Farmers, more than anyone, are experts in resilience. From unexpected weather to shifting market patterns, farmers are constantly adapting and pivoting to do what’s best for their land and their livelihood. The brothers behind Muse 3 Farm are just one example of farmers who have faced big disruptions and, with the help of their communities, have overcome.
Chris Muse and his three brothers founded Muse 3 Farm in 2015 and have kept community and conservation at the heart of their operation ever since. The brothers, located in Greensburg, Louisiana, raise cattle, goats, sheep, turkeys, chickens, and rabbits on 100 acres of rotationally grazed pasture, keeping another 100 acres as restored longleaf and loblolly pine timberland.
Brothers and co-owners Mittie Muse, Chris Muse, and Allen Muse.
From the beginning, Muse 3 Farm has sought to serve as a connector between farmers, the community, and the resources needed for a thriving local food system. As the brothers took advantage of USDA programs to implement conservation practices on their farm, they encouraged other farmers of color in the area to do the same. As stewards of the land, many of the farmers they knew already practiced conservation and sound soil health management on their farms, but were distrustful of the USDA and the federal government due to the agency’s documented history of discrimination. The Muse brothers took it upon themselves to help rebuild that trust and worked to connect them with USDA resources.
“We want everybody to be able to succeed. We want all of the farmers to be able to participate in these programs,” says Chris Muse. “So that became part of our goal, to be the bridge between these farmers and representatives in the USDA.”
Engaging local youth became another key component of Muse 3’s work. The brothers host farm tours for schoolchildren and partner with school gardens and 4-H programs to build interest in farming and help kids connect with where their food comes from. For years, it was a goal for Muse to get his fresh, locally raised products into school lunchrooms. The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement program (LFS), which launched in 2021 as part of federal COVID-19 relief programs, made that goal a reality.
We want everybody to be able to succeed. We want all of the farmers to be able to participate in these programs.
Chris Muse of Muse 3 Farm.
The LFS program awarded funds to states to purchase food from local farmers, ranchers, and small businesses to distribute at schools and childcare centers. The program helped strengthen local supply chains, leveled the playing field for small and local producers, and provided fresh, healthy meals for students. As Muse puts it, “It was a win-win for everybody.”
Soon, Muse 3 Farm was selling to three local school districts. “They were definitely my largest client,” says Muse. “There’s no other client where I’ve been able to sell, in just one order, 10,000 pounds of ground beef and 14,000 pounds of stew beef. So that became a big part of my company’s bottom line.” Having a built-in buyer provided much-needed stability and a basis for the Muse brothers to grow their business, and they even started talking with other small farmers to try and pool together to meet demand from the larger school districts.
Unfortunately, all of that changed in March 2025, when the USDA abruptly slashed funding for LFS and other local food purchasing programs. The canceled funds amounted to about $1 billion nationwide, pulling the rug out from under school districts, food banks, and the farmers that were supplying them.
“We lost a big part of our revenue stream, and our kids aren’t eating that local fresh product anymore,” says Muse. The cancellations not only upended the farm’s growth plans, but also undermined the trust between other local farmers and the federal government that the Muse brothers had worked so hard to rebuild.
But out of that loss, Muse 3 Farm has still been able to find opportunities to keep feeding their community. Thanks to publicity about the program and positive testimonials from teachers, students, and parents, the Muse brothers have been able to dramatically increase their direct sales online and in farmers markets.
Still, it hasn’t been enough to fully cover their losses, so Chris Muse is encouraging everyone he knows to make their voices heard to bring back the LFS program. “I think parents want to ensure their kids are eating local fresh products,” he says. “That’s my hope, that when everybody sits down and thinks about it — regardless of your beliefs, I think you’re going to say this was a great program.” He says it’s important to educate folks on how important programs like LFS are in providing stability for small farmers to grow and thrive. Seeing the community rally around his farm makes him hopeful that there will be enough support to reinstate lifelines for small farms like his.
Kara Hoving is a writer and policy advocate specializing in sustainable food systems and climate change communication. She helps nonprofits tell solutions-based stories that build momentum for positive change.
