| USDA Center for Faith
September 2025 Newsletter | | | | Welcome Message from Steve Messeh,
Director, USDA Center for Faith | | | |
Dear Valued Partners,
I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Director of the USDA Center for Faith. My name is Steve Messeh, and I am deeply honored to join you in this vital work of serving rural communities across the nation. With a background in community development and bringing innovative solutions to communities most in need, I am excited to bring my passion for partnership and service to this role, working alongside you and this great team to amplify the impact of our shared mission.
Over these past first few weeks on the job, I have been personally struck with the idea of rebuilding communities all across our great land, and the need to rebuild on a solid foundation, especially as we approach the one-year anniversary of the Hurricane Helene disaster in western North Carolina. My first visit as Director was to that region and I was so inspired by the amazing work of faith-based communities all across the area in rebuilding homes, supporting small businesses, rebuilding bridges and roads, etc. This theme of rebuilding communities speaks to the heart of what we do together. From rural heartlands to urban neighborhoods, your faith-based and community organizations are driving transformative change. Whether it’s restoring local food systems, fostering economic opportunity, or supporting families in need, your work is building stronger, more resilient communities across America.
At the USDA, we know rebuilding goes beyond physical structures—it’s about nurturing trust, connection, and empowerment. Through initiatives like the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program, Rural Development efforts, and our partnerships with you, we are committed to addressing challenges like food insecurity, housing, and economic disparities.
Your stories of impact inspire us every day—from faith communities organizing food drives to neighborhood groups cultivating urban gardens. As we move forward, let’s continue to combine your local expertise, passion, and networks with USDA resources to create equitable, sustainable, and vibrant communities.
In this newsletter, you’ll find updates on exciting events happening soon, funding opportunities, inspiring success stories from partners like you, and tools to enhance your work. But above all, I hope you find the sincere gratitude of all of us at USDA for your dedication and partnership. I look forward to connecting with you and working together to rebuild communities filled with hope, dignity, and opportunity.
With gratitude and shared purpose,
Steve Messeh
Director
| | | Faith First in America at USDA
A Note from Dr. Alveda King | | | |
Greetings Faith and Community Partners,
We want to raise the bar regarding prayer in America First and around the world. I have recently been traveling across Armenia visiting and learning of the plight of persecuted faith communities.
I have enjoyed the culture, the spirit, and the perseverance of these communities as they seek to live their lives in faith and fellowship with one another...and I am inspired to continue to fight for religious liberty at home and abroad.
I am excited to welcome Steve Messeh, our Director at the USDA Center for Faith. He shares with us a vast wealth of experience from both the private and not-profit sectors, working on local projects to address challenges from addressing food insecurity and nutrition, to housing, and financial literacy.
I also would like to welcome Dr. Ben Carson. As a premier physician in America he and his wife Candy set a personal example of practicing healthy, nutritious lifestyles. The USDA Center is excited to partner with Dr. Carson on important initiatives to support improved health through USDA programs and partnerships with faith-based organizations.
Recognizing the importance of prayer in the stability and growth of our nation, Secretary Rollins has launched various efforts to support Farmers, Ranchers, and Foresters. Below you will find highlights of these important efforts.
And as you all may be reading in the news media, there may be a lapse in appropriations this coming week. While we pray that our leaders come together to serve our country, at the USDA Center for Faith we want you to know that our team stands ready to assist you. You can always visit our website to view resources, and continue sending emails with feedback and input to our team.
Once a deal is reached, we will continue moving forward with God's grace, humility, and compassion, to support faith leaders across the country as they serve their communities.
In spirit, and with hope,
Dr. Alveda King
Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Faith and Community Outreach
USDA Center for Faith
To get the latest news, please sign up for the USDA Faith Center newsletter
| | U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is proposing changes to strengthen the stocking requirements for retailers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These changes would protect the program, participants, and taxpayers by mitigating fraud, waste, and abuse and ensuring additional healthy food options for recipient families. | | |
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the USDA Forest Service is investing $200 million in 58 projects through the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program. These investments, thanks to Congressionally mandated funding, help at-risk communities plan for and reduce wildfire risk, protecting homes, businesses, and infrastructure.
The selected projects span 22 states and two tribes, supporting efforts to develop or update their community wildfire protection plans and carry out projects to remove hazardous or overgrown vegetation that can fuel fires that threaten lives, livelihoods and resources.
In total, the program is investing $1 billion over five years to assist at-risk communities, including tribal communities, nonprofit organizations, state forestry agencies and Alaska Native Corporations with planning for and mitigating wildfire risks on lands not managed by federal agencies.
The Forest Service will announce a fourth funding opportunity later this year.
| | U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is proposing changes to strengthen the stocking requirements for retailers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These changes would protect the program, participants, and taxpayers by mitigating fraud, waste, and abuse and ensuring additional healthy food options for recipient families. | | |
The Make America Healthy Again Commission today released the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, a sweeping plan with more than 120 initiatives to reverse the failed policies that fueled America’s childhood chronic disease epidemic. The strategy outlines targeted executive actions to advance gold-standard science, realign incentives, increase public awareness, and strengthen private-sector collaboration.
