From Law to Land: John Klar's Journey
John Klar, a Vermont-based farmer and former tax attorney, has become a prominent voice in the fight for food system reform. After leaving a successful legal career in the late 1990s due to chronic illness, Klar returned to his family's generational roots in the Green Mountains of Vermont. There, he purchased a farm in Brookfield and began raising grass-fed organic beef and lamb, embracing a lifestyle far removed from his previous life in law.
His transition wasn't without challenges. With no prior experience in farming, Klar had to learn the ropes of animal husbandry and sustainable agriculture from scratch. Yet, this shift marked the beginning of a deeper mission, as he became increasingly aware of the health threats posed by pesticides and environmental toxins in the food supply, issues he has since written about extensively.
Advocacy for Small Farms and Regenerative Agriculture
Klar's advocacy took a significant turn following a dispute with a meat inspector over a Craigslist posting, an incident that spurred him to leverage his legal expertise to defend small farmers. He has since positioned himself as a staunch supporter of regenerative agriculture, a practice aimed at restoring soil health and producing nutrient-rich food. His work emphasizes the need to reduce toxic chemicals in farming, aligning with broader concerns about public health and environmental sustainability.
As an author and national correspondent for various publications, Klar has penned multiple books, including 'The War on Farmers: How Corporations, Activists, and Climate Alarmists Are Fueling a Global Food Crisis.' He argues that multinational corporations and misguided policies threaten the viability of small-scale farming, a perspective that has resonated with many in rural communities across the United States.
Leading the Make America Healthy Again Movement
Today, Klar is heavily involved in the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, which seeks to overhaul the U.S. food system by prioritizing healthier agricultural practices. This initiative has gained traction across party lines, with advocates pushing for stricter regulations on pesticides like glyphosate. In Minnesota, for instance, MAHA supporters have clashed with farm groups over chemical use, highlighting the tension between industrial agriculture and health-focused reform.
Klar's contributions to MAHA include writing for platforms like The MAHA Report, where he discusses the movement's growth and challenges. Under the leadership of figures like Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the push for food sovereignty and reduced chemical dependency in farming continues to gain momentum, with Klar at the forefront of this critical dialogue.