About Us
OUR MISSION
To provide access to fresh produce so people of all economic backgrounds can have a healthy lifestyle.
OUR VISION
- To remove barriers that restrict food security in our community.
- To reduce our environmental footprint by planting, growing, harvesting, processing, and distributing food in sustainable ways.
- To impact people's lives through our thoughts, words, and actions.
OUR VALUES
- Caring for individuals with compassion, inclusion, dignity, and respect.
- Give fully without hesitation or reservation.
- Being good stewards of the resources we have.
- Exhibiting integrity through transparency.
Meet Our Founders
Kathy Barker
Founder and worker bee No. 1
Raised on a farm in rural Illinois, I learned early on the value of homegrown food—not just for nourishment but also for connection. In our tight-knit community, we shared what we grew with neighbors, friends, and family. You could say the seeds of growing and giving were planted early in my life. HA!
After attending the College of DuPage in the late ’80s and spending years living in Chicago and its suburbs, I eventually found my way back to my roots in Bureau County. I’m proudly a wife, mom to six amazing humans and two sons-in-law, dog mom to two lovable lab mutts, and a lifelong lover of animals and nature. I strive every day to live a Christlike life, lead with kindness, and be the best version of myself.
Throughout my life, the experiences that left the most profound impact were the times I spent volunteering in homeless shelters and food pantries. Those moments, combined with my passion for people, service, gardening, and the outdoors, inspired me to found Barker Farm Outreach Inc. Our mission is simple: to provide fresh, local produce to everyone—regardless of income—because access to healthy food should be a right, not a privilege.
Trey Barker
Co-founder and worker bee No. 2
Born and raised in West Texas—right in the heart of oil country—I grew up during a string of oil booms, where food was always plentiful and often excessive. For much of my life, I took that abundance for granted.
After studying at Texas Tech, I spent several years working as a journalist before eventually joining the Bureau County Sheriff's Office. It was there, in the day-to-day of public service, that I began to see the very real challenges people face. Personal safety and nutritional security stood out as two of our community's most critical—and often most fragile—needs.
That perspective changed the way I view food. I now see it not just as sustenance, but as something deeply tied to dignity, well-being, and justice. Through Barker Farm Outreach, I'm proud to be part of an effort that brings fresh, healthy food to those who need it most, because no one should have to choose between eating well and making ends meet.