USDA Office of Tribal Relations

USDA Office of Tribal Relations The Office of Tribal Relations serves as the primary point of contact for Native American and Tribal policy for the United States Department of Agriculture.

09/11/2026

Today marks 25 years since the tragic events that took place on September 11, 2001. We pause to honor the lives tragically lost, the families forever changed, and the heroes who answered the call and made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We will never forget 🇺🇸

In our August visit to the Southwest, the Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) met with the leadership and staff at the Toho...
09/10/2026

In our August visit to the Southwest, the Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) met with the leadership and staff at the Tohono O'odham Community College (TOCC) to learn more about tribal desert agriculture, current successes, and future opportunities. TOCC President Dr. Stephen Schoonmaker and his team toured OTR Director Patrick A. Penn and Tribal College & University Program Director Lawrence Shorty around the campus and provided valuable insights into the college's programs and the region's unique agricultural practices. It is important to stay in the shade during peak heat of the day!

Pictured: USDA Tribal College & University Program Director, Lawrence Shorty, TOCC President, Dr. Stephen Schoonmaker, OTR Director, Patrick A. Penn, Land Grant Director, Adrian Quijada, Traditional Food Systems Coordinator, DeAnndra Porter, Tribal Enterprise Advancement Program Director, Frances Benavidez.

đźš©TOMORROWđźš©The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will host an applicant webinar for the Tribal Colle...
09/08/2026

đźš©TOMORROWđźš©

The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will host an applicant webinar for the Tribal Colleges Education Equity Grants Program to share information on program, Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) details, the proposal evaluation process, and additional information and resources.

đź“…Wednesday September 9, 2026
⏰3:00-4:00pm ET
🖋️Registration: https://msteams.link/VV8V

For more information about the program visit https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/tribal-colleges-education-equity-grants-program

✨USDA Office of Tribal Relations Cooperator Spotlight✨ This summer, the Buffalo Council (ITBC) conducted four hands-on...
09/04/2026

✨USDA Office of Tribal Relations Cooperator Spotlight✨

This summer, the Buffalo Council (ITBC) conducted four hands-on bison harvest food safety demos as part of a cooperative agreement with the Office of Tribal Relations. These sessions brought together Tribal buffalo program staff, food sovereignty leaders, USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, and ITBC experts to strengthen knowledge around field harvesting, mobile harvest trailer operations, and meat processing standards.

Each demo included a full day of classroom learning about food sovereignty opportunities, meat quality, USDA technical assistance programs, and the new ITBC Mobile Harvest Unit Guide. On day two, participants assisted with a bison field harvest utilizing the mobile unit.

Many thanks to the hosting Tribes for making these demos possible: Taos Pueblo, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, and Crow Tribe of Indians.

Photographs courtesy of the Intertribal Buffalo Council

In mid-August, OTR Director Patrick A. Penn and OTR’s Director of the Tribal College & University Program, Lawrence Shor...
09/02/2026

In mid-August, OTR Director Patrick A. Penn and OTR’s Director of the Tribal College & University Program, Lawrence Shorty, participated in a roundtable meeting with a delegation representing Mississippi agriculture hosted by the USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement. The delegation presented state-specific agricultural priorities to USDA officials, including Center for Faith Director Steve Messeh, Director of Public and Private Partnerships Bruce LeVell, Chief of Staff Anna Pilato, and Senior Advisor Adrienne Peña-Garza. They were also joined by Senior Advisor to the U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, Jarrod Lowery.

