About Us
Our Mission
World Hunger Relief aims to alleviate hunger through sustainable agriculture, education, and research.
Our Vision
We envision a robust, resilient, and regenerative food system that prioritizes local agricultural production, equitable access to healthy food, and ecological sustainability.
Our Commitment
Since 1976, World Hunger Relief has been committed to alleviating hunger around the world. Systemic and new challenges arise every day, threatening the long-term viability of our food systems and the health of our world’s ecosystems and communities. Our mission is to address those issues head-on to increase food security, diet quality, and equity. Together these promote nutrition security in our communities, providing consistent access to nutritious foods that promote optimal health and well-being throughout all life stages.
Practically, we provide opportunities for our community to learn about, engage in, and advocate for a just and equitable food system through our educational programs and enterprises. While we continue to lean into our foundational programs like our on-farm internships, we do not shy away from piloting innovative strategies like Food Is Medicine through our partnerships.
Digging Deeper
World Hunger Relief was chartered in 1976 by Bob and Jan Salley, real estate developers with a heart for God’s people and the land. In 1979, the Salleys hired Carl Ryther as WHR’s director, and the farm was truly born. Ryther had recently returned to Texas after 17 years of agricultural missionary work in Bangladesh, where he developed simple food production systems to address the food needs of the poor and maximize food production in situations of limited land resources. At WHR, Ryther was charged with developing a program to train individuals to address hunger needs around the world; the resulting training manual, Backyard Food Production Systems, was foundational and still impacts the work we do today.
Growing Together: Our Partnership with Truett Seminary
Theology, Ecology, and Food Justice Program (TEFJ)
World Hunger Relief is proud to partner with Truett Seminary to cultivate a deeper connection between faith, agriculture, and community service. This collaboration provides Truett students with hands-on experiences in sustainable farming, food justice, and hunger alleviation, aligning with their theological studies and commitment to service. Through workshops and immersive learning opportunities on the farm, students engage with issues of stewardship, creation care, and food security while actively participating in our mission. Together, we are equipping future faith leaders with the knowledge and practical skills to address hunger and sustainability in their communities.
Meet Our Team
Beth Ferguson 
Executive Director
Executive Director
Beth leads the organization’s daily work, programs, and partnerships, with a deep commitment to seeing the farm grow, thrive, and expand its impact for years to come.
Beth brings prior experience working with nonprofit organizations and now oversees operations, fundraising, educational programs—including Farm Camp—and community relationships that support equitable access to healthy food. She is especially invested in strengthening the farm’s educational reach, infrastructure, and partnerships so that more people can learn from the land and be part of a regenerative, community-centered food system.
Beth was born and raised in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and now lives on the farm with her family. She and her husband have been married for 17 years and homeschool their four children. Life on the farm continues to shape Beth’s leadership, grounding her work in stewardship, learning, and care for both people and place.
Beth FergusonExecutive Director
Miquela Lopez Education & Community Engagement Specialist VISTA
Miquela Lopez is the Education and Community Engagement Specialist at the World Hunger Relief Farm. She serves as an AmeriCorps VISTA to build the farm’s capacity through education programs, volunteer coordination, and networking with the greater Waco community. Miquela‘s work is influenced by her studies at Truett Seminary, where she is currently an MA Candidate for the Theology, Ecology, and Food Justice program. Her background in the arts, education, and hospitality contribute to her holistic approach to sustainability and creation care ethics.
Miquela LopezEducation & Community Engagement Specialist VISTA
Grant Hall Market Garden Manager
Grant grew up in the Dallas metroplex and attended Baylor University. After graduating with his Bachelor’s degree in Film and Digital Media and a Master’s degree in Communication, he and his wife moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. While in LA, he fell in love with gardening and agriculture, eventually moving back to Texas to start a market garden in Northwest Houston.
As Market Garden Manager, Grant enjoys building healthy soil through regenerative practices and helping others become better gardeners and farmers.
When Grant isn’t farming he is spending time with his family, baking sourdough, or tending to his own backyard garden.
Grant HallMarket Garden Manager
Jacqueline Rand Education Assistant
Jacqueline is a senior at Baylor University studying Communication Sciences and Disorders and plans to pursue a career as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Raised on a small beef cattle operation in Lindale, Texas, she developed a deep appreciation for agriculture through her involvement in 4-H and FFA, culminating in her service as a 2023–2024 Texas FFA State Officer.
Jacqueline coordinates educational programs, field trips, volunteer experiences, and community partnerships that connect people of all ages to sustainable agriculture. She also serves as Farm Camp Director, creating engaging, hands-on learning experiences that inspire curiosity about food, farming, and caring for creation.
She maintains a passion for helping students and visitors discover where their food comes from while fostering a deeper appreciation for sustainability and stewardship. Outside of the farm, she enjoys reading, trying new recipes and creative projects, and traveling to spend time with her friends and family.
Jacqueline RandEducation Assistant
Compton Grigsby Market Garden Assistant
Compton GrigsbyMarket Garden Assistant
We’re Hiring Baylor Students!
Are you a Baylor student who qualifies for the Federal Work-Study Program? Join the World Hunger Relief team and gain hands-on experience while making a meaningful impact in your community.
Positions include farm operations, education support, maintenance, and special projects.
Reach out for more info at info@worldhungerrelief.org
Board of Directors
Executive Committee:
Kayelee Arnesman— Chair
Paige Sullivan — Vice Chair
Dave Whitby — Treasurer
Lauren Blake — Secretary
Members-at-Large:
Lindsey Breunig
Trey Honeycutt
Jade Rumminger
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