Advocate for Small Farmers, Rural Development to Deliver Small Farms Week Keynote 

When Kimberly Ratcliff traded her successful career in corporate America for jeans, a cowboy hat, and life on her family farm in Texas, she saw a large gap between big business and family farms simply working to make ends meet and provide the best agricultural products possible.

Now, her passion involves bridging those gaps by advocating for all farmers and promoting fairness, sustainability and economic opportunity in rural communities.

Ratcliff, who is also the CEO of Ratcliff Premium Meats on her family’s legacy Caney Creek Ranch, will talk about her journey from the board room to the fields of East Texas as the keynote speaker for Small Farmer Appreciation Night, one of the highlights of Small Farms Week 2026.

Small Farms Week, an annual celebration of small-scale agriculture and its contributions to the state’s $113 billion agriculture sector, was launched by Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T 40 years ago. This year’s events, under the theme “Deep Roots, Strong Future: 40 Years of Small Farm Impact,” will be held March 22 – 26.  Small Farmer Appreciation Night, a farm-to-table event honoring small-farm excellence and featuring the selection of the 2026 Small Farmer of the Year, is scheduled for Tuesday evening, March 24. Ratliff will speak at the event.

 Ratcliff founded Ratcliff Community Base Organization, a nonprofit in Oakwood, Texas, to empower small farmers, provide financial education, and foster land stewardship. Her mission is to ensure that all communities have access to the resources, knowledge, and networks needed to thrive in agriculture and beyond. Ratcliff has worked with Prairie View A&M University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), to equip small-acreage landowners with the tools and education necessary to access carbon credit markets. She foresees her efforts as creating a model that can be replicated at HBCUs nationwide, strengthening communities through sustainable land management and weather mitigation.

“Kimberly Ratcliff is truly a community leader as well as a farmer,” said M. Ray McKinnie, PhD, associate dean and administrator of Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T. “She understands that today’s small farmers need to understand their environmental impacts as well as economic opportunities. Small-scale farmers often don’t have a voice when these issues come to the table, and Kimberly is dedicated to changing that. We welcome her to North Carolina and look forward to hearing her story.”

Ratcliff’s work and dedication have earned her recognition from both local and national media. She regularly speaks on topics such as sustainable farming, women’s leadership, and the future of agriculture, inspiring audiences with her passion for driving meaningful change.

During Small Farmer Appreciation Night, Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T will recognize three regional finalists (Eastern, Western and Urban regions) for the 2026 Small Farmer of the Year Award, and will also honor previous awardees and all small-scale growers in attendance.  Giselle Thomas, a multi-skilled journalist from WFMY-TV, will serve as emcee of the event.  

Other Small Farms Week events include workshops, educational talks, demonstrations and networking opportunities. Most events will take place at the University Farm Pavilion, 3020 McConnell Rd., Greensboro. Those events are free and open to the public; however, registration is required. A registration form and more information, including an agenda of events, are available on the Small Farms Week website.