Black Farmer Livelihood Strategies to
Mediate Financial and Emotional Stress
Monday, September 12 from 1-2pm ET
Dr.
Andrew R. Smolski - Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Dr. Michael D.
Schulman - William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor
North Carolina
State University, Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences
A tradition of
rural sociological research highlights the assets and networks that support
farmer strategies to address financial and emotional distress. Using data from
open-ended interviews with a small set of black farmers in North Carolina,
South Carolina, and Virginia, we investigate some of the factors that
contribute to their sustainable livelihoods. We find from preliminary results
that farmer informants rely on community-based farmer networks to navigate
fiscal and mental health crises. These networks support farmers in
understanding the challenges they confront as having structural and
institutional causes, as well as providing solidarity bonds, access to
training, and cooperative economic strategies. Thus, there is a role for
collective action between farmers in developing alternative resources to
maintain the farm and contest discriminatory practices. The data show that the
benefits extend beyond the economic into the psychological as evidenced by
narratives of reduced stress from joining together around issues pertinent to
Black Farmers. This finding merits further exploration and consideration when
developing programs to support farmers as they work to overcome contemporary
financial and emotional challenges to sustaining the farm.
Please
register for this virtual event
https://tinyurl.com/blackfarmerlivelihoods
For more
information reach out to Katie Trozzo at ketrozzo @vt.edu. If you are a person
with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Katie Trozzo at ketrozzo@vt.edu or 540-231-4582 at least 10
days prior to the event.
Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are
open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity,
gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion,
sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis
protected by law. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in
furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture cooperating. Edwin J. Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative
Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; M. Ray McKinnie, Interim Administrator,
1890 Extension Program, Virginia State University, Petersburg
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