Congratulations! You’ve been awarded an AGRI Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk Processing Grant.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) employee Lillian Otieno will lead the department’s Emerging Farmers Office as its first director, MDA Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey announced today.
“Lillian Otieno has guided us through the initial stages of establishing an Emerging Farmers Office, and she is extremely well-positioned to lead our efforts to make it easier for new and emerging farmers to create or sustain successful agricultural businesses in Minnesota, as this office builds out its capacity.”
Otieno, who most recently served as coordinator for the Emerging Farmers program at the MDA since 2021, has been an MDA employee since 2017. As director, she will direct the work of the Emerging Farmers Office, overseeing engagement and outreach with communities throughout the state, grant programs, and the Emerging Farmers’ Working Group.
“I am excited, energized and humbled to continue working in service to Minnesota farmers in this new role – recognizing that Minnesota is leading the charge in addressing equity in agriculture with a first of its kind office in the country,” Otieno said. “The future and success of Minnesota’s agriculture economy has to be inclusive. Emerging farmers are resilient, innovative and diverse in many aspects, with unique needs. They are most importantly, valuable contributors enhancing our local and regional food system.”
Otieno previously worked in the Produce Safety Program at the MDA, leading outreach and engagement efforts in implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act. She is a 2021 graduate of the State’s Emerging Leaders Institute, and also served as a Public Engagement Liaison with the Office of Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan in 2021 and 2022.
She will begin her new role on November 8, 2023. A search for a replacement coordinator for Otieno will begin immediately, Bailey said. The office is also in the process of hiring a grants specialist.
Bailey also announced the appointment of eight new volunteer Emerging Farmers’ Working Group members, serving two-year terms:
- Marcus Carpenter, Hennepin County
- Gigi DiGiacomo, Hennepin County
- Catherine Fleming, Hennepin County
- Cindy Hale, St. Louis County
- Kiersten Hansen, Brown County
- Maren McDonnell, Carver County
- Taran Skwira, Morrison County
- Relyndis Tegomoh, Ramsey County
The group’s purpose is to advise the MDA and Minnesota Legislature on ways to advance the success and sustainability of farmers who traditionally face barriers to the resources necessary to build profitable agricultural businesses.
Emerging Farmers are defined as women, veterans, persons with disabilities, American Indian/Alaskan Native, members of communities of color, young, LGBTQIA+, or urban farmers.
MDA staff managed a selection process that was designed to ensure geographical, racial, gender and generational diversity, along with specific targeted populations from the legislative language.
Thanks to the Working Group members concluding their terms:
- Hannah Bernhardt, Pine County
- Ben Dossman, Hennepin County
- Kyle Huneke, Goodhue County
- Murugi Mutiga, Washington County
- Shelly Woods, Sibley County
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Media Contact
Larry Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6629
Larry.Schumacher@state.mn.us
As part of a continued effort to strengthen support available to Minnesota’s emerging farmers, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced recipients of grant funding for organizations that provide business and technical support to farmers from historically underserved communities.
Through the Emerging Farmer Technical Assistance Grant Program, eight organizations have received a total of $554,920 in one-time grants. Grant funds can be used to provide technical and culturally appropriate services to emerging farmers, and to pay up to 65% of emerging farmers’ premium expenses under the USDA Micro Farm Crop Insurance program.
“Agriculture is a cornerstone of Minnesota’s economy, but it can be hard to find an entryway to this important and fulfilling work for beginning and emerging farmers,” said MDA Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey. “We’re thankful for these eight organizations and their efforts to provide technical assistance to Minnesota’s emerging farmers, helping them overcome barriers and challenges in farming.”
Forty percent of this funding will go directly to farmers supported by these organizations in the form of scholarships, stipends, mileage reimbursements, and crop insurance premium payments. A full list of grant recipients and their support activities can be found below.
The funding comes in response to the MDA’s Emerging Farmers’ Working Group and first-of-its-kind Emerging Farmers Office, which have identified technical assistance as one of the top needs for emerging farmers. Technical assistance includes helping with record keeping, financial statements, business plans, licenses and regulations, land access, applying for grants and loans, sales and marketing, and other business support.
Emerging farmers include farmers who are American Indian or Alaskan Natives, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, members of a community of color, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, or any other emerging farmers as determined by the commissioner of agriculture.
Visit the MDA website for more information on the Emerging Farmer Technical Assistance Grant Program.
Org Name | Project Summary | Headquarters | Award Total |
---|---|---|---|
AgCentric |
Scholarships and outreach for emerging farmers to enroll in Farm Business Management Programs at state colleges. | Staples | $50,000 |
Farm Commons | Legal and other business support (workshops and one-on-one support) for farmers in Nagaajiwanaang (Fond du Lac Reservation); also helping farmers enroll in and providing premium payment support for USDA’s Micro Farm Crop Insurance. | Duluth | $47,896 |
Forty Acre Cooperative | 10-week business mentorship program and rural networking opportunities for BIPOC farmers. | Willow River | $68,850 |
Friendly Hmong Farms | One-on-one business coaching and marketing support for direct-market farmers’ market farmers. | Minnetonka | $67,224 |
Kilimo Minnesota | One-on-one mentorship for farmers of African descent, expanding capacity of existing incubator farm program. | Cambridge | $99,993 |
Land Stewardship Project | Providing group classes and one-on-one business mentorship in English and Spanish; also helping farmers enroll and providing premium payment support for USDA’s Micro Farm Crop Insurance. | Minneapolis | $53,189 |
MN Farmers' Market Association | Helping farmers navigate USDA’s Micro Farm Crop Insurance and supporting farmers with the insurance premium payments. | Nerstrand | $100,000 |
Renewing the Countryside | Training and supporting 10 farmers’ market food hub managers around the state to provide marketing, food safety, and licensing support for farmers. | Hammond | $67,768 |
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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us
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Yes, purchase of shelters for other types of livestock is acceptable.