Members of the Mississippi delegation included Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson and Leslie Gipson; General Joe Spraggins, Executive Director; Andy Prosser, Operations Manager; Anna Rhinewalt, Producer; Taylor Hickman, Producer; Ben Burkett, State Coordinator; Darnella Burkett Winston, Project Director; Taylor McNair Hill, Deputy General Counsel; Justin Ferguson, National Affairs Coordinator; Mark Leggett, President; Casey Anderson, Executive Director; David Livingston, Executive Director; Dr. Tracy M. Cook, President; Wesley Sapp, Federal Government Affairs Specialist; Representative Bill Pigott and Representative Vince Mangold of the Mississippi House of Representatives; Senator Neil Whaley of the Mississippi State Senate; Senator Andy Berry, MS State Senator and Executive Vice President of the MS Cattlemen's Association; Dr. Keith Coble, Vice-President of the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Paige Manning, Director of Marketing & Governmental Affairs; and Dr. Joshua Weaver, Mississippi Band of Choctaw, Director of Natural Resources

(Photo by Brien Aho/USDA)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/albums/72177720335193314/with/55470234819/

09/01/2026

Take part in the webinar series! This series looks at how Tribal producers, school nutrition programs, and community partners are working with Farm to School opportunities to share what is going well, where more support is needed, and how partners can better coordinate resources to help IAC member producers.

Southwest | 9/9 | bit.ly/SEPT9FTSSouthwest
Alaska | 9/22 | bit.ly/SEPT22FTSAlaska

08/28/2026

Big action in Tucson! ⚡

At the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society's Southwest Regional Conference, RDML Michael Schmoyer delivered a boots-on-the-ground New World screwworm overview - showcasing how USDA and Tribal partners are building resilient defenses to protect wildlife, livestock, and communities across Tribal lands.

Strong partnerships. Real-time collaboration.

OTR visits Indian Country The Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) continues its support of Tribal Colleges and Universities...
08/26/2026

OTR visits Indian Country

The Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) continues its support of Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) and Tribal Nations with visits to the southern Arizona. Office of Tribal Relations Director, Patrick A. Penn and TCU Programs Director, Lawrence Shorty visited with San Carlos Apache College Leadership and a Councilmember of the San Carlos Apache Tribe to discuss successes, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration.

Stay tuned for more to come!

(Pictured from left to right, TCU Program Director, Lawrence Shorty,
San Carlos Apache College Chief Academic Officer, Lisa Eutsey,
San Carlos Apache College President, Linda Sue Warner,
San Carlos Apache Tribe Councilman, Simon Hooke, and
Office of Tribal Relations Director, Patrick A. Penn)

Join the USDA Farm Service Agency for a two-day webinar series designed for Native American military veterans and transi...
08/07/2026

Join the USDA Farm Service Agency for a two-day webinar series designed for Native American military veterans and transitioning service members interested in careers in production agriculture. Learn how USDA programs support new farmers and ranchers and explore resources tailored for the military community.

Tuesday, August 11
2:00–4:30 p.m. Eastern
• Farm Service Agency – Farm Loan Programs
• Risk Management Agency – Beginner’s Guide to Crop Insurance

Wednesday, August 12
2:00–4:00 p.m. Eastern
• Natural Resources Conservation Service – Regenerating Land, Empowering Veterans
• Rural Development – Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG)

This effort is part of a larger USDA initiative to recruit veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses into mission-critical careers that protect America’s food supply, strengthen rural communities, and defend the nation’s agricultural security.

Register here:
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAFARMERS/bulletins/422a556

07/27/2026

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)’s Office of National Tribal Liaison is offering two identical, Tribal exclusive webinars in August focused on funding opportunities within the Plant Protection Act Section 7721 (PPA 7721) Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program (PPDMDPP). The sessions will explain program strategies, objectives, timelines, submission processes, and evaluation criteria, all aimed at helping Tribal participants submit strong funding suggestions for FY 2027.

Webinar Dates:
• Thursday, August 6, 2–3:30 pm EST 5c5baf98-85b0-4fa8-85ac-2539f67fd293@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/5c5baf98-85b0-4fa8-85ac-2539f67fd293@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697

• Tuesday, August 25, 1–2:30 pm EST a5583818-bd32-488f-b37a-99a5b83edec5@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/a5583818-bd32-488f-b37a-99a5b83edec5@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697

Registration is required for both Teams-hosted events.
Attendees will receive updates on key changes to the FY 2027 funding opportunity. Additional program documents and information are available on the PPDMDPP webpage, and questions can be directed to [email protected].

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1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington D.C., DC
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