06/19/2026
Happy Juneteenth!
Here are just a few of the countless black figures who helped shape American agriculture and continue to influence farming today:
🌻George Washington Carver
The agricultural scientist and educator is often remembered for his work with peanuts, but he also had a huge impact on soil health and sustainable farming. He helped farmers across the South rebuild depleted land and become more self-sufficient by promoting crop rotation, cover crops, and diversified planting as alternatives to continuous cotton production.
🌻Booker T. Whatley
Whatley was a horticulturist, professor, and agricultural advocate who focused on helping small farms remain economically sustainable. Decades before what we know as CSA, he developed "clientele membership clubs" where community members paid in advance for part of a farm’s harvest. He also encouraged diversified crops, pick-your-own operations, and direct relationships between farmers and consumers.
🌻Fannie Lou Hamer
Hamer was a civil rights leader who founded the Freedom Farm Cooperative to help black families gain access to land, food, housing, and economic opportunity. The cooperative grew food, provided jobs, and supported families facing poverty and discrimination. Through her work in agriculture and beyond, Hamer supported building resilient, self-sufficient communities.
Today we celebrate these farming heroes as we continue to fight for equality in agriculture. Hope you have a wonderful Juneteenth!
