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| Dawn Mellion-Patin, Ph.D., SU Land-Grant Campus Vice Chancellor for Extension and Outreach, and the Cohort VI graduates of the Regional Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership Institute. |
Baton Rouge, La. – Twenty-three small farmers from 11
states received certificates of completion during a graduation ceremony for Cohort
VI of the SU Land-Grant Campus’ Regional Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership
Institute.
The ceremony was held on June 1, 2018 in the Southern
University Law Center.
Dawn Mellion-Patin, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor for Extension and
Outreach at the SU Land-Grant Campus, presided over the ceremony and SU
Land-Grant Campus Chancellor-Dean, Bobby R. Phills, Ph.D. welcomed the group.
During the ceremony, M. Ray McKinnie, Ph.D., Dean and
Extension Administrator at Virginia State University discussed how the
leadership institute was developed; while USDA/1890 Program Manager Allison
Johnson encouraged the graduates to continue to utilize the USDA’s services and
program to assist them in their future agricultural operations.
Cindy Ayers-Elliot, Ph.D., CEO of Foot Print Farms in
Jackson, Miss., served as the keynote speaker for the ceremony. Ayers-Elliot was
introduced by Anthony Reed from Alcorn State University.
Foot Print Farms was established after 9/11 when Ayer-Elliot,
a former investment banker, had a desire to do more in life. The 68-acre
sustainable farm serves as an outdoor classroom where visitors and members of
Jackson’s underserved neighborhoods learn to grow their food, while receiving
education about healthy eating through partnerships with churches, schools,
foundations and community organizations.
Ayers-Elliot encouraged the graduates to continue to work
with the Southern University Ag Center, foster the friendships they have development
with their classmates, try to work with co-ops and utilize the USDA’s services
and programs.
“I can grow that,” said Patin in her closing remarks. “If
you need to grow courage to jump over the mountain, than grow courage. If you
need to grow wisdom to step back from the situation, grow wisdom. If you need
to grow courage to step into uncharted waters, grow courage. Remember, I can
grow that.”
The Cohort
VI graduates of the Regional Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership
Institute are:
LeMario
Brown - Fort Valley, GA
Davon Goodwin - Raeford, NC
Randolph
Keaton - Riegelwood, NC
Kenneth
Swift - East Point, GA
Kim
Butler – Baton Rouge, LA
Nicolette
Gordon – Greensburg, LA
Erika
Muhammad – Dallas, TX
Dionnette
Swinney - Rockingham, SC
Kimberly
Aultman – Slidell, LA
Reginald
Davis – Mobile, AL
Charles
Greenlea – Atlanta, GA
Fenton
Pope - Collins, MS
T’arie
Todam – Manassas, VA
Robert
Bell – Birmingham, AL
Wendell
Dean – Louisville, KY
Jeremy
Hendrix – Baton Rouge, LA
Patrick
Richardson – Folsom, LA
Marco
Toney – Eudora, AR
Herbert
Brown, Sr. – Freeman, VA
Michelle
Farris - Ventress, LA
Kellie
Johnson – Orangeburg, SC
Thomas
Roberson – Fredericksburg, VA
Albert
White – Baton Rouge, LA
Click here to view photos from the ceremony.
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