24 Hour Run

About the Event

Some of our most cherished moments involve a shared meal—a memory filled with cheerful sounds, distinctive flavors, and familiar dishes. We take these memories with us regardless of the distance that separates us. Farmworkers harvest 85% of the fruits and vegetables in the United States, and the sustenance they provide is unseen and unrewarded.

We brought forward an event focused on the tremendous contribution farmworkers provide. This 24 Hour Run was a test of endurance in an effort to humanize farmworkers beyond their economic value. A run completed in solidarity with the men, women, and children who sacrifice their bodies and health.

Blog

Oct 26, 2021

A Summary of First Hands: A 24 Hour Run for Farmworker Justice

Over the weekend of October 9th and 10th, I ran for 24 hours on Benton County’s Badger Mountain in Washington State. The purpose of the run was to add to the conversation around farmworker justice. Running for twenty-four hours is easier than working 10 hours of farm work. Farmworkers have few alternatives to participate in […]

Oct 26, 2021

Children Working in Agriculture Do Not Receive The Same Protection As Other Children

Child labor is not equal. The image of children taking a part-time job to teach responsibility and work ethic has its place in society. Children working in these positions are protected by federal law from exploitation, danger and remain on track for high school graduation, except for children working as farmworkers. Federal law exposes children […]

Aug 26, 2021

Impact of Pesticides on Child Farmworkers

Children are not miniature adults. The dangers in agriculture work impact child farmworks more severely than adults. Agriculture is one of the most dangerous professions in America. Consequently, kids who work in agriculture are the most vulnerable in America. The pesticides used to care for plants cause illness, long-term effects, and death in children living […]

Aug 17, 2021

Kids In School, Not In Farmwork

Kids need protection. They need protection at home, school, and when they are old enough at work. Not all kids receive the same level of protection. Kids working in farm work do not have the same child labor protection as the sixteen-year-old selling you popcorn at the movie theatre. Kids working in farm work can […]

Aug 12, 2021

An Introduction to First Hands A 24 Hour Run for Farmworker Justice

In the 86 years since the exclusions passed in 1935, no one had succeeded. The farm industrial complex blocked attempts from unions, withheld strikes, won public opinion campaigns and courts. Every stone thrown at a farmer, a boulder is ready to be thrown back. Why attempt another awareness campaign, if only to lose another round? […]

Jose Armando is honored to run for and support farmworker justice. He is a devoted athlete, runner, and has completed numerous ultramarathons and multi-day projects.

Jose graduated from Seattle University with a Master of Public Administration. There, he focused his research on social justice issues where he learned of the American legacy of Agricultural Exceptionalism. The origins of the exception policy are based on Southern racism against Black farmworkers, and most of the exceptions still remain today.

Farmworkers endure extreme conditions—exposed to cold mornings, hot days, pesticides, and hostile, if not violent, workplaces. Their work is among the most dangerous in America, with high rates of child injury and death. Jose is committed to bringing labor equality to farmworkers and believes they should be celebrated for the public good they contribute.