We celebrated our 55th Annual Meeting with a 3-day celebration starting in Birmingham and ending in Epes, Alabama at our historic Rural Training & Research Center.

On Friday, August 19th, over 275 people participated in the programs and activities in person. We held an Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)/Debt Relief discussion giving our members the opportunity to hear from and speak with:

• Dr. Dewayne Goldmon, Sr. Advisor for Racial Equality to the Secretary of Agriculture (pictured)
• Adam Zipkin, Counsel to U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)
• Brandon Honeycutt, Sr. Agriculture Policy Advisor for U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA)

Member-farmers voiced frustrations regarding the repeal of section 1005 and the continued challenges they face accessing credit.

Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund members and partners listening as the USDA shares information on the Inflation Reduction Act.

USDA Leadership Resource Panel - Hybrid 

Next, we held our traditional USDA Leadership & Resource Panel Discussion. USDA leadership got the opportunity to meet and hear directly from our members as the USDA strives to make efforts to better serve the needs of Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives.

USDA Leadership shared best practices and resources with attendees as we highlighted our expanding partnership focusing on a path forward to address the unique and historic challenges of underserved communities.

Lisa Ramirez                                        Office of Partnership & Public Engagement (OPPE)

Jacqueline Davis-Slay         Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

Sherron Jernigan                                  Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 

Hubert Hamer                                               National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)

Ken Arney                                                                     US Forest Service Southern - Region 8

Ben Malone                                               Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Davina Lee                                                                             Risk Management Agency (RMA)

Dr. Ahlishia Shipley                             National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)

Scott Marlow                                                                                  Farm Service Agency (FSA) 

Dr. Karama Neal                                                                               Rural Development (RD)

Under Secretary Moffitt                                 Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS)              

Pictured are USDA Leadership Panelists (l) Dr. Karama Neal (USDA Rural Development) and (r) Scott Marlow (Farm Service Agency)

Our members of Black farmers, landowners and cooperatives listen as the USDA shares information on resources.

Next, we held in-person concurrent workshops on heirs property & the newly announced Heirs Property Relending Program, cooperative development & regional marketing, and agroforestry demonstrations and tours.

We wrapped up the evening with our annual Friday Fish Fry, hayrides, and a live auction.

Proceeds from Friday's Rural Training & Research Center live auction go to renovating our historic Big House to its original 1965 decor.  

Join Us

Our members-owners are Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives.

The membership desk assists with membership dues, renewals, assistance with joining, membership engagement, and events.

Please direct any questions to membership@federation.coop.