East Gate Extension

-On-farm trials of cabbage produced under screening for insect control-

"The advances of science are accelerating at an amazing rate, allowing us to have a better understanding of creation through the tools of science."

-The Fortner Family-

Nathan Fortner, Founder and Executive Director of East GateExtension, is on a mission to connect farmers and researchers through the hands and feet of the church by forming collaborative solutions in response to food shortage crises around the world.  In addition to the management positions he held in agronomy in the biotech industry for 10 years and currently pursuing a Doctorate in Plant Health, he is the husband to his wife, Rachel, of 17 years and they share in the joy of raising 5 beautiful children! 

Nathan's endeavors of starting this non-profit organization began when he noticed a break in the agricultural research rope that could be tied together as a lifeline for those that need it the most.  

"It started as random conversations with two separate missionaries visiting our church; one from Bangladesh and one from Chile. Both learned that I work in agriculture and immediately began asking for ideas or solutions to agricultural issues in their communities. After the second, nearly identical conversation, I knew there was a larger underlying issue: there are people wanting to get involved in ag, they don't know how or where to get involved, and they don't know where to find appropriate expertise."

-Research trials at the World Vegetable Center for southern and eastern Africa region-

Effective transfer of research findings to growers' farms is crucial to substantial increases in crop production. By definition, agricultural extension is the application of scientific research and new knowledge to agricultural practices through farmer education. Hence, the name East Gate Extension. 

Nathan explains how he did his own research to assess whether there was a true need for a bridging of the gap,

"Through surveys we've conducted of missions organizations, we know there are many missionaries and ministries who see the need and have a desire to get involved in agriculture but don't know where to find expertise or how to get started. We also know there is an incredible amount of research being conducted in developing countries at top-notch universities and research institutes. The science and expertise are there and available! But that research and knowledge being generated are often bottle-necked at many research centers without funding or effective systems to get information to growers. 

-Nathan and fellow research scientists from the
Tanzanian Agricultural Research Institute-

There is a common theme in our conversations with scientists and researchers: they could help a lot of people if they only had access to them. Their solutions often "sit on the shelf", and they are anxious to partner with others on the front lines within farming communities (e.g. churches, missionaries,ministries, etc.) to demonstrate and share new technologies.

Many agricultural researchers also admit there is a human, or relational, element to extension efforts, for which they’re not always adequately equipped. They excel at working with plants; working with people?.....not so much.  So the gap EGX is filling is kind of double-sided. We're connecting churches/ministries who need agricultural expertise, with agricultural experts who need churches/ministries." 

As His children, we are all called to be as one in Christ.  Unity and having an active role in the community bridges divides and mends those broken ropes into circles of knots that are strong because of relationships.  Knots are actually stronger than other places in a rope that have not been broken.  In the upside down world of Christ's love, mending brokenness where there was once disconnect creates indestructible bonds that could not otherwise have been devised.  This kind of bond is visible in East Gate's mission statement.

East Gate Extension (EGX) brings the CHURCH into the gap between the struggles of smallholder farmers and the solutions of science. We assess local agricultural production constraints, identify the best science and expertise for the needs of each unique agricultural production system, then equip the Church to transfer this knowledge through demonstration farms, seminars, and literature. By equipping the Church with the best agricultural science, we can extend the answers hidden in creation, and the love given by its Creator.

-Research technicians visiting on-farm trials of cabbage production-

These connections and bridges that bring unity cannot take place without humility and some vulnerability.  In talking about some projects that East Gate is currently working on in Nigeria and Tanzania, Nathan acknowledges that,

"… we need to know if the steps we’re taking, the connections we’re making, are going to fit together for a complete puzzle… we’re making sure we are willing to be wrong. We have to be able to identify and admit mistakes. If we’re so convinced of a particular strategy or technical resource that we can’t allow ourselves to see an error, we are doing a disservice to the people we hope to help." 

The conception of East Gate Extension was actually birthed from a place of brokenness and vulnerability in Nathan's own life. 

"I started down this path as a result of a pretty nasty demotion at the company I’d worked with for 10 years. It left me angry, confused, and depressed; but it also left me relieved and REALLY eager to move on. The whole experience of the demotion, contrasted to the vision for EGX gaining momentum, has me in a strange place where I don’t feel I can totally trust God, yet there’s nothing else worth trusting either, so I’m forced to grit my teeth and trust Him anyway."

It is when we share our stories that shape us, stretch us, and break us, that we build connection with others, because there is familiarity in facing difficult circumstances and overcoming those obstacles that brings us together.  We are all made in His image and we have a lot more in common than we ever imagined.  When we come together in unity, we tie another knot.  We have the ability to make a difference in our families, our communities, our cities, our countries, and our entire world, when we come together to celebrate (tie) our diversity rather than divide (sever) ourselves.

Please join us as we celebrate the diverse beauty from around the world at the 

Fashion of the Nations Show 

benefiting East Gate Extension.

 It will be a visual delight with messages of hope and encouragement you won't want to miss!  

Proceeds from ticket sales and a silent auction of night sky photography by Landon Hough will go directly to EGX.

Tickets at the door:  Adults ($10), Children ages 4-12 yrs. ($5),  Free for children ages 3 & under.