"You Matter"- Opening Speaker, Kwesi Mfume

Keynote speaker Kwesi Mfume for the Opening of the General Session says it’s difficult to determine what condition "our" condition is in. There have been many changes but we still face many challenges. He noted the economic disparity for Black homeowners is growing. Full development should be our goal—not employment. To drive home the seriousness of his point—he added, ‘in slavery everyone had a job too.’

Referencing James Brown, he said he "doesn’t want you to give me or hand me nothing. I want you to open the door so that I can get myself in." To put it plainly, he just wants a fair opportunity to be given.  

Mfume noted that several of the morning speakers said that they are where they are because of those before them. It is important to remember, it was the path that was laid out for them which helped this change. As Leonard Jordan and Drenda Williams also emphasized, it is important to continue fighting for us and reach back.

With all of the developed minds we have, we should at least be as smart as a honeybee. Mfume says whether it’s their brain or instinct, it works. If a honeybee is in a room, it would fly around looking for a flower. It then lands on it to get nectar, gets excited and fulfilled on own life. But the honeybee also knows he has an important role. If the honeybee didn’t take time to leave some pollen on the flowers, the flower wouldn’t flourish and then the bee couldn’t eat.

Like the honeybee has an important role in life, so does everyone in attendance. NOPBNRCSE wants to make sure you matter.

Lloyd Wright Small Farmer Awards Luncheon

During opening remarks at the Lloyd Wright Small Farmer Luncheon, NRCS Retiree and Life Member Lloyd Wright applauded NRCS for its efforts to increase the number of African-American State Conservationists. There are now 13 African-American State Conservationists nationwide, most of whom are located in the South.

He urged the African-American State Conservationists to ensure the African-American producers in their respective states know who they are and the services NRCS can provide to help them conserve their natural resources.

Wright also bemoaned the plight of the African-American farmer—saying their numbers continue to decline. He was not joking when he said “If Black farmers were green-eyed frogs, they would be considered an endangered species.”

The Organization also paid tribute to former President William Hunt, who passed away in February 2015. President Drenda Williams announced The Organization will name its Life Membership Awards after him. The Life Membership Award is now known as the “William ”Bill” Hunt Life Membership Awards.” Anthony Hunt, Bill’s son, attended the luncheon on behalf of the Hunt family and helped  President Williams distribute the 2015 Life Membership Awards.

The Organization also announced the winner and two finalists for the Small Farmer Award. Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Turner of Alabama won first place. Ellis Bell of Arkansas won second place and Rickie Roddy of Texas won third.

The Turners of Harvest grow vegetables, raise cattle and produce high quality hay. They have worked with SCS, now NRCS, since the 1980s. During that time, the Turners have installed many conservation practices including pasture plantings, improved water facilities, cross fencing, pipelines, nutrient management and heavy use areas. The Turners have completed seven Environmental Quality Incentives Program contracts, resulting in a resource management system as part of his operation. He farms 152 acres.

Keynote speaker William Barber III, President of the North Carolina NAACP, delivered a passionate speech designed to invigorate and inspire Organization members, spurring them to commit to making a difference on their jobs and in their communities. He focused his speech on “Using Your Influence.”

Barbour, pastor of Greenleaf Church in Goldsboro, North Carolina, reminded conference participants that the nation had 250 years of free black labor from slaves. He said America’s agricultural land has been preserved “on the backs of the slaves.”

He reminded participants of why our organization was founded and how hard our founding fathers and mothers fought for professional advancement and increased opportunities for members.

“Some of us wouldn’t be sitting here if our founding fathers didn’t go to battle,” he said. “Use your influence against the odds. Against the odds, the seeds will grow… Use your courage, influence and intellect courageously and without fear.”

He reminded expo attendees of civil rights icon Rosa Parks’s courage; how she defied the odds to enact change. She served as a spark for a movement that benefited all African-Americans nationwide. He also cited Emmitt Till’s mom who fearlessly opened up her 13-year –old Emmitt’s casket so the world could see the atrocious acts committed against him. He called both of them “modern-day Esthers” from the Old Testament.

“You must use your influence to enact change, to help others,” Barbour stressed…”History is calling us to use our influence.”

He said we can use our influence to ensure private agricultural land is conserved.

He stressed that we must not fall to a lack of willpower to take action in the face of “wrong.” “You must use your influence to redefine your reality.”

Barbour echoed what Lloyd Wright said earlier—that 97 percent of black farms are in decline.

He reminded us not to just benefit from the wars and sacrifices of the pioneers and those brave enough to stand up to authority. He said some of us get positions and then we “forget where we came from.”

However, Barbour said this…”History demanded that someone stand and fight.”

We should use our influence for a real agenda such as economic sustainability, full employment for all, a strong safety net for farmers, preservation of land for small and minority farmers and fair tax reform.

“If we use our influence, God will use his,” Barbour said “..If I do my part, if I use my influence, God will use his….Do what you can while you can.”

Pearlie S. Reed Banquet with Judge Glenda Hatchett, Georgia

Poised andpositioned like court was in session, Judge Hatchett commanded the stage at TheOrganization’s 2015 Pearlie Reed banquet. She first paid honor to the visionaryPearlie Reed for his sacrifice and leadership to The Organization and theagency over many years by quoting the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. “Theultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort andconvenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.”

JudgeHatchett began her impassioned speech with police killings and maintained thatpassion throughout every topic. Silence often hung in the air as her audiencelistened intently. When discussing the killing of Black men by police, Hatchettsaid she used to say, “That could’ve been my son.” Now she says, “It is my son.They all are.” She prays for a world where a young boy can walk down the streetwith a bag of Skittles and ice tea.

Making theconnection between police brutality and the Organization, Hatchett says, “Weare called at such a time like this.” This is relevant to farmers and blackprofessionals. Like many of the audience members, Hatchett said that she iswhere she is because of God’s grace and because she stands on the shoulders ofgenerations of Black folks who made her achievements possible.

She also hada message for NRCS employees who won’t join The Organization. “Who thinks thatthey got ‘there’ on their own?” sheasked. “Rather, you’re in these positions and agencies because of folks whomade a difference—like Reed. If they’re going to benefit from the table, theyneed to pick or be there at the harvest.” She said she has little patience forthose who think they got there on their own.

Hatchettshared stories of her experiences as a Juvenile court judge. Once on a lunchbreak, she ran into a man who recognized her as the new judge. He told her,‘the problem with a lot of young black men is that nobody is calling these boys`son.’ His words stuck with her and she realized she could be a force forchange. As a juvenile court judge, she had the power to make a huge impact bygetting to these young boys early in their lives.

She also talkedwith a pastor who said he recently met with gang recruiters who told her thereason gangs are so successful is because they can love them better than thechurch can.

Hatchettadmits that she doesn’t know a lot about agriculture—only from what she learnedon her grandmother’s farm. But still, she says everything she’s mentioned inher speech deals with conservation because the battle is ‘everywhere’ and weare all on the battlefront.

“We are allbeneficiaries of the dream. I’m standing on the shoulders of mightygenerations.”  She told the story of anElder Mother in her church who gave her a handkerchief and told her, “Baby, Ican’t go with you where you going, but baby, you run on.” To her Elder Mother,this is a relay. She ran her leg of the race and passed it along to Hatchett torun this side of the race. And that’s exactly what Hatchett is doing –all thatshe can.

Pearlie Reed Award Winner: Lloyd Wright is the 2015 recipientof the Pearlie S. Reed Award.

   A Few Words of Wisdom from Our Retirees

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