Local Black farmers pushing for equality in agriculture

SPENCER, Okla. (KFOR) — Black farmers make up less than 2% of all farmers in the US, and that number continues to decline.

However, there is hope on the horizon as Black farmers continue to push for equal funding, rights and resources.

We spoke with a few local Black farmers about their challenge and their hope for future generations.

The number of Black farmers in the U.S. continue to decline, but it is not because they aren't capable of running a farm.

The majority of the time, they aren't given equal funding or resources to help maintain their farm, which is why Black farmers across Oklahoma are calling for change.

"It just seems to be unfair that that we don't get the same financial opportunity, because we do the same work," Richie Guess, farmer said.

For generations, Black farmers like the Guess family have had to fight an uphill battle to not only thrive in the farming world, but to just stay afloat.

"Me and my wife saving our money and sacrificing to keep the farm going because that's what we love to do," Guess said.

However, the government is trying to make amends for the decades of unfair and unjust systematic ways by providing billions of dollars in debt forgiveness if you qualify.

That isn't the only pressing matter though, women are also often forgotten about in the farming world.

"It's empowering women and also receiving funds, set aside funds for women who actually work with youth and to help provide grant funds to our women in agriculture across the United States," Dr. Tammy Steele, Director of National Women in Agriculture Association said.

Dr. Steele is introducing the "Empowering Women in Agriculture Act" saying it is not just a bill, but a call to action.

"If you go to many farms, I'm sure here in Oklahoma alone, you would have a female somewhere running the farm," Dr. Steele said. "However, there's no funding. A majority of the funding that comes out, that has come out in this administration, the Biden administration, have gone to male groups.

Tiffany Guess is following in her dads footsteps, hoping to be a part of the change.

"It's always like a question when you see a woman in power position, especially in farming, because like most of the women that come into farming come from a generational thing," she said. "So, it's pretty hard because people, they don't take you as serious as a man."

She is happy to see progress being made with more funding being available specifically for Black farmers, and introducing a bill that would give women in agriculture more respect and opportunities, hoping everything will be equal for generations after her.

"We want to make things better for the generation that's coming behind us," she said. "Hopefully my nieces and nephews don't have to go through what we went through to get assistance."

For the Guess family, that is all they want, to leave their kids with more than what was given to them.

"As my parents tried to do for me, they wanted me to do better than they did," Richie Guess said. "So, I just try to put it out there and teach them, you know, whatever we have, hold on to it."

Dr. Steele will