Chaired by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Commission is tasked with investigating and addressing the root causes of America’s escalating health crisis, with a focus on childhood chronic diseases.
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U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today signed a new five-year contract for American made fire retardant with Perimeter Solutions, supporting the U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Interior’s aerial wildland fire suppression programs. The agreement secures significant savings, putting the American taxpayer first, while strengthening our manufacturing base by keeping fire-retardant production made in America.
Through this contract, USDA secured total savings of $153 million over the next five years, including a negotiated direct price reduction and additional cost savings transitioning to full-service bases and powder retardant by 2030.
| | | Good News: America is Growing Again | | | |
Corn production is up, while soybean and cotton production is down from 2024, according to the Crop Production report issued today by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Corn production is up 13% from last year, forecast at 16.8 billion bushels; soybean growers are expected to decrease their production 2% from 2024, forecast at 4.30 billion bushels; cotton production is down 8% from 2024 at 13.2 million 480-pound bales.
Planted and harvested acreage estimates for corn, cotton, and soybeans were reviewed again this month based on all available data, including the latest certified acreage data from the Farm Service Agency. As a result, area planted to corn is estimated at 98.7 million acres, up from the previous estimate; area planted to soybeans is estimated at 81.1 million acres, up from the previous estimate; and area planted to cotton is estimated at 9.30 million acres, up from the previous estimate.
Find updated information on the National Agriculture Statistics Service Page.
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U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Alexander Vaden in North Carolina met with agricultural leaders and producers and announced additional U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) assistance to help producers recover from Hurricane Helene. Deputy Secretary Vaden signed a block grant agreement with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) that provides recovery assistance to eligible North Carolina farmers. In July, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced additional disaster assistance for farmers and producers for Virginia and Florida.
In this agreement, NCDA&CS will receive $221.2 million in funding to administer a program that will cover eligible infrastructure and timber losses in addition to eligible market losses and eligible future year revenue losses. This funding is part of the $30 billion disaster assistance relief effort authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025. USDA is working with 14 different states, including North Carolina, to develop and implement block grants to address the unique disaster recovery needs for each state.
| | | The Future Generation of Leaders in Food and Ag | | | |
FFA Grant and Scholarship Opportunities
Through a variety of grants and scholarships, the National Future Farmers or America Organization provides financial assistance to individual members, FFA chapters and advisors. These funds are intended to remove financial barriers to participation in FFA activities. Learn more about these funding opportunities here.
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AFA Leaders Conference Applications are Open!
Agricultural Future of America empowers young leaders making an impact in food and agriculture. The 2025 AFA Leaders Conference will be held November 6-9, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. The four-day event will allow attendees to work on professional skills, make connections with fellow students and hear from the folks guiding the agriculture industry today.
The conference's four tracks, matched to their year in college, help cultivate the six core competency areas of professional success: relationship development, collaboration, career management, cultural EQ, interpersonal IQ, and systems thinking. You’ll receive training in time management and goal setting while exploring career paths in the agriculture and food industry. Find more information and apply here.
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Presidential AI Challenge
The Presidential AI Challenge is now open for registration to students and educators across the country. This national challenge encourages K-12 youth, educators, mentors, and community teams to come together to solve real-world problems in their communities using AI-powered solutions, with an opportunity to showcase their solutions at a national level. Students and educators of all backgrounds and expertise are encouraged to participate and ignite a new spirit of innovation as we celebrate 250 years of American independence and look forward to the next 250 years. Learn more and register today.
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Faith and Fellowship Musical Celebration and Prayer Service
Wednesday, October 8, 11am- 1pm, USDA HQ
The USDA is launching a monthly prayer service to provide an open space for USDA employees to worship together and/or enter into quiet meditation with colleagues. The inaugural gathering features leadership remarks and performances highlighting gospel music, and engaging USDA employees in faithful fellowship and service. This event will take place in person and will be livestreamed. A recap will be available following the event. Please email faith@usda.gov if you have an interest in collaborating on an event or programming with the USDA Center for Faith. USDA employees can register to attend here.
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Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) for Suicide Prevention Virtual Workshop with the Farmer Veteran Coalition
The USDA Center for Faith and the Farmer Veteran Coalition hosted a free, virtual, QPR Suicide Prevention Training Session for over 75 faith and community leaders during National Suicide Prevention Month. The training provides information and best practices about how to respond and support someone who is having suicidal thoughts. For additional information and resources to address farmer mental health, please visit the USDA Center's resource page.
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FaithLands National Conference
The USDA Center for Faith attended the 2025 National FaithLands Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota. Advocates gathered to learn about successful models using religious community owned land to grow food and build community. Attendees partook in tours of local sites creating food access for their communities and progressing the FaithLands movement. Visit faithlands.org to learn more.
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USDA Center for Faith visits Western North Carolina During One year Anniversary of Hurricane Helene
The USDA Center for Faith joined the HUD Center for Faith in Western North Carolina to tour and evaluate the ongoing damage caused one year after Hurricane Helene devastated the region. Roundtable discussions were hosted to engage with local leaders, officials, and community members about ongoing recovery efforts and how USDA programs can assist .
