About the Emerging Farmers Conference
The annual Emerging Farmers Conference (formerly the Immigrant & Minority Farmers Conference) serves to advance the success and sustainability of farmers who traditionally face barriers to the education and resources necessary to build profitable agricultural businesses, including immigrant farmers and farmers of color.
This innovative conference focuses primarily on the needs and interests of these farmers, and supports their contributions to local economic development and building healthy communities. It does so by connecting farmers, farm advocates, educators, professionals, experts, and agency officials.
The Emerging Farmers Conference (EFC) offers a discounted rate for all farmers and language interpretation is available in Spanish, Hmong, Karen, Bhutanese, Vietnamese, and Somali. Interpretation is based on registration. (We do our best to accommodate all farmers, but cannot guarantee interpretation for last-minute registrations.)
The EFC is a program of Big River Farms. It is planned and hosted by a collaborative of farmers and volunteers, government, nonprofit, and University of Minnesota personnel.
Purpose
Resources
Farmers obtain a deeper understanding of resources available to them and methods by which they can access those resources to support and grow their farming businesses. For example, farmers will be provided with financial plans, soil maps, and contact information for organizations who provide land leasing and purchase information.
Connections
Valuable connections are made between local farmers, vendors, organizations, and community groups which support emerging farmer populations and strengthen all components of the local food system.
Knowledge
Farmers gain specific, hands-on knowledge which is directly applicable to their farm businesses and will increase the success of their farm operations. For example, farmers will leave with a deeper understanding of weed management or production techniques for specialty crops. Organizations and community stakeholders gain exposure to a deeper understanding of the contributions immigrant and minority farmers make to the local food system, and the importance of supporting sustainable agricultural practices in their communities.
Empowerment
Conference participants are empowered to enact change in their local communities, specifically in the areas of racial equity and sustainable agriculture as they relate to the local food system. For example, participants will have the opportunity to connect with other farmers in our collaborative problem solving workshop. This facilitated discussion aims to foster relationships between farmers, allows them a space to talk about common challenges, and find solutions to those challenges.
Planning Committee
The Emerging Farmers Conference is a collaborative event organized by local, state, and federal organizations, led by Big River Farms (a program of The Food Group).
Aaron Blyth, Latino Economic Development Center
Amanda Koehler, Land Stewardship Project
Amy Johnston, UMN Extension
Ellyn Oelfke, Farm Service Agency
Emily Eddy White, The Food Group
Erika Resendiz Alonso, Fond du Lac Tribal Community College
George Tian, Farm Service Agency
Hana Tanberg, The Good Acre
Katie Lee, UMN Extension SARE
KaZoua Berry, The Food Group
Laura Mirafuentes, The Food Group
Leslie Mackenzie, The Food Group
Levi Wellbourn, Latino Economic Development Center
Lillian Otieno, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Lucia Possehl, Sharing Our Roots
Mar Horns, The Food Group
Marisa Benasutti, Augsburg College
Nan Roberts, Independent Contractor
Nikki Crowe, Fond du Lac
Rachel Holmes, The Food Group
Sara George, Renewing The Countryside
Sarah Woutat, Independent Contractor
Sina War, Minnesota Farmers Market Association
Sophia Lenarz-Coy, The Food Group
Summer Badawi, The Food Group
Whitney Terrill, Land Stewardship Project
Zoe Hollomon, Midwest Farmers of Color Collective