Agraria_Journal_Summer_2022

34 AGRARIA JOURNAL 2022 The BIPOC Farming Network (BFN) is helping connect food producers around the country. The network, which grew out of Agraria’s first annual 2020 Black Farming Conference, has almost doubled since it was established, from around 900 subscribers to the quarterly newsletter to 1,700. The newsletters keep members abreast of events and other happenings in the BIPOC farming community and the farming community at large. They highlight BIPOC farmers and include recommended reading lists, links to resources such as technical assistance and grant opportunities, and regional farm-related job openings. Quarterly roundtable discussions generally attract about 50 people from all over the region and the U.S., providing a great way for BFN food producers to stay connected with one another. They include conversations surrounding current issues facing the agricultural community as well as guest speakers who provide information about special opportunities for farmers. Participants also use the roundtables to simply share what’s going on in their day-to- day lives on their farms or in the food systems they work in. Over the last several months the BFN Advisory Team has been working on expanding the network to include a private platform that will function as an interactive social and information hub. In fall of 2021, the BFN also collaborated with Central State University to offer a Land Access Workshop, which addressed obstacles that new and beginning farmers face when trying to access land for their farm. Presenters included experts from the USDA, Farm Commons, CSU Extension, Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, Montgomery and Clark county land banks, and a local realtor/appraiser. There were over 150 people registered and about 80 attended on the day of the workshop. Feedback from attendees was positive, and the plan is to make this an annual event. If you aren’t a member and would like to register, contact Tia Stuart at tstuart@agrariacenter.org or sign up on the BIPOC Farming Network page of our website, .agrariacenter. org. All are welcome. Supporting and connecting BIPOC Farmers BY TIA STUART