Award-winning Yorkville youth dreams of transforming the future of farming

When Faustina Krysciak planted her first garden, nothing would grow in the clay soil, not even weeds. Not to be deterred, she joined the youth organization 4-H to learn about soil and gardening. Krysciak collected leaves, cardboard, coffee grounds, eggshells, Epsom salt, and kitchen scraps to make compost. Over time, she created soil so rich, she grew vegetables that won awards at the county fair.

Krysciak, 18, of Yorkville, is once again winning awards, this time the “Sustaining the Future Award” by the Illinois Farm Bureau’s 4-H program. Krysciak was selected for her leadership in agriculture and her innovation in fields as diverse as poultry competitions, beekeeping, and regenerative gardening that eliminates chemicals from our food and water by using natural methods to nourish the soil.

Whether a backyard farmer or a large-scale producer, Krysciak said practicing environmentally-friendly permaculture techniques benefits both farmers and the land. One of her strategies involves a no-till method that relies instead on fertilizing soil through composting.

“Rabbit manure is actually very high in nitrogen and phosphorous, so it replaces the chemical fertilizer,” Krysciak said. “For my backyard, I have two rabbits, and that’s enough for me. I also let my chickens eat pesky insects and I do ‘companion planting,’ where certain plants actually repel pests and attract helpful insects.”

She said key to growing healthier foods is reducing the large amounts of nitrogen and phosphates large-scale farms use to repel pests and fertilize.

“The chemicals wash into our water systems making the water unsafe to drink and they deplete soil nutrients, Krysciak said. “Chemicals and the labor involved are also costly for farmers. Natural methods like companion planting and attracting beneficial bugs are inexpensive and can enrich the soil and protect our water.”

Krysciak said it does not escape her that the average age of a farmer in the U.S. is 58-years old. She said the public often has stereotypes of the “dumb farmer,” but once you dive into the science, you realize they are some of the smartest people out there. She wants to help advance the science by studying business agriculture in college.

“I’d like to run a Community Supported Agriculture, where the community supports the farm by buying shares, and in return, the farm provides members with healthy food directly from the farms to their tables,” Krysciak said. “This is healthier for people and great for the environment because it uses less fuel.”

In the meantime, Krysciak has done everything she can to volunteer and raise the voices of the youth interested in agriculture.

She serves as junior leader of a poultry special interest club for 4-H, is a youth ambassador for the Fox Valley Beekeeper Association, and works in a horticulture building at the park district.

Lori Jackson, of the Illinois Farm Bureau’s Youth and Collegiate program, said the leadership the award recipients display paves the way for the next generation of farmers to flourish.

“This award gives them well-deserved recognition and an opportunity to grow those leadership skills even further as they attend the Premier 20 Leadership Conference in the spring,” Jackson said. “The Youth Education in Agriculture Committee sponsoring the award and conference believes that the future of agriculture is bright with these students leading the way.”

Krysciak said she is excited to showcase her accomplishments at the conference. She said it’s an incredible opportunity to learn and network with other passionate leaders from across the state.

“By young people volunteering on community farms, we learn valuable education from them and benefit the farmers by providing help,” Krysciak said. “People often think farming is too hard. I’m the first one in my family to farm. You don’t need a large amount of money and you don’t need a large amount of land to sustain the future. People just need to work together as a community and start in their own backyards.”

Krysciak said the challenge is part of the fun. She said the lessons learned while keeping chickens, rabbits, and bees have helped her think more holistically about the importance of healthy farming practices benefiting the community.

Krysciak said her early mentors with 4-H, like Kim Eisnaugle and Beth Lori, helped develop her passion and realize that changing the world begins in one’s own backyard. Lori even coached Krysciak in state and national poultry science competitions, reminding her to always take what she learns to continue inspiring other youths.

“I’ll never forget showing up at the county fair with my chickens in a cardboard box, it wasn’t fancy like the big-time farmers, but I studied poultry, took great care of my birds, and won championship ribbons,” Krysciak said. “I then won a state championship before competing at the national level for judging poultry meat and eggs by USDA standards.”

From combatting global warming to reducing water pollution, she said as long as people keep learning from experts like 4-H, Illinois extension, and the Master Gardner program, the future of farming will be positive.

“We will have more healthy, organic and natural foods in the future,” Krysciak said. “We all must work together. It begins by turning your backyards into gardens. Change begins with the soil.”