Land Access Stories: Chungyun Kim, Thank You Farm – Langley, BC

Prior to farming full-time, Chungyun Kim was a small business owner. He previously studied forestry in South Korea, and after moving to Canada kept chickens, ducks, and goats as a hobby. He reached out to the B.C. Land Matching Program in 2024, after deciding to turn his interest in agriculture into a full-time career. Chungyun was matched to a landholder who was also interested in small livestock, and now Chungyun runs Thank You Farm on three-and-a-half acres, producing free-range eggs for his local community.

Here’s what Chungyun had to say about accessing land through the B.C. Land Matching Program:

“The first thing you need to get started in farming is access to land. I tried to find land through various channels, but the cost was too high. Then I learned about the B.C. Land Matching Program. First, I was advised to work on a plan for my farm. Young Agrarians is like a training center for new entrant farmers. I made use of all the resources my Land Matcher referred me to. I took an online course, which helped me learn the basics of starting a farm. The Land Matcher also connected me to various agricultural organizations that exist and can help me further.

After I made my plan, I was connected to a landholder who was interested in what I was looking to do. The Land Matcher helped us develop trust in each other–without trust, the match would not have worked. After some discussion and negotiation facilitated by the Land Matcher, we were able to come to an agreement. 

Without this program, I would not have been able to get started in agriculture–I have yet to find another program that would have helped me get started in farming. I am currently trying to wind down my previous small business so that I can focus entirely on agriculture. This program has helped me to realize my dream of farming and I would recommend it to anyone.”

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GOT LAND? WANT LAND?

Through the B.C. Land Matching Program, Young Agrarians offers support to farmers looking for land for their farm business, and landholders looking for farmers to farm their land. We’ve made more than 415 matches on over 13,120 acres to date!

Are you on the Young Agrarians UMAP? List your land or future farm dream today! You just might find a farmer who can turn your vacant field into a productive farm, or a landholder who has the ideal piece of land for you.

To explore more land access resources, visit youngagrarians.org/tools/land.

The B.C. Land Matching Program is funded in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative, with additional support from the Bullitt Foundation and the Real Estate Foundation of BC.