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The West Fresno Family Resource Center played a major role in the successful fourth Black Farmers Conference held at Fresno State on April 21. I am so proud of my staff who were on hand to greet members, register and make sure guests’ questions were answered. Some staff presented, while others served as vendors for this event.
The Family Resource Center partnered with the United Stated Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and California State University, Fresno to provide informational sessions to black farmers who came from as far away as Mississippi and Washington, D.C.
Christine Chavez, outreach specialist with NRSC said the conference was a huge success, crediting the work of Yolanda Randles and the West Fresno Family Resource Center. "We want to continue to partner with the West Fresno Resource Center,’’ she said. “We want to do a 5th, 6th and 7th annual conference with them. This has been great.’’
The purpose of the conference was to support and equip the community of African American farmers and ranchers with information and resources they need to be successful, said Carlos Suarez, California State Conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, (NRCS) noting this is the fourth conference held for black famers in California.
Suarez said black farmers are vital not only to the state, but to the nation but they have been historically underserved, thus the need for the conference. Suarez added that it is imperative that farmers get together and have open discussions as well as receive information on grants, loans and technical support.
The conference included breakout sessions on topics such as Farming 101, how to obtain a loan, moving products from farm to table and the next generation of farmers. In addition, 17 stations manned by NRCS representations and ag vendors were on hand to distribute information and answer questions. The keynote speaker was Dr. Rolston St. Hilaire, who is the dean of Fresno State’s Jordan College of Agriculture Sciences and Technology. Other guests included Congressman Jim Costa, California Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula and black farmers and ranchers.
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