This article was originally published by Black Sustainability Inc. on 02/04/2026. It has been republished here with permission. The original article can be viewed here.
This year’s Saving Rural America event was a phenomenal and information packed session! With 112 registrants representing over 21 states and the US Virgin Islands, we kicked the event off with a major thank you to our sponsor, the Winston County Self Help Cooperative (WCSHC), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). In honor of Black History Month, Black Sustainability, Inc. shared our relationship with the Winston County Self Help Cooperative and then played the WCSHC story with attendees. The entire WCSHC team (and founders) are truly unsung heroes and sheroes whose work has allowed us to be in the position we are today.
Our agenda for the event continued with Black Sustainability, Inc.‘s Executive Director, Raina Turner-Greenlea, on how to properly Build a Legacy for the Next Generation through land activation, the importance of sustainable land management practices, a brief history on land loss and the Great Migration, along with practical, non-traditional options. Raina Turner-Greenlea and BSI’s Programs Specialist, Ariel Doty covered USDA Programs and popular NRCS Practices and shared the upcoming Spring webinars they are hosting highlighting the origin of Indigenous Practices within NRCS Conservation Practices [REGISTER HERE programs@blacksustainability.org]. We wrapped up the presentation by sharing BSI’s seed banking initiative and upcoming AfroEcology workshops.
As we looked back to our roots find a way forward, with clarity on the importance of applying traditional ecological knowledge, Brother Dan Scott with SNAP CORPS provided a comprehensive 20 min presentation & 10 min Q&A on How to Leverage Apprenticeships to revive Agricultural Trades. His approach and successes with testimonials from students who successfully completed his apprenticeship program through SNAP CORPS was a highlight of the call. Attendees requested information on how to stand up an apprenticeship program with him. The goal is to train our next generation of growers and farmers and ensure they have a wholistic view of the field of agriculture beyond row cropping.
Next to present was The Afro Forester, Freddie Davis III with the Federation of Southern Coops. He led a dynamic segment packed with information on forestry & tree farming as a way to create passive income and improve our climate and air quality on earth. Freddie’s reputation preceeded him with quite a few attendees celebrating the practical impact he made on their farms and along their journey to secure and activate land, leverage NRCS practices and introducing them to a cooperative of farmers.
Knowledge Murphy with Black Man Green Plan sealed up our event with a thorough explanation of AgriVoltaics and how farmers and landowners can utilize the power of the sun for plants, livestock, free energy and as an income stream. On February 28, 2026 from 11:00am – 3:00pm he has partnered with BSI to host an AgriVoltaics Conference on Agrivoltaics Benefits for Black Farmers and Landowners in Atlanta, GA.
Overall this was a powerful event that really drove home pathways to reinvest in rural America and highlight a few pathways to resilience for landowners. We highlighted upcoming events like:
Feb. 21 Arbor Day Festival
Feb. 28 Agrivoltaics Conference,
Along with past SRAC events focusing on legal land issues like heirs property rights, land trusts and support for landowners.
