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The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) invites farmers, ranchers, producers, Tribal leaders, and community members to the inaugural State of Native Agriculture Address. Broadcast on March 9 at 12:00 p.m. CT, this is the first virtual event of its kind highlighting the current state of Tribal agricultural economies and the leadership of the Native American producers and Tribes revitalizing our economies, feeding our people, and building our future for generations to come.
“This is an essential time for elevating the priorities for Tribes and Native producers as Indian Country continues to strengthen Tribal food sovereignty, food security, and agriculture infrastructure. This broadcast aims to showcase the diversity and the growing economic impact of Tribal agricultural systems throughout rural America. This is Native agriculture in action, this is Indian Country helping ourselves and our neighbors,” says Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, NAAF CEO.
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Secretary Tom Vilsack
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Honorable Tina Smith
U.S. Senator for Minnesota and member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
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Honorable Amy Klobuchar
U.S. Senator for Minnesota and member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
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Administrator Zach Ducheneaux
Cheyenne River Sioux
Administrator for USDA Farm Service Agency
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Toni Stanger-McLaughlin
Colville Confederated Tribes
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF), member of the USDA Equity commission
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Cole Miller
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
Co-Chair of the Native Farm Bill Coalition and Vice Chairman of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
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Kari Jo Lawrence
Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nations
Co-Chair for the Native Farm Bill Coalition and Executive Director for the Intertribal Agriculture Council and on the USDA Equity Commission Agriculture Subcommittee
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Request for Applications Open for WIC Community Innovation and Outreach Project (WIC CIAO) | |
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Up to $10 million in subgrants are available for WIC state and local agencies, including Indian Tribal Organizations and nonprofit entities and organizations, to develop, implement, and evaluate innovative outreach strategies to increase Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) awareness, participation, benefit redemption, and reduce disparities in program delivery.
WIC CIAO is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through a cooperative agreement with the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition (GSCN), the Native American Agriculture Fund, (NAAF) and UnidosUS.
When are applications due?
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. EST on March 23, 2023
Significant technical assistance will be provided throughout the application process to organizations in underserved communities that may have limited resources and or capacity. Technical assistance will also be provided to all subgrantees throughout the subgrant period.
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Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) Request for Applications - Open | |
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The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) is proud to partner with the National FFA Organization to sponsor Native American high school students to attend the Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) in Washington, D.C. WLC is a premier leadership conference that operates on a curriculum based on the principles of: “Explore, Encourage, Advocate and Serve". NAAF recognizes the importance of engaging Native youth in all aspects of Native agriculture and is invested in supporting the future of Native agriculturalists as they step into their future careers.
Any questions about the scholarship may be directed to Jasmine Locklear at jlocklear@nativeamericanagriculturefund.org.
All applications must be received by April 12, 2023 at 11:59 PM EST.
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Kelly Beym
Yá’át’ééh! Shí éí Kelly Beym yinishyé. Táchii’nii nishłį́, Bilagáana bashishchiin, Tódích’íí’nii dashicheii, Bilagáana dashinalí. Ákót’éego diné asdzáán nishłį́.
Kelly recently graduated with a Bachelor of Individualized Studies with a minor in Agricultural Business Management.
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Gina McGuire
Ōiwi (Native Hawaiian) woman, born and raised on Hawaiʻi Island.
She is currently a PhD candidate at University of Hawaiʻi in Geography & Environment, an eco-cultural researcher on a decision support tool with the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, and a climate reporter intern with Native Climate Desert Research Institute.
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USDA Equity Commission Submits Report to Secretary | |
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The USDA Equity Commission works to identify how to reduce barriers for producers and build equitable USDA programs, policies, systems, and practices. NAAF CEO Toni Stanger-McLaughlin serves as a member of the Equity Commission, along with other agriculture industry members, experts, and advocates.
The Equity Commission recently put forward 32 recommendations to the USDA in the 2023 Interim Report. Those recommendations include everything from land access to technical assistance and outreach and increased funding for the Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Program. Overall, the report addresses several systemic issues that prevent equitable access and use of USDA programs and services for farmers, ranchers, and producers.
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Commodity Classic
March 9-11, 2023
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando FL
Commodity Classic is the top annual convention and trade show of the wheat, corn, soybeans, sorghum, and agriculture equipment manufacturers industries. Farmers from across the country gather and discuss everything from the latest equipment and technology to pressing policy issues.
NAAF will have a booth at the conference to connect with Native producers and national agriculture agencies.
Come see us!
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Agripulse Food and Policy Summit
March 20, 2023
Next-Gen Farm & Food Policy
National Press Club, Washington D.C.
Congress formally kicks off the debate over the new farm bill at the 2023 Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit.
This summit will look at some of the forward-looking ideas under development that will drive policy discussions for not only this year but the decades ahead.
NAAF will be present uplifting Native voices for Native ag producer needs throughout Indian Country.
