Rural Training & Research Center, Epes, AL
A Legacy Rooted in Cooperative Development, Land Retention, and Advocacy
53 YEARS OF MOVEMENT BUILDING
There are four major themes of the Federation's mission, work, and accomplishments over the past five decades. Our performance in these areas is key to evaluating our success and strength over this sustained period. The central themes of our mission are:
To develop cooperatives and credit unions as a means for people to enhance the quality of their lives and improve their communities;
To save, protect and expand the landholdings of Black family farmers in the South;
To develop a unique and effective Rural Training and Research Center to provide information, skills, and awareness, in a cultural context, to help our members and constituents to build strong rural communities;
To develop, advocate and support public policies to benefit our membership of Black and other family farmers; and the low-income rural communities where they live.
The Federation is a non-profit cooperative association of black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives. We are not able to do this work without multiple sources of support. Our funding sources include state and federal agencies, foundations, churches, cooperatives, corporations, individual donors and our membership. Donating to our cause is an investment in our work to support limited resources farmers, landowners and cooperatives.
Join the Movement of over 20,000 Members to support farmers, landowners, and cooperatives. Benefits of being a member:
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Networking opportunities at meetings, conferences, workshops, and training
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Discounts for workshops and training
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Print and electronic newsletters on topics of interest
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Technical assistance on a variety of topics ranging from estate planning, cooperative development, farm and forest management plans
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Corporate discount benefits offered to members
We serve member-owners with various land ownership challenges. Are you a farmer, landowner or a member of a cooperative? Our regional centers may be able to help you. Our centers:
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Regional Heirs Property & Mediation Center
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Regional Cooperative Development Center
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Regional African-American Agroforestry Center
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Regional Marketing System
Cornelius Blanding, Executive Director is a 2019 Leadership Award Winner
James Beard Foundation
Black Producers Data Updates Visit
History...
Click here for video of the Federation's Urban Agriculture work in Birmingham, Alabama
"Healthy Food Options in the City"
John & Carol Zippert honored with induction
into "Co-op Hall of Fame"
Federation/LAF Signs MOU with
USDA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Establishes Regional Heirs Property and Mediation Center
Black Farmers Org Still Stands
50 Years Later