Celebrating April Harrington

Our dear friend and colleague April Harrington passed away on February 25, 2026 leaving behind a legacy of love and sharing and relentless advocacy for farmers earning a living from farming. She did it - and she taught many farmers, including us, that you have to earn money to keep doing what you love. April was a farmer and social entrepreneur. She built a farm and three (3) commercial kitchens where she and fellow farmers and food entrepreneurs created delicious innovative products... that were profitable. Her love of the earth and all its beings shone through in her caring actions; she was always available if you needed a coach, or just a friend to listen. Her tough love for farmers was rooted in this caring as she told us that this is important work, and if we're not earning a living, we won't be doing this important work. Her encouragement knew no bounds.

Our hearts are broken even as we move through our grief. We lost a friend and comrade in our work to build a just food system. April was the expert behind our Beyond Fresh workbook and online course series. We could not and would not have created the course without her. She was one of the few experts on value-added processing - in the whole country - that centers the farmer, adding value for farmers. She taught workshops at several TOFGA conferences.

April's passion was contagious and those who were part of the Beyond Fresh farmer cohort had the honor to catch the value-added processing bug, as April implored them to sell everything you harvest. She would tell us to run our numbers, and if the numbers don't work, try another product. Through her incredible resilience and tenacity, she would insist that we keep trying - that this is important work - and that you can be profitable.

April moved through more challenges and losses than most of us could bear, and yet she continued to create connections and care deeply for those in her life. We are fortunate that she gave farmers and food system work her all.

More recently, April connected with Matt at Earth Elements Entrepreneurs' Kitchen and found love again. Together, they started the Earth Elements Farmstead project with the vision to grow and preserve produce, offer workshops, and on-farm community events. April's resourceful genius was evident in their sustainably designed project, digging 1 foot into the ground and laying underground perforated waterlines for their raised beds to account for drought, reduced weed pressure, and to make it easier for their bodies.

As a testament to April's remarkable character, in lieu of flowers, April's last wish was for loved ones to donate to the Sisu Shelter. Sisu is a low-barrier, identity-affirming space in Oklahoma City where unhoused transition-age youth find the shelter and support they need to pursue the life they want.

April's stated purpose was to be "... focused on aiding others to achieve their dreams and provide our community with healthy food options and building a strong local economy." We will continue this work, holding April Harrington in our hearts always. We are so grateful to have her as part of our lives. May she rest in peace.