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Valley Hope Church in Swannanoa, North Carolina
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Valley Hope Church in Swannanoa, NC, has emerged as a lifeline for its community, transforming devastation into opportunities for hope and restoration.
Valley Hope is a small church in Swannanoa, NC, dedicated to helping everyone in the local community regardless of religion or background. The local community was devastated by flooding from Hurricane Helene. People lost their homes, loved ones, and entire livelihoods.
The church mobilized volunteers immediately after the hurricane to help with cleaning and rebuilding efforts daily. They are working to meet housing needs as well as connecting people with donations of large items and resources, and partnering with small businesses in the area to help them recover. To read more about Valley Hope Church, please read visit their website.
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Religious Liberty Commission to Hold Hearing on Religious Liberty in Education
September 29, 2025, 9:00am-3:30pm eastern - Currently Live
The Religious Liberty Commission was established by President Trump under Executive Order 14291 and is tasked with producing a comprehensive report on the foundations of religious liberty in America, increasing awareness of and celebrating America’s peaceful religious pluralism, highlighting current threats to religious liberty, and developing strategies to preserve and enhance protections for future generations. The hearing will include:
A Tribute to Charlie Kirk as a Man of Faith
The hearing will open with a tribute panel honoring Charlie Kirk as a man of faith. The Commission will hear from Charlie’s friends and colleagues on his commitment to faith and advocacy for religious liberty as the first freedom.
An Exploration of Religious Liberty in Education: Public School Faculty Perspectives and Faith Leader Perspectives
Later panels will focus on the perspectives of teachers and coaches, as well as school leaders and families from faith-based institutions. The hearing will also include testimony from individuals with expertise on these topics. The hearing’s objective in these panels will be to understand the historic landscape of religious liberty in the educational setting, recognize present threats to religious liberty in education, and identify opportunities to secure religious liberty in this context for the future.
The hearing begins at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, September 29, 2025, and is expected to last until 3:30 p.m. A livestream will be available at www.justice.gov/live.
| | | Note from Alex Cordova, Deputy Director, USDA Center for Faith | | | |
Greetings Partners,
Thank you for reading the Center newsletter and for your continued partnership and support.
We would like to learn more about your work and the challenges that are facing faith-based organizations, and to ensure that our programs and resources are more easily available, accessible, and responsive in times of need.
We are developing new tools and mechanisms to ensure a greater connection to stakeholders in communities across the country. Until then, if you would like to notify us of a community challenge, or provide additional information about your activities, please email faith@usda.gov.
Thank you for your partnership,
Alex Cordova
Deputy Director
USDA Center for Faith
To get the latest news, please sign up for the USDA Faith Center newsletter
| | | USDA Programs and Resources | | | |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is delivering on its commitment to support child health and American agriculture by opening applications for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants. Through this grant opportunity, USDA will invest up to $18 million in farm to school projects that connect farmers to USDA’s child nutrition programs through local food procurement, agricultural education, school gardens, and more.
Since the Farm to School Grant program’s inception in 2013, USDA has awarded a total of $100 million to more than 1,200 Farm to School Grant projects across the country. This year’s grants represent the largest total amount USDA has offered in Farm to School Grants in a single year.
This grant opportunity is open to state and local agencies, Tribes, child nutrition program operators, small- to medium-sized agriculture producers, groups of agricultural producers, and nonprofits. Detailed information about eligibility and application requirements can be found in the request for applications.
Applications close on December 5, 2025.
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This priority area seeks applications that focus on critical and urgent solutions in rapid response to weather and disaster impacts on the Nation’s food and agricultural systems and that clearly describe short-term deliverables (within 3 months of award receipt), including a plan for their adoption/use. Application window: Within 45 days of weather event or disaster
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On-Farm Labor Housing Loans
USDA Rural Development provides low-interest loans to borrowers to develop or rehabilitate rental housing for very-low- to moderate-income farm laborers. Application window: Open until funds are depleted.
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Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve, or remove health and safety hazards to their homes. Application window: Open
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Environmental Quality Incentives Program
High Tunnel Initiative
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is the flagship conservation program of USDA ‘s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands. EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers and forest landowners to address natural resource concerns, such as improved water and air quality, increased soil health, drought mitigation and much more.
This particular EQIP initiative encourages producers to use High Tunnel Systems (aka “hoop houses”) to extend their growing season and protect plants from severe weather.
Learn more and find your local service center at the link below.
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Garden Caprese
Is your garden yielding an abundance of basil and tomatoes? Try a one pot caprese chicken dinner recipe or add a ciabatta bun to make a caprese chicken sandwich for lunch. Take the opportunity to get the kiddos having fun in the garden picking their own cherry tomatoes and basil to make some delicious caprese bruschetta or caprese cabob snacks- just add mozzarella and balsamic!
Try a new recipe with these versatile ingredients!
| | Connect With Partner Centers | | | | |