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Reservation Economics Summit
April 3-6, 2023
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV
The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) is embracing EMPOWERING FOR GENERATIONS for the 2023 Reservation Economic Summit. The event features tribal leaders, members of Congress, federal agency representatives, state and local officials, and top CEO's on a national platform.
Come visit with NAAF throughout the conference!
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Native Youth Agriculture Leadership Summit | |
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Deadline: April 3, 2023 at 11:59 pm central time
Attention Native youth interested in food and agriculture! Foster connections, develop key skills and learn alongside industry experts at the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative’s Native Youth in Food and Agriculture Leadership Summit 2023.
The 2023 Native Youth in Food and Agriculture Leadership Summit, set for July 18-25, is open to American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian youth ages 18-24 (including recently graduated high school seniors).
Those accepted will receive travel and lodging scholarships. Apply today!
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This spring, the Native Farm Bill Coalition is organizing a series of “fly-ins” for Tribal leaders and Native producers across the country to talk directly with members of Congress, their staff, and the Biden Administration.
Upcoming Regional Fly-Ins
March 22-23 – Midwest Tribes (confirmed)
- In partnership with the Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes (MAST) fly-in on March 19-22. Tribal leaders and their delegates are invited to participate in MAST’s fly-in. The Native Farm Bill Coalition’s fly-in will begin on March 22 with a breakfast briefing. NFBC meetings will be scheduled for Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday, so plan to travel late Thursday evening or Friday morning.
April 18-20 – Northwest Tribes (tentative)
April 25-27 – Eastern Tribes (tentative)
May 9-10 – Indian Country in conjunction with the Native American Food Fair (tentative)
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Native American Food Fair information here
May 16-18 – Southwest Tribes and Navajo Region (tentative)
By participating in these fly-ins, Coalition members will have the opportunity to advocate for policy changes that would positively impact Indian Country, such as strengthening tribal self-governance, allowing Tribes to manage nutrition programs, investing in economic development opportunities in rural communities, and much more.
To learn more about the tentative schedule and fly-in details visit the NFBC website.
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WIC Fruit and Vegetable Study Calling for Input from WIC Inter-Tribal Organizations (ITOs) |  | |
The Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition (GSCN) is conducting a study about how the changes in the cash value benefit (CVB), or fruit and vegetable money, during the pandemic impacted the WIC program and child access to fruits and vegetables. The study is looking to collect information from WIC Inter-Tribal Organizations (ITOs) and State agencies through WIC redemption data and interviews with ITO/State agency staff, local agency staff, and caregivers of WIC participants. Using this information, the research team will create a toolkit to share with State/ITO and local WIC agencies to help increase fruit and vegetable redemption rates and develop a policy brief with any suggested changes to federal WIC requirements.
GSCN is looking for additional ITOs and State agencies to provide their important input as part of this study.
For WIC agencies interested in participating in the interview, please use this link to schedule a time that works best: https://doodle.com/bp/wicfruitandvegetablestudy/wic-state-agency-cvb-interview.
WIC agencies can send any questions via email at fvstudy@centerfornutrition.org or call (531) 895-4126.
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Census of Agriculture Deadline Extended | |
The Census of Agriculture helps inform programming and support, such as increasing access to capital and investments in infrastructure at all levels of national, state, and tribal policies. The data gathered from the census is used by many entities, including NAAF, to help conduct outreach efforts to areas with high populations of Native producers to help support them through grantmaking opportunities. Native producers have been underrepresented in agricultural policies due to a lack of accurate data representation.
Filling out the Agriculture Census will provide the foundation for future advocacy initiatives and will be a step towards providing equitable policies which uplift Native agriculture. Learn more about how the Ag Census helps show the impact of diversity of agriculture in Indian Country.
Join us as we show the diversity and strength within Indian Country.
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AgFirst Scholarship for Native American Students
AgFirst is offering educational scholarships to full-time Native American students studying business and/or agricultural related fields. Each scholarship recipient will receive $3,000 per academic year ($1,500 per semester).
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Registration for the Ninth International Conference on Agricultural Statistics (ICAS IX) is Open | |
Now is your chance to register for the Ninth International Conference on Agricultural Statistics (ICAS IX) at www.icas2023.org. This event will be held in Washington, DC, May 17-19 and will feature topics such as data collection and data quality, climate change, food security, rural development, and more. The conference is hosted by USDA and the World Bank, in coordination with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Register by March 31 to avoid late fees. | |
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Tag us, @nativeagfund, in your social media posts and we'll reach out to you to highlight in our next newsletter!
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Zuni Youth Enrichment Project
Zuni, New Mexico
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The Zuni Agriculture mini-Grant (ZAG) funding will support Zuni gardening and farming projects that connect Zuni youth to agricultural traditions. Applications are due by Sunday, March 12, 2023.
Please read the information sheet within the application before applying. If you have any questions, call Jessica at ZYEP (505) 782-8000 or email jquinlan@zyep.org.
Follow the link below to learn more information and to apply.
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