By Andi Anderson
Across Michigan, an innovative solution is helping bridge generations of farmers. With the average age of U.S. farmers now at 58, many agricultural families face a growing challenge — who will inherit and continue their farming legacy when there is no next of kin interested in taking over?
The MIFarmLink program offers a new answer. It’s an online platform that connects retiring landowners with beginning or aspiring farmers looking for farmland to buy, lease, or manage. Described as a “matchmaking service for agriculture,” MIFarmLink helps pair experienced producers with newcomers eager to start their own farming journeys.
One example is Thomas Lodge, an organic farmer near Detroit, who wanted to focus on his mushroom business but still keep his farmland in production. Through MIFarmLink, he met Simon and Caitlin Yevzelman, a couple from Dearborn Heights who were seeking to start a farm. The Yevzelmans now lease Lodge’s land for their business, Cedar Field Farm, where they grow vegetables, mushrooms, and specialty crops such as molokhia for Detroit’s Arab American community.
Program manager Jill Dohner says such stories are becoming more common. “Historically, farmers passed land to their children. That’s not happening anymore,” she explained. “Now, farmers want their land to go to someone who will continue to care for it.”
For new farmers, leasing through MIFarmLink reduces financial risk, offering a practical step before purchasing land. The program’s success has prompted its expansion statewide, with over 300 farm seekers now registered.
The concept isn’t unique to Michigan — more than 30 U.S. states now host “farm link” programs — but MIFarmLink stands out for connecting people through personality-driven listings that make the process personal as well as professional.
As Shemariah Blum-Evitts of Land For Good in New England notes, “We’re not growing any more land, so maintaining what we have for future generations is key.” Programs like MIFarmLink are ensuring that legacy continues — one match at a time.
Photo Credit: istock-dusanpetkovic
Categories: Michigan, General