About – Hungry World Farm

About | Hungry World Farm

Discover how Regenerative Agriculture is better for your health, community, & environment.

farmers market booth with produce and baked goods

Mission & Vision

Human & Environmental Health

Hungry World Farm exists to restore the land and reconnect people with their food, their communities, and the natural world. Our mission is rooted in the belief that healthy soil grows healthy food and healthy people. We combine faith-informed hospitality with education and hands-on experiences to heal creation and nourish the soul. 👉 Learn how we’re cultivating hope, one seed at a time.

Why Regenerative Agriculture?

Farming in Ways That Help the Environment

Farming in Ways that Help the Environment
Regenerative agriculture goes beyond sustainability—it's about healing. We use practices like multi-species grazing, no-till growing, and agroforestry to build topsoil, increase biodiversity, and store carbon in the earth. It’s a hopeful response to climate change, food insecurity, and ecosystem collapse. 👉 Discover how soil can save the world.

cows and sheep grazing on lush green pasture

photos of families, pizza nights, glamping tent and goat milking at hungry world farm

What We Did in 2024

A Year of Growth: People, Produce & Purpose

In 2024, we welcomed over 1,000 overnight guests, 1,400 tour participants, and grew our livestock herds and gardens. We hosted 44 farm-to-table events and donated 3,500 pounds of produce to food banks. Revenue increased by 488%, allowing us to reinvest in education, infrastructure, and future farm expansion. 👉 Take a look at what your support made possible.

Read the Report

Leadership Team

Hungry World Farm is guided by a dedicated team of staff and board members who bring deep experience in regenerative agriculture, education, nonprofit leadership, hospitality, and community-building. From daily animal care to guest programming to long-term visioning, our team works collaboratively to steward the land, serve visitors, and embody the farm’s mission of seeking the well-being of all.

Meet Our Full Board & Staff Team

Sam Ingersoll, Executive Director

Sam brings vision, grit, and deep roots in regenerative values to lead the farm’s growth and mission-driven impact. 👉 Contact Sam and learn how Hungry World Farm is growing more than food.

hungry world farm market gardener valerie reed, husban danny and children

Valerie Reed, Market Gardener

Valerie cultivates vibrant vegetables and community alike, stewarding the garden with skill, heart, and soil health at the center. 👉 Come see the garden that’s changing how we grow and give.

Stephan Rauh, Land Program Specialist & Education Director

Stephan blends ecological insight and educational passion to guide land restoration and immersive learning at the farm. 👉 Join a tour or workshop and experience learning rooted in the land.

James Nicholson, Livestock Manager

James is the steady hand and compassionate heart behind our animals, managing rotational grazing systems that heal the land. 👉 Visit the farm and discover how animals restore ecosystems.

Andy Lanier, Executive Chef

Andy transforms farm-fresh ingredients into unforgettable meals, using fire, flavor, and creativity to bring people together. 👉 Come hungry—join us for a pizza night you’ll never forget.

The History of Hungry World Farm: An ecological and spiritual oasis built on connection to nature and love for all people.

1971 – Plow Creek Fellowship

Plow Creek Fellowship was founded in 1971 by members of Reba Place Fellowship seeking a rural setting to live out the teachings of Jesus. Rooted in Mennonite tradition, the community shared meals, income, and a vision of radical Christian discipleship. The land became not just a home but a mission field—welcoming the weary, housing refugees, and creating a place where spiritual life and ecological stewardship were inseparable.

2017 – A New Nonprofit is Formed

After over 45 years of shared life and ministry, Plow Creek Fellowship discerned it was time to close. With the passing of several founding members and the dwindling size of the community, they chose to pass the land to a new nonprofit. Hungry World Farm was formed—guided by a similar spirit of simplicity, justice, and care for creation, but with a fresh, broader mission to educate, inspire, and reconnect people to food, health, and the land.

The Early Years

With a budget of less than $15,000, Hungry World Farm began by focusing on repairing infrastructure and launching foundational programs. Stephan Rauh revived the Market Garden, while Dave Bell stewarded the livestock. Under the leadership of the first Executive Director, Karla Detweiler, and her family, the farm became known for its warm hospitality and international internship program, welcoming IVEP participants from across the globe to learn, serve, and share.

COVID Hurdles

Just as momentum was building, the COVID-19 pandemic halted many in-person workshops, school field trips, and retreat programming. The farm’s focus on community and connection made the isolation especially difficult—but small workshops, the annual Harvest Festival, and an abundant Market Garden kept the mission alive. “In a time of distance and uncertainty,” one board member reflected, “our faith reminded us to keep sowing, even when we couldn't see the harvest yet.”

2023 and Beyond

A test run of wood-fired pizza nights and early Airbnb rentals in 2023 with 132 overnight guests laid the groundwork for renewed growth. By 2024, Hungry World Farm welcomed over 1,000 overnight guests, 1,400 educational tour participants, and hosted 44 pizza and breakfast events. Read Annual Report here. With steadfast commitment from Stephan Rauh - and new leadership from Executive Director Sam Ingersoll, Livestock Manager James Nicholson, and Market Gardener Valerie Reed, the farm is rebooting with new energy and vision.

A Living Classroom for a Hurting World

In 2025, our vision is bold and beautiful: to double the number of guests we host, expand our campground and educational spaces, and deepen the experiences we offer to reconnect people to food, farming, and the future of our planet. But this is more than a farm. It’s a living classroom, a regenerative sanctuary, and a shared experiment in hope.