Small Minority Farmers and Ranchers Conference 2022
The Small Minority Farmers and Ranchers Conference on April 30th, 2022 to May 1st, 2022 was a beautiful success! Thank you to all of the organizations and non-profits above who support these minority farmers growth in the agricultural industry. This conference was a blend of Black, Mexican and Asian Farmers including all types of communites including Veterans! The struggles the small farmers goes through accross the country are not unique, but this conference was about building pathways and relationships to grow farming operations and more local food! We would like to thank Florida A & M University, Pinnacle Prevention, Local First Arizona, Western SARE, Potlikker Capital, Pivot Produce, Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, The USDA Rural Development Department, USDA NRCS, and the Small Business Development Center at Cochise College powered by the Small Business Administration. Thank you to Cruz Farm, Finca Colibri, the Southwest Black Ranchers and to People 1st Global Food and Land Reclamation Foundation for holding this special conference! A big thank you to the Gasden Hotel and Cruz Farm for hosting us! Another big thank you to our in person presenters Mr. Donald Decker with the NRCS, Mrs. Cecilia V Rivas Shuermann with the Small Business Development Center at Cochise College, Mr. Erik Stanford with Pivot Produce/Community Food Bank and Joshua Sherman with Western SARE! Thank you to our vitual presenters Mrs. Adrienne Udabe with Pinnacle Prevention, Mr. Paul Cattelino with the NRCS, Mr. Ayman Mustafa with the University of Arizona Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, Miss Jessie Huff with the USDA Rural Development, Juan Escareno with Potlikker Capital, Somlynn Rorie with Local First Arizona, and to Mrs. Jennifer Taylor with Florida A & M University for supporting the capcity building of these minority farmers! Thank you to all of the small farmers who attended and to without whom there would be no local food, no local farms or future of minority farmers! We appreciate you farmers and support your growth, education and commitment to food! Thank you for taking time away from your farms and businesses to attend with your families! This truly was a special event!