’s why we do what we do at @farmstand.bsky.social. We’re ready to fight for justice. Join us to amplify these stories, hold corporations accountable, and build a food system rooted in justice together.
- Reposted by Jessica CulpepperGot 2 minutes? You’ve got time to learn what’s wrong with the dominant food system and how to join the fight for a fair food future www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8TM...
- Reposted by Jessica Culpepper"'We would expect to see an investigation like this closed or just die,' said Muraskin, citing Trump’s history of deregulation and business-friendly policies." From @jmcjmc.bsky.social in @investigatemidwest.bsky.social: investigatemidwest.org/2024/12/17/u...
- Reposted by Jessica CulpepperThe bosses, particularly in Big Ag, need immigrant workers. They also need Trump's deportation threats for maximum control over their workforce: farmstand.org/how-big-ag-t...
- 2024 was a milestone year for FarmSTAND and we hit the ground running! We tackled Big Ag and built a fairer food system, and I'm so proud of the strides we've made together. See our Year in Review: farmstand.org/signs-a-better-food-system-is-possible-farmstands-accomplishments-in-2024
- Reposted by Jessica CulpepperWe can’t trust the industry that creates the conditions for the spread of disease to voluntarily find a solution. As the USDA begins a new national milk testing strategy, we're reflecting on why government reliance on voluntary H5N1 testing was always doomed to fail: farmstand.org/the-governme...
- Reposted by Jessica CulpepperNEW: In a victory for our ally @lspnow.bsky.social & for the health of MN rural communities, a state appeals court affirmed a lower court’s ruling that a megadairy should not be permitted to overturn the will of the people to expand its operation. More on this case: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUjm...
