FC Development Corp. and The Farmer’s Cow® Return from USDA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. with Clear Path Forward –Momentum Builds for Proposed National Pilot Program

Norwich, CT – December 9, 2025 – A delegation of FC Development Corp. (FCDC) executive team and board members, together with The Farmer’s Cow® cooperative Chairman Jim Smith, returned today from a highly productive meeting at USDA headquarters, 1400 Independence Avenue SW.

The visit—extended by invitation from the USDA Office of Rural Development following Special Assistant Dominick J. Lombardi’s recent on-site tour of cooperative member farms, The Farmer’s Cow Calfé restaurants, and FCDC headquarters in Norwich, Connecticut—included in-depth discussions with representatives from USDA’s Office of Rural Development, Rural Business-Cooperative Services, and a USDA Legislative Advisor.

The centerpiece of the meeting was a comprehensive presentation of The Farmer’s Cow® Family Farming Security Ecosystem – America’s first proven, farmer-owned model that integrates farm-fresh fast-casual restaurants (The Farmer’s Cow Calfé), premium retail distribution of local milk & eggs, and renewable clean energy production from anaerobic digesters. The delegation formally positioned the cooperative as the ideal for a national pilot program that can be rapidly scaled to protect and strengthen the 86% of U.S. farms that are small and family-operated.

“This was more than a meeting – it was a powerful opportunity to share our story,” said Jim Smith, Chairman of The Farmer’s Cow. “We walked into USDA headquarters with 20 years of hard-earned results and walked out with clear action items and genuine momentum. Family farmers built this country, and today, USDA members got to hear directly from one of us, not just about our challenges, but how we can keep family farms thriving for the next century.”

Edwin Molina, CEO of FC Development Corp. (FCDC), stated, “We presented a fully operational, de-risked blueprint for farms nationwide. The response from USDA leadership was unequivocal: this farmer-first model creates the hope, optimism, and real-life results that today’s farmer’s need. Our discussions laid the foundation for proposed pilot programs, grant alignments, and licensing pathways that can be strengthened and accelerated through the right public-private partnerships.”

During the meetings, FCDC presented The Farmer’s Cow® Family Farming Security Ecosystem in detail and formally positioned the cooperative as the ready-now platform for a national pilot program—structured to deliver a diversification of recurring revenue directly to small family farms while advancing food security, rural jobs, energy independence, and community education. This Washington visit marks the beginning of a new chapter and delivers on the promise that farm security is national security.

The meeting concluded with a defined set of concrete next-step action items assigned to both parties. FC Development Corp. and The Farmer’s Cow will provide ongoing updates as these initiatives progress.

About FC Development Corp.

FC Development Corp. (FCDC) serves as the premier management and development entity for the esteemed Farmer’s Cow brand of Connecticut. With deep expertise in managing family farm brands, FCDC is committed to growing and managing the cooperative’s brand. With a strong background in handling large agribusinesses, environmental regulation challenges, and financial opportunities, FCDC excels at identifying, and safeguarding the future of small family farming operations nationwide. With expertise across finance, technology, operations, and energy, FCDC is especially responsible for founding multi-million-dollar companies and raising millions in capital.

About The Farmer’s Cow

The Farmer’s Cow® is a cooperative of six family-owned and operated multigenerational Connecticut dairy farms that joined forces in 2003 to bottle and market fresh local milk under one trusted brand. By pooling their milk and delivering it to stores within 48 hours of milking, they offer some of the freshest dairy in New England. Longtime advocates for farmland protection, Chairman Jim Smith of Cushman Farms and other key founding members were instrumental in shaping and passing the landmark 2018 Farmland Preservation Act that strengthened Connecticut’s easement program. Today their six farms protect thousands of permanently preserved acres—the largest single block held by any cooperative in the state. This commitment, and over 20 years of proven success, earned them the prestigious Connecticut Legacy Recognition Award in 2023, affirming their contributions to manufacturing, retail, restaurants, brand development, and clean energy—the sole recipient for the state. The Farmer’s Cow shows that when family farms stand united, they can safeguard both their land and their legacy.

For More Information

Contact: FC Development Corp. at info@fcdevcorp.com