CELEBRATED
We
Thursday, August 14, 2025 | Birmingham, Alabama
Day 1 of our three-day celebration in Alabama was truly special! We came together as a family of farmers, landowners, cooperatives, and supporters to honor the legendary Phylicia Rashad, who received the 24th Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award—our Federation’s highest honor.
The evening was a sold-out, black-tie gathering at the Sheraton in Birmingham, filled with well over 400 members, sponsors, and friends of the Federation.
It was a night of fellowship, joy, and recognition of the work that unites us.
Earlier in the day, our community shared ideas and stories during:
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a Board Meeting
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a Cooperative Development Roundtable
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an Heirs’ Property Roundtable
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a General Reception
This year’s theme, “Memorializing Our Legacy,” is about us—our ancestors who laid the foundation, our members who carry the torch today, and the future generations who will continue building. Together, we celebrate where we’ve been and where we’re going.
Were you there? If so, please post using any of these hashtags:
#Federation58 #fsclaf58 #fsclaf
In Cooperation
CELEBRATED
We
Friday, August 15, 2025 | Epes, Alabama
Day 2: Cooperative Development, Land Retention & Advocacy in Action
On Friday, we gathered at our Federation’s historic 1,300-acre Rural Training & Research Center in Epes, Alabama, for a full day of learning, connection, and celebration.
The day began with breakfast and a Federation Resource Panel, followed by concurrent workshops on critical topics:
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Heirs Property (Auditorium)
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Cooperative Development (Yellow Building)
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Forestry & Land Management (Under the Big Tent)
At midday, the Memorial Legacy Committee presented the Memorial Legacy Program, honoring those who built and sustained our movement.
Members and guests came together for lunch and also enjoyed our Taste of the Federation featuring favorite dishes from 10 Southern states. Afterward, participants headed out for an Agroforestry Tour & Demonstration, showcasing small-scale, innovative forestry operations.
The evening brought everyone together for a true Federation tradition: a community fish fry and auction, with member farmers, cooperatives, and educational vendors sharing their work. The grounds buzzed with conversation, music, and the spirit of cooperation—reminding us why the Federation continues to be a home for Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives across the South.
CELEBRATED
We
Saturday, August 16, 2025 | Epes, Alabama
Day 3: Honoring Legacy, Building the Future
The final day of the Federation’s 58th Annual Meeting was reserved for our active members, centering on prayer, tradition, and the essential business of our cooperative family.
The morning opened with the beloved Mattie Mack Pretty Hat Prayer Breakfast, where members gathered in fellowship and worship. Reverend Wendell Paris offered an inspiring message, setting a spirit-filled tone for the day. The breakfast also featured the vibrant Pretty Hat Contest, a tradition that celebrates creativity, culture, and community spirit.
Following breakfast, members convened for the Annual Business Meeting, led by FSC/LAF Executive Director Cornelius Blanding, who delivered the State of the Federation Address. His remarks reflected on the progress of the past year and outlined a bold vision for the future of cooperative development, land retention, and advocacy.
The work of the Federation continued with state caucuses and reports, ensuring that members’ voices from across the South were heard and represented.
A highlight of the afternoon was the presentation of the Anulet P. Jackson Youth Scholarship Awards, celebrating the next generation of leaders who will carry the Federation’s mission forward.
The day concluded with lunch, closing remarks, and adjournment, bringing to a close three days of learning, honoring, and organizing together in the spirit of cooperation.
Celebrating
Charles O. Prejean
Thank you to our sponsors, partners, and supporters!
