The local farmers’ collective Growing Augusta: Arts, Agriculture & Agency will be hosting the “Farmer/Producer Fireside Chat” on Thursday, a roundtable for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers from the area to discuss and learn about the resources available to them.
Though this is the inaugural event, the Fireside Chat grew out of Growing Augusta’s Farmer Meetups, a monthly series out of virtual meetings geared toward local growers that feature discussions by subject matter experts on topics ranging from production techniques to finance and funding opportunities.
Nakita Hemingway, former candidate for agricultural commissioner will co-host alongside keynote speaker Arthur Tripp, executive director of the USDA Farm Services Agency in Georgia.
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Growing Augusta first connected with Hemingway during her campaign last year, bringing her to speak at Brown’s Farm in Grovetown.
“[Agribusiness] is Georgia’s, number one industry,” said Growing Augusta marketing manager C. Joy Brown. “We wanted to make sure we had an opportunity to meet the candidate; so she came and heard the concerns of the people.”
Hemingway maintained a rapport with Growing Augusta, and was able to facilitate securing Tripp as a speaker.
The planned talking points for the round-table have come from Augusta area farmers, mined from issues discussed in the virtual meetups. Tripp and Hemingway will share their insights on matters such as marketing, education, training programs and gaining access to capital.
“The topics are birthed from those meetings, when we hear the farmers’ concerns and needs,” said Brown. “We basically established from there how to move forward.”
Growing Augusta did not coordinate the Fireside Chat event alone. The collective will host the event at 1150 Fifth St., the site of the Augusta State Farmers Market, and also where local non-profit Black Farm Street Inc. aims to launch its distribution center for farmers. Agriculture Networks Inc., a Georgia nonprofit with a mission similar to that of Growing Augusta’s—educating and supporting socially disadvantaged farmers—is also a partner in the new outreach initiative.
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The discussion is geared toward local minority ranchers and farmers, but all local growers and interested parties are welcome, said Brown.
“This is a collaboration,” she said, emphasizing the community-building nature of the intiative. “You get to talk to other people and understand what they’re going through, what their needs are. It’s about the assistance that we get from each other.”
The Fireside Chat is a free event, on Thursday, March 2 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. To register or for more information, visit https://www.growingaugusta.co/classes.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
