Farmers of Color Conference Offers Resources, Networking

The second annual Iowa Farmers of Color Conference will be held Saturday, November 10, at Living History Farms in Urbandale.

The event aims to bring together farmers of color from throughout the Midwest. Last year, 120 people attended, and the goal for this year is 150, according to event co-founder Todd Western III.

The conference will offer networking opportunities, direct access to state agencies and farm allies who can offer resources and guidance, insights into the latest developments with the Farm Bill, and information on cost-sharing programs and other resources for farmers.

Representatives from the USDA, NRCS, FSA and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s office are slated to be on hand. 

The keynote speaker will be Denise Greer Jamerson. She is the fifth generation to farm her family’s Indiana land, a tradition that began before the Civil War. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture includes a feature on her father, Norman Greer, and his family’s contribution to agriculture in America.

Greer Jamerson and her husband, John, and son, DeAnthony, also own Legacy Taste of the Garden, an organization that aims to empower Indiana BIPOC farmers, individuals and communities to become self-sustaining and economically sound.

“Whether you’re a traditional row crop farmer, a fruit and vegetable grower, or involved in flower farming, this conference is designed to provide valuable knowledge and foster collaboration,” Western said.

There is no cost to attend, but registration is requested by November 11.