The Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) Bottleneck Project is proud to announce that it has received a grant from Farm Aid, the national organization dedicated to strengthening family farm agriculture. The project seeks to reduce the local meatprocessing “bottleneck” that limits livestock producers’ ability to bring animals to market by addressing the shortage of trained workers in meat processing and the lack of prepared, supported new owners to take over these vital rural lockers as current owners retire.
Farm Aid announced that it has distributed more than $1.3 million in grant funding in 2025. The organization prioritized grant proposals from organizations that focus on its four priority issue areas: racial equity; farmerled solutions to climate change; stopping the growth of industrial agriculture and corporate power; and providing support for farmers experiencing crisis and farm stress.
“We’re incredibly excited and grateful to receive this Year-End grant from Farm Aid,” said MFU Bottleneck Project Manager Paul Sobocinski. “Their consistent support has been instrumental to our work, and we feel very fortunate to have such a strong, ongoing partnership. Farm Aid’s commitment to supporting producers and rural communities helps make this project possible, and this funding will allow us to continue addressing critical challenges facing local meat processing.”
The organization will use this grant funding to continue and expand outreach efforts to meat processors across Minnesota, ensuring that processors have access to technical assistance, workforce development and financial resources, and succession planning support. Funding will also support outreach to communities interested in career pathways and entrepreneurial opportunities within the meat processing industry, helping connect workers and aspiring business owners with training, mentorship, and opportunities to strengthen Minnesota’s local meat processing infrastructure statewide.
“These organizations are the heart of the farm movement, with family farmers at the center of their work and leadership. We are so proud and grateful to stand with them,” said Farm Aid President and Founder Willie Nelson. “Like Farm Aid, many of these folks have been working since the 1980s to be crucial sources of strength for farmers and rural communities. This is especially important as farmers once again face trying times reminiscent of the crisis that gave rise to Farm Aid and the movement of which we’re a part.”
Farm Aid’s grantmaking is one aspect of its work to keep family farmers on the land, growing good food for all. For a complete listing of Farm Aid’s 2025 grant recipients, visit farmaid.org/2025grants.
