Whitey Ford
12-15-2019, 07:22 PM
Minnesota looks to diversify farmer demographics
https://i.imgur.com/oLhkC4v.jpg
Patrice Bailey, MDA assistant commissioner, explained that the group is the beginning for creating a task force that was promised by Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan during her campaign.
Once the listening sessions are complete, a report will be submitted to the legislature Feb. 11 with the hopes of developing a task force.
Session scheduled for 1-3 p.m. Wednesday at 125 LIVE, 125 Elton Hills NW in Rochester.
Free to public but the completion of an online RSVP is required to attend.
Bailey noted some of the key barrios discussed in the agricultural landscape include access to information, access to land, school loans, predatory lending, and racism.
Added diversity to the industry is crucial, according to Bailey. He hoped to help bring in more non-traditional folks that never see agriculture, or maybe do not think of agriculture in traditional ways, like corn and soybean farmers.
“We want to have people of color, native, indigenous people in addition to existing farmers, to work together to have a mentorship opportunity,” Bailey said. “They might be someone living in the metro of Minneapolis and St. Paul and not really knowing where their food comes from, but we also have ways in which they can get started to be an entrepreneur.”
As someone who was raised in Harlem, New York, Bailey saw himself as proof that everyone can contribute to agriculture.
https://www.wizmnews.com/2019/12/10/minnesota-looks-to-diversify-farmer-demographics/
https://i.imgur.com/oLhkC4v.jpg
Patrice Bailey, MDA assistant commissioner, explained that the group is the beginning for creating a task force that was promised by Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan during her campaign.
Once the listening sessions are complete, a report will be submitted to the legislature Feb. 11 with the hopes of developing a task force.
Session scheduled for 1-3 p.m. Wednesday at 125 LIVE, 125 Elton Hills NW in Rochester.
Free to public but the completion of an online RSVP is required to attend.
Bailey noted some of the key barrios discussed in the agricultural landscape include access to information, access to land, school loans, predatory lending, and racism.
Added diversity to the industry is crucial, according to Bailey. He hoped to help bring in more non-traditional folks that never see agriculture, or maybe do not think of agriculture in traditional ways, like corn and soybean farmers.
“We want to have people of color, native, indigenous people in addition to existing farmers, to work together to have a mentorship opportunity,” Bailey said. “They might be someone living in the metro of Minneapolis and St. Paul and not really knowing where their food comes from, but we also have ways in which they can get started to be an entrepreneur.”
As someone who was raised in Harlem, New York, Bailey saw himself as proof that everyone can contribute to agriculture.
https://www.wizmnews.com/2019/12/10/minnesota-looks-to-diversify-farmer-demographics/