Lani Jordan from Minnesota Reflects on Joining CNFA’s Ambassador Program

Organizational communications consultant, Lani Jordan, remembers her favorite Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) volunteer assignment with CNFA well. In 2019, she joined MOVCA, a Moldova organic cooperative in its preparation for Biofach, the world’s largest organic trade show.

“All of my F2F assignments are memorable but the most unique was working with MOVCA over a period of 2.5 months,” she says, “I provided remote support and counsel for six weeks, helped with final preparations the week before, and then joined them in Nuremburg for the show where we had great results promotion Moldova’s growing organic sector.”

With four assignments like this under her belt, Jordan joined CNFA’s Ambassador Program this month as part of the U.S. Agency for International Development John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Program (2018–2023), implemented by CNFA.

Active in Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Moldova, the F2F Program sends U.S. volunteer experts on overseas technical assignments to provide hands-on training to magnify the work of communities, cooperatives, agribusinesses, and educational institutions. To comply with COVID-19 safety measures, these assignments are currently paired, where U.S.-based volunteers work virtually with a volunteer based in the host country.

As part of the Ambassador Program, Jordan and her fellow Ambassadors offer outreach and information on the program to their communities and professional networks to bolster engagement and the number of first-time volunteers for the F2F Program. In particular, she is tapping into her connections in U.S. cooperative organizations and Minnesota’s largest agriculture university program.

Jordan has found it deeply rewarding to use her professional experience to amplify and support the success of farmers and organizations in the countries she has worked in and hopes to pass this on to new volunteers.

“I’ve had the opportunity to learn about new places and cultures, and meet many great people who become lifelong friends,” she explains.

She aims to share her passion for F2F with her professional and community connections and provide insights for prospective and first-time volunteers.

“You will experience many new things. Sometimes you will be nervous,” she advises new F2F volunteers, “But you will be in good hands, meet amazing people, and do very meaningful work. You will leave your first assignment a richer person.”