“They Pulled the Rug Out from Under Us”: USDA Cuts and the Future of Local Food: Andre Faul, Junior
- Dave Price
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Andre Faul, Jr., never expected to be running a fundraiser just to break even on 1,300-pound meat delivery to a local school district. But after the USDA abruptly cut funding for the Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program (LFPA), that’s exactly where he and his family found themselves this spring.
“We were planning for our biggest year yet,” Faul told American Farmland Owner from his family farm, Faul Family Riverside Farm, in unincorporated Henry County, Kentucky, near the Indiana border.
Faul co-manages the 100-acre farm with his father, Andre, Sr. The operation is diverse: pasture-raised chicken, pork, and turkey; eggs; grass-fed beef and lamb; saltwater shrimp, a wedding and event venue, and farm-to-table meals.
That commitment to product and service diversity helped support the extended family members who staff the operation. But one key part was about to disappear.
“Then, all of a sudden, we get a letter from the USDA saying the (LFPA) program’s been cut. No warning, no real reason—just gone,” Faul said.
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Faul and about 130 Kentucky farmers who had relied on the USDA assistance -- $50,000 for Faul’s farm – would no longer get that federal help to allow them to become a little more competitive with bigger regional or national distributors.
The LFPA program, launched in 2022, allowed school districts to purchase food directly from local farmers like Faul. It was designed to support small farms while improving food quality in public institutions. For Faul, it meant his pasture-raised chicken, pork, and ground beef could be featured on school lunch trays instead of being limited to local farmers markets.
LFPA Program Helped Small Producers Compete
“They’ve been buying food from big suppliers,” Faul explained. “But our cost of production is higher. We can’t compete on price, but we believe it’s a better product we raise. This program helped close that gap.”
For two years, the partnership with nearby Oldham County Schools was a win-win, he said. Faul got consistent orders, the school served healthier meals, and students had access to locally grown protein. But in early March, plans came to an unexpected halt.
“I met with the director of nutrition in February,” Faul recalled. “She told me the USDA said the money would be there this year. So, we planned five deliveries. I booked processing dates. We ordered chicks. And then, boom—letter says funding’s cut because it ‘doesn’t align with the current administration’s priorities.’”
Family Farmers Scramble to Replace Lost LFPA Funding
The impact was immediate and personal. “We had already spent money,” said Faul. “Some farmers had even planted crops for the schools. You plan months ahead, and they pulled the rug out from under us after everything was in motion.”
Instead of abandoning the school deliveries, Faul and his wife came up with a creative solution: they launched a fundraiser to cover their production costs and donate the food.
Profits were no longer part of the business plan.
“We sent out an email to our customer base and asked if they’d pitch in to help us get that first delivery out the door,” he said. “Within two weeks, we hit our goal. We’re not making a profit on it, but at least the school kids still get the meals.”
What frustrates Faul most is the broader loss of momentum in building resilient local food systems.
“This wasn’t just helping farmers,” he said. “It was making our food system stronger. We saw during the pandemic how fragile the industrial model is. The shelves were empty, and people came to farms like ours. We sold out in weeks.”
The LFPA, Faul said, directly addressed that vulnerability, while also providing healthier meals for kids in a country facing an epidemic of childhood obesity.
“You’ve got a program that helps kids eat better, supports local farms, and builds community resilience. Why on earth would you cut that?” he asked. “If there’s a budget issue, fine. But give us notice. Don’t cancel mid-season when farmers already invested.”
Family Farmers Go Public with Frustration Over USDA Cuts
Despite the setback, Faul isn’t backing down. He is sharing his story in hopes others will do the same.
“I get that not every farmer wants to speak publicly, but this is bigger than just us,” he said. “It’s about investing in our future. I don’t care who takes credit. I just want to see these programs succeed.”
Faul also emphasized the importance of keeping the focus on solutions, not politics.
“When it turns political, people tune out,” he said. “Let’s stay focused on what works—programs that support farmers, feed kids, and make our food system stronger. That’s something everyone should get behind.”
