Agriculture: Past, Present, and Possibilities
Agriculture: Past, Present, and Possibilities
Agriculture: Past, Present, and Possibilities

OCTOBER 2025 - PRESENT

Agriculture: Past, Present, and Possibilities

The Purpose

Agriculture has played a vital role in shaping Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties for more than a century. Today, it continues to have a significant impact on the area’s people and communities. Agriculture: Past, Present, and Possibilities engages with key stakeholders to identify shared aspirations that strengthen agriculture’s positive impact on future generations.

Strengthening the Impact

Gathering and engaging with stakeholders to understand perspectives, experiences, and aspirations for agriculture in our region will reveal possibilities for greater connection and collaboration. As Agriculture: Past, Present, and Possibilities evolves, The Patterson Foundation will work alongside these stakeholders to identify unique talents and resources in the community. Collectively, their assets can strengthen efforts already underway and foster connections between people, organizations, and communities.

FAQs

Click on frequently asked questions below to learn more about this initiative...

Why is The Patterson Foundation supporting Agriculture: Past, Present, and Possibilities?

Gathering and engaging with stakeholders to understand perspectives, experiences, and aspirations for agriculture in our region will reveal possibilities for greater connection and collaboration. As Agriculture: Past, Present, and Possibilities evolves, The Patterson Foundation will work alongside these stakeholders to identify unique talents and resources in the community. Collectively, their assets can strengthen efforts already underway and foster connections between people, organizations, and communities.

What is Agriculture: Past, Present, and Possibilities?

Agriculture: Past, Present, and Possibilities is an exploration of agriculture’s role in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties. Currently, it is focused on learning from the past, understanding the present, and engaging stakeholders around shared aspirations for the future.

How is The Patterson Foundation investing in Agriculture: Past, Present, and Possibilities?

Following months of conversations with key stakeholders during an initial discovery phase, The Patterson Foundation is bringing these groups together to share what it learned. Going forward, it will facilitate conversations to identify shared aspirations that can strengthen agriculture’s positive impact on future generations.

How can I secure funding from The Patterson Foundation?

Rather than making grants to individual organizations or programs, The Patterson Foundation invests in identified collaborative efforts that incorporate proven practices, data, and wide participation. While The Patterson Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding, it values the dedicated efforts underway to strengthen the community’s agricultural sector.

Who can I contact about Agriculture: Past, Present, and Possibilities?

For more information, contact Agriculture: Past, Present, and Possibilities co-leads Brian Ries and Michelle Walker at: brian@brianries.com and mwalker@thepattersonfoundation.org


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