On Saturday, February 7, Rural Roots Progressive Coalition (RRPC), in partnership with Winston County Self-Help Cooperative (WCSHC), Mississippi Minority Farmers Alliance, Inc., the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Alcorn State University, hosted its first Saving Rural America Conference (SRAC). The theme, “Lineage, Legacy and Land: Building for the Future,” which is rooted on the whole theme “Bridging Generations: Where Land Meets Legacy” on available programs for farmers that would allow them to establish a future for themselves and the generations to come. The six featured guest speakers’ expertise spoke to the number of ways that farmers could build for the future.
The conference began with Gregory Hudson of Vanguard Consortium, who spoke about the new Agricultural Resilience Support Network Exchange. Velma Oliver from the Alcorn State University Small Farm and Ag Business Center presented their business program, which assists farmers with marketing plans and small loans. Leonard Brown of Brown’s Shiitake and Herb Farm showed a live demonstration from his farm on how to begin growing mushrooms.
While the early morning presenters targeted the land, the late-morning and early-afternoon presenters focused on legacy and lineage. Sabrina Williams, author of Learning to Trust, motivated the audience with her presentation on taking care of the farm business when it comes to creating, managing, and passing on generational wealth. She reminded everyone that straightening out convoluted land ownership issues within a family is the key to keeping land in the family. Kameka Cole with the USDA told the audience how the USDA is supporting young farmers through its 1890 project. This program provides scholarships to U.S. citizens who are seeking a bachelor’s degree at one of the nineteen 1890 Land-Grant Universities in the fields of food, agriculture, natural resource sciences, or other related disciplines.
Our last presenter of the day, Fred Holland of Holland Farms, delighted everyone with a slideshow of his children on the family farm. Mr. Holland discussed how his family is securing the land of their 127-year-old farm and how he has introduced his children to the operations of maintaining the farm. Mr. Holland and his family are “Lineage, Legacy and Land” put into action.
