Hardy’s reporting for Stateline and regional outlets illuminates how policy shifts impact grassroots food systems. His work sits at the crossroads of agricultural economics and community development, with particular emphasis on:
We’ve followed Kevin Hardy’s work as it traces the connective tissue between agricultural policy, grassroots entrepreneurship, and environmental stewardship. His reporting combines granular economic analysis with human-centered narratives about America’s heartland.
Hardy’s career began at regional midwestern outlets like the Duncan Banner, where he documented farm-to-school programs before expanding to national platforms like Stateline. This trajectory reflects his commitment to elevating local stories into broader policy conversations.
This 2024 investigation revealed how USDA grants helped Iowa farmers like Anna Pesek build relationships with local processors and schools. Hardy tracked the multiplier effect of $2.3M in funding across 14 counties, demonstrating how strategic public investment can revitalize regional food ecosystems. His embedded reporting with cooperative mills showed a 37% increase in hyperlocal meat processing capacity.
Hardy’s 2023 series profiled Detroit’s vertical farming startups reducing produce transportation costs by 62%. Through interviews with 43 urban growers, he mapped how zoning reforms and corporate partnerships are transforming vacant lots into food hubs serving 100,000 residents annually.
Analyzing workforce data from 12 states, this 2025 piece identified emerging trends in rural job creation. Hardy contrasted traditional agricultural subsidies with new investments in broadband infrastructure and renewable energy training programs, featuring a Nebraska community college retraining 400 former farmworkers as solar technicians.
Hardy prioritizes ground-level impacts rather than legislative debates. Successful pitches highlight innovative local applications of federal/state programs, like his coverage of Minnesota’s farm-to-hospital procurement initiative. Provide access to beneficiaries and administrators implementing policies.
His work consistently ties personal narratives to measurable outcomes. The Duncan Banner piece included a county-by-county breakdown of grant-funded job creation. Supply multipliers, wage growth data, and third-party validation (e.g., university studies) strengthen pitches.
Stories exploring partnerships between agriculture and adjacent sectors (healthcare, education, renewable energy) align with Hardy’s focus on systemic solutions. The Detroit urban farming series exemplified this through restaurant/farm co-branding initiatives.
Midwest Press Association Agricultural Reporting Award (2024): Recognized for investigative series on meat processing bottlenecks, this honor underscores Hardy’s ability to translate complex supply chain issues into actionable insights for policymakers and producers.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Agriculture, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
