Winston County Self Help Cooperative

THIS AWARD WILL INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF 5 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (CBOS) IN FIVE STATES (LA, MS, NM, NC, AND TN). THE CBOS WILL PROVIDE OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES, ASSISTING RURAL PRODUCERS RECEIVE AND MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS OFFERED BY USDA VOLUNTARY PROGRAMS.

TO ASSIST HU BEGINNING, LIMITED RESOURCED, SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED, AFRICAN AMERICAN FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND STUDENTS IN RURAL AREAS OF AR, GA, MS, LA, KY, TN, TX, AL <(>&<)> VA.

IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE BFRDP PRIMARY GOAL, THIS PROGRAM TAKES A MULTI-STATE, CLIENT CENTRIC APPROACH TO BOLSTERING RURAL JOBS AND SUPPORTING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT BY EMPOWERING AND TRAINING VETERANS AND SOCIALLY-DISADVANTAGED, MAJORITY AFRICAN-AMERICAN, NEW AND BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN WINSTON, WAYNE, SCOTT, COVINGTON COUNTIES OF MISSISSIPPI AND TANGIPAHOA PARISH AND ST. HELENA PARISH OF LOUISIANA, WHICH ARE POVERTY-STRICKEN, RURAL COUNTIES AND PARISHES. DELIVERING THOROUGH AND HANDS-ON TRAINING, SPECIALIZED MENTORING, ONE-ON-ONE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ESTABLISHING AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM WILL HELP ESTABLISH AND ENHANCE THEIR SUCCESSES IN FARMING, RANCHING, AND MANAGEMENT OF THEIR PRIVATE FOREST LANDS TO ENHANCE THEIR OVERALL SUSTAINABILITY. FOR THIS REASON, OUR PROJECT PRIORITIES ARE IDENTICAL TO THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, AS DEMONSTRATED BY OUR FOUR OBJECTIVES: (1) ASSIST TARGET AUDIENCE LAUNCH THEIR FARM BUSINESS THROUGH A BUSINESS PLAN WRITING WORKSHOP WITHMARKET TRAINING. THIS PRIORITIZES ENTREPRENEURSHIP, BUSINESS TRAINING, FINANCIAL AND RISK MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING STRATEGIES. (2) PROVIDE HIGH-GROWTH INDUSTRY TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH PRIORITIZES BASIC LIVESTOCK, FOREST MANAGEMENT, AND CROP FARMING PRACTICES AND INNOVATIVE FARM, RANCH, AND PRIVATE FOREST LAND STRATEGIES, SUCH AS THE APPLICATION OF AGROFORESTRY.(3) OFFER GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) AND GOOD HANDLING PRACTICES (GHP) CERTIFICATION TRAINING TO PRIORITIZE DIVERSIFICATION AND MARKETING STRATEGIES AS WELL AS FOOD SAFETY. LASTLY, (4) CREATE A YEAR-LONG APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULTS, AGES 18-21, IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A CAREER PATHWAY FOR YOUNG FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO OWN FARM BUSINESSES AND PRIORITIZED MENTORING AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING.ULTIMATELY, THE PROJECT THRIVES TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING LONG-TERM GOALS: LOW- INCOME VETERAN, SD FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN RURAL MS AND LA (1) COMMONLY AND SUCCESSFULLY YIELD QUALITY PRODUCTS AND PRODUCE, EMPLOY BUSINESS AND MARKETING STRATEGIES, AND INCREASE THEIR INCOME IN THEIR FARM BUSINESS TO GUARANTEE MORE ECONOMIC STABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES; (2) POSES THE SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE TO ACCESS LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL RESOURCES TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THEIR FARM BUSINESSES; AND (3) A SYSTEM IS ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES 18 AND 21 HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROSPER IN THEIR FARM BUSINESS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF AGING POPULATION OF FARMERS.

COLLECTIVELY SHAPING A SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE RURAL MISSISSIPPI BYEQUIPPING AND EMPOWERING SDFRS TO SUCCESSFULLY OPERATE, OWN, AND RETAINTHEIR LAND

STRONGER TOGETHER: ASSISTING HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED FARMERS AND RANCHERS IMPLEMENT NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION PRACTICES ACROSS THE RURAL SOUTHERN BLACK BELT

ENHANCING THE SUSTAINABILITY AND VIABILITY OF BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS THROUGH TRAINING EXERCISES, MENTORING AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS

TO ASSIST PREDOMINATELY AFRICAN AMERICAN SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED, LIMITED RESOURCE FARMERS AND RANCHERS (SDLRFRS) IN RURAL, POVERTY-STRICKEN MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES: CHOCTAW, SCOTT, WAYNE, AND WINSTON

RESURRECTING RURAL COMMUNITIES

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

ENERGIZING RURAL COMMUNITIES WITH OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE

EAST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI SMALL FARMS OUTREACH TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT

RCDG - GRANTS TO ASSIST MINORITY PRODUCERS

RCDG - GRANTS TO ASSIST MINORITY PRODUCERS

RCDG - GRANTS TO ASSIST MINORITY PRODUCERS

OUTREACH AND ASSISTA

ENERGIZING RURAL COMMUNITIES

ENERGIZING RURAL COMMUNITIES WITH OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE

NCE TO 9/30/2021, COVID 19

RCDG - GRANTS TO ASSIST MINORITY PRODUCERS

RCDG - GRANTS TO ASSIST MINORITY PRODUCERS

RCDG - GRANTS TO ASSIST MINORITY PRODUCERS

EDUCATING FOREST LANDOWNER TO USE NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANNING TO ENHANCE FORESTRY LAND OWNERSHIP

THE ORGANIZATION WILL EXPAND ITS OBJECTIVES BY TEACHING INDIIDUALS AND FAMILY FARMS HOW TO BECOME FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE THROUGH AGRICULTURE EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

PROMOTE AWARENESS OF FSA AND USDA PROGRAMS IN MISSISSIPPI.

CFU - WINSTON COUNTY

RESURRECTING RURAL COMMUNITIES

RESURRECTING RURAL COMMUNITIES