Dogs relax atop hay bales outside the barn at Tierra Vegetables in Santa Rosa. The longtime family farm was recently honored as a 2026 California Farm Champion for its decades of sustainable farming and community stewardship. (Tierra Vegetables)

One of Sonoma County’s most familiar farm names received statewide recognition this winter. Lee and Wayne James of Tierra Vegetables in Santa Rosa were named Legacy Farmers of the Year in the 2026 California Farm Champion Awards, presented by the Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

For more than 45 years, the brother-and-sister team has grown vegetables that supply farmers markets, restaurants and community buyers across the region. Tierra Vegetables is known for consistent quality and a wide range of crops, including carrots, beans, corn and chiles. Just as important, the James family has spent decades mentoring younger farmers and opening their operation to school groups and community visits, helping pass along practical knowledge in an industry where experience matters.

The Farm Champion awards recognize farmers, advocates and food system leaders across California. While most honorees are outside Sonoma County, the issues highlighted by the awards are familiar locally, including land access, organic transition, food access and long-term farm viability.

CAFF has also launched a new outreach effort this winter called Friends of the Farmer, aimed at people who support local agriculture but do not work directly in farming. The program is designed to keep community members informed about farm issues and provide opportunities to support family farms through education, events and advocacy. The goal, organizers say, is to strengthen connections between farmers and the broader public at a time when economic and development pressures continue to shape agricultural land use.

For growers, the start of the year brings several practical opportunities. A free 10-week organic transition webinar series began in January and runs through March. The weekly sessions cover certification requirements, recordkeeping, soil health, pest management and organic marketing. Each session includes time for questions, with optional office hours for individual support. Spanish and Hmong interpretation is available. While the series is geared toward farmers preparing to certify, it is also intended for growers looking to improve organic practices more generally.

February also marks the return of the California Small Farm Conference, scheduled for Feb. 22-27. The annual event will again be held in a hybrid format, with online workshops and in-person gatherings around the state. Sessions focus on soil health, water management, farm business planning, wildfire recovery, farmers markets, land access and food systems policy. Organizers expect strong participation from Sonoma County, which has long played a visible role in small-farm education and advocacy.

Land access remains one of the most pressing issues facing local farmers. High land prices continue to put ownership out of reach for many new and small-scale growers. In response, the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District is piloting a Buy-Protect-Sell program as part of its Farmland for All initiative. Under the model, the county purchases farmland, places permanent agricultural easements on the property, then resells it at a reduced price to a qualified farmer. The first pilot sale is expected later this year. Supporters say the approach could help keep land in agriculture while making ownership more attainable.

Water remains another major concern. While recent winters have improved surface water supplies, groundwater levels in several local basins continue to lag. Local groundwater sustainability agencies are implementing long-term plans that include monitoring, conservation measures and recharge projects under state law. Farmers are encouraged to stay engaged through public meetings, technical assistance programs and local agency updates as these plans move forward.

Taken together, these developments reflect a farm community focused on continuity and adaptation. From honoring long-established farms to training new growers, protecting land and managing water more carefully, Sonoma County agriculture continues to evolve under pressure. The work is steady, practical and largely out of the spotlight, but it remains central to the county’s economy, landscape and identity.