Registration for the 38th annual celebration of small farmers now open.
EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. – The countdown has begun for Small Farms Week 2023, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T’s annual tribute to small-scale agriculture. The week will feature educational programs, demonstrations and the announcement of the 2023 Small Farmer of the Year.
Small Farms Week was launched in 1987 by Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T as a way to connect with small-scale farmers—including minority farmers and those in limited-resource communities—to ensure they receive the latest research-based information on farming techniques, new tools and technologies. It also gives the public a chance to meet their agricultural neighbors and learn about farm operations and food production.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Growth in a Changing Climate.”
“One of our goals this year is to help small farmers understand how climate change might affect them and how they can manage that change and continue to prosper,” said Fletcher Barber, Ed.D., Extension small farms recruiter and chair of Small Farms Week 2023. “We will have experts from our campus, from industry and government, and one of the key leaders of the USDA here to help our farmers sort through the hype, understand the facts, and use the knowledge they gain to make informed decisions that help their farms.”
All events will be live this year beginning with a kick-off in Robeson County, the home of the 2022 Small Farmers of the Year, on Mon., March 27. The University Farm Pavilion will host educational sessions on Tues., March 28 focusing on farm sustainability, resilience and growth in a changing climate. Topics will include maintaining soil health, financial impacts of climate resilient agriculture and building sustainable small farms.
The highlight of the week will be the annual Small Farmers Appreciation Luncheon at noon Wed., March 28. The event will include remarks from N.C. A&T Chancellor Harold L. Martin, Sr., Ph.D.; Mohamed Ahmedna, Ph.D., dean of the college of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences; M. Ray McKinnie, Ph.D., Extension administrator and CAES associate dean; Steve Troxler, commissioner of the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and student leaders.
Chavonda Jacobs-Young, Ph.D., undersecretary for research, education, and economics and chief scientist at the USDA, will be this year’s keynote speaker.
The luncheon will include a keynote address by Chavonda Jacobs-Young, Ph.D., undersecretary for research, education, and economics and chief scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Jacobs-Young oversees more than 8,500 employees across five component USDA organizations that advance agricultural research, innovation, data, and Extension across a full range of agricultural issues, including climate-smart agriculture, nutrition security, equity, and strengthening food supply chains. As USDA chief scientist, Jacobs-Young advises the secretary of agriculture and other senior officials on scientific matters and chairs the USDA Science Council. She is a native of Georgia who holds advanced degrees in wood and paper science and technology from North Carolina State University. She is a graduate of American University’s Key Executive Leadership in Public Policy Implementation Program, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Academy of Public Administration.
“It’s a chance for farmers to make connections, see the innovations underway at the University Farm, and receive some well-earned recognition for their work,” Barber said.
Small Farms Week continues Thurs., March 29, with programs at the Pavilion on the fundamentals of agribusiness, presented by Carolina Farm Credit, and an evening in-person session on careers in agriculture, held on campus.
Small Farms Week concludes Fri., March 30, with “Support Local Agriculture Day.” All North Carolinians are encouraged to visit a farmer’s market, co-op or farmstand, patronize a restaurant that does business with local growers, or learn about local community-supported agriculture opportunities.
Registration information and a full schedule of event is available on the Small Farms Week 2023 webpage
About North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Cooperative Extension
Cooperative Extension at N.C. Agricultural and Technical State University is a part of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, the largest college of agriculture amongst 1890s land grant institutions and the largest producer of Black agricultural science undergraduates in the nation. N.C. A&T Cooperative Extension serves small and limited-resource farmers in all 100 counties across the state with more than half a million contacts each year. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is the nation’s largest historically Black university. The university was founded in 1891 and is located in Greensboro, North Carolina. Connect with us @CooperativeExtensionatAandT.
