The 2022 Black Farming Conference is brought to you by Agraria Center for Regenerative Practice, Central State University, Antioch College, and the National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center.
This year's Conference Theme: Roots, Food, and Storytelling, will build upon the legacy of our ancestral roots of food from the African diaspora and the power of storytelling through food, family, and American culture.
Confirmed Speakers:
Michael Twitty: Michael W. Twitty is an African-American Jewish writer, culinary historian, and educator. He is the author of The Cooking Gene, published by HarperCollins/Amistad, which won the 2018 James Beard Foundation Book Award for Book of the Year and the category for writing. We will also have Michael's The Cooking Gene book for sale on Friday, September 9th at the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center event. Michael's keynote will be Saturday, September 10th.
Rev. Dr. Heber Brown: Rev. Dr. Heber Brown is a community organizer, ordained reverend, and budding farmer who has been a catalyst for personal transformation and social change for more than twenty years. For nearly 14 years, he served as pastor of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland. While there, he launched Orita's Cross Freedom School in 2012; an educational program that celebrates African heritage and develops hands-on skills in youth. He also launched The Black Church Food Security Network, which advances food security and food sovereignty by co-creating Black food ecosystems anchored by Black congregations in partnership with Black farmers. He is the recipient of numerous awards and is currently working on his first book, which explores the historical relationship between Black churches, Black farmers, and faith-based food sovereignty.
Stay tuned for more information on speakers, breakout sessions, and farm tours!
Friday, September 9, 2022
Central State University
1400 Brush Row Road, Wilberforce, OH 45384
IMPORTANT: Parking for these events will be at the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center (NAAMCC) at 1350 Brush Row Rd, Wilberforce, OH 45384. There will be shuttle buses.
9:30am – Registration
10:00am – 12:00pm Agriculture Workshops
▪ Workshop 1: Marketing Report for Fruits and Vegetables in local Grocery Stores
▪ Workshop 2: How Can I Finance My Farm?
1:00pm – 3:00pm Agriculture & Research Tours:
Botanical Garden tour
Aquaponics tour: learn how both fresh and vegetables can be grown together
Dr. Nagle’s research demonstration tour followed by (learn about sweet potatoes and other natural products being developed at CSU for small scale and limited resource farms)
CSU Bee lab tour by Dr. Li-Byarly and/or Dr. Farell. Learn about the latest research in beehive management at CSU
For lunch, please visit the Community Celebration at the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center for food trucks and dessert!
National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center (NAAMCC)
1350 Brush Row Rd, Wilberforce, OH 45384
Community Celebration!
12:00pm - 4:00pm
- Museum Exhibits Open – Free
- Farmer’s Market hosted by Agraria Center for Regenerative Practice’s Regenerative Farmer Fellows (onsite at NAAMCC)
- Food trucks!
7:00pm - Virtual Evening Keynote: Rev. Dr. Heber Brown, Black Church Food Security Network
Saturday, September 10, 2022 – All Conference Events on Saturday are Virtual
12:00pm ET – Opening Remarks/Welcome/Video
12:15pm - 12:45pm ET – Panel Discussion with Agraria’s Regenerative Farmer Fellows
1:00pm – 2:00pm ET – Virtual Afternoon Keynote: Michael Twitty, Culinary Historian
2:00pm – 4:00pm ET - Breakout Sessions - Run Concurrently
(2:00pm - 2:45pm ET & 3:00pm - 3:45pm ET)
▪ Farm Credit Mid-America Workshop, by Marcus Tyler
Description: This workshop will examine the mission and purpose of Farm Credit Mid-America, while also identifying important concepts that lending institutions use to identify a customer’s creditworthiness.
▪ Reclaiming the Legacy by Khadejah Scott, University of Florida, Extension
Description: The institution of slavery and the exploitative labor regimes that persisted in the years after slavery was abolished tarnished the relationship between black people and agriculture for generations. Challenging the fundamental tenets of agriculture as we understand it and developing fresh alternatives are necessary to end this negative association between black people and agriculture. One of the best kind of reparations; however, could be the freedom to cultivate one’s own food. Black folks arrived in freedom with extensive agricultural knowledge and continue to use farming to foster communal unity, cultural practices, health, and healing. In the modern day, farming has become a way for black people to change the narrative of history and reclaim their legacy. This workshop will challenge America’s historical perspective of what it really means to be a farmer.
2:00pm – 2:45pm – breakout session only –
▪ Nationwide Insurance Presents How to Avoid Taking on Other’s Liabilities Workshop, by Matt Ludwig
Description: Farmers may take on liability and not even know it. We’ll explore some of the activities that farmers may do that could put them at risk. Activities such as agritourism, hiring outside contractors, processing and selling food items, and maybe some others you may not have thought of. Borrowing or storing equipment for a neighbor, allowing tours of the farm property, and even some of the recreational equipment designed for the homestead could pose a liability risk. We will provide some appropriate language in contracts that can protect farmers from taking on others’ liability.
2:00pm – 3:45pm – breakout session only
▪ Storytelling Workshop, by Omope Carter Daboiku, Agraria Artist in Residence
Description: Coming Soon!
4:00pm ET – Where do we go from here? – Open discussion with Conference Planning Committee
4:30pm ET – Conference Adjourns
