BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Farmers Conference 2024

Keeping the Culture in AgriCulture

November 12-13th, 2024
A Two-Day Conference for Bipoc Farmers & Agricultural Professionals.

The First State African American Farmers’ Association (FSAAFA) partners with Delaware State University College of Agriculture, Science and Technology (CAST) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)- to create a conference that addresses the Needs of Today’s Bipoc Farmer.
Paying homage to the Farmers Conference at Tuskegee University, the oldest event of its type in the nation, February 23, 1892. The First State African American Farmer’s Association seeks to have the first of its kind on the DSU campus this Fall. This conference will be a two-day educational forum that features tours, panel discussions, interactive demonstrations, and concurrent workshops.

Farm Address: Delaware State University Outreach and Research Center (Smyrna Farm) 884 Smyrna Leipsic Road Smyrna, DE 19977

On-site registration is between 7:45am – 8:30am.

Transportation will leave from DSU to the farm at 8:30am.

Conference Highlights

Drone Competition: November 12th from 12 PM-1:30 PM

This hands-on event will engage middle and high school students at the Smyrna Farm to develop workforce skills in piloting, programming, and project management. Elements of the competition will include:

Training and Certification:

Students participating in the competition will undergo training to:

Get TRUST Certified: This Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recreation drone pilot certification ensures students understand basic drone flight and safety regulations.
Learn Flight Safety Rules: Students will complete hands-on training to master the basics of drone operation, safe flying practices, and troubleshooting common drone issues.

Drone Flight Competition:

Piloting and Teamwork Competition: Race to finish relying on crew support
Autonomous Flight Competition: Students design, test, and complete flight tasks in a designated period.

Drone Show (Optional Event)

Please join us for an exciting drone show later in the evening to close out Day 1 of the conference. Dinner will be provided for those who choose to stay behind. For catering purposes, please indicate if you will attend this optional event by clicking here to register.

Our Bipoc Farmers Face Unique Challenges.

Black Farmers operate at 70% of US peer-level farm revenue with a 14% operating margin gap versus their peers, before government payments

While the role of the agriculture economy has grown, the share of Bipoc farmers in the United States has declined over the last century.

Today, just 1.4% of farmers identify as Black or mixed race compared with about 14% 100 years ago. Representing less than 0.5 percent of total US farm sales

This conference is for you if you are…

A New Bipoc Farmer

Seasoned Bipoc Farmers

5 years of more...

Student Interested in Agriculture

A Female Farmer

An Agriculture Vendor

Multi-Arce Bipoc Land Owner

Socially Disadvantaged Farmer

A Bipoc Farmer in need of Resources and Capital

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What The Bipoc Farmer Conference Offers You:

How to Navigate the USDA:
Steps and Strategies & Skills for navigating the USDA systems and procedures.

Hidden Obstacles:
Ways to overcome structural racism regarding land and access to capital.

Improving Bipoc Farmers’ Access to Capital
for equipment and resources for agricultural businesses.

Stress Management:
Strategies that assist Bipoc Farmers.

Funding for Agricultural Businesses:
How to access to Federal, State, local and municipal resources.

Mental Health Awareness:
The hidden challenges that effect the career farmer.

Women in Ag:
Solutions to the challenges facing Female Farmers.

Farm Marketing:
How to Increase product viability and agricultural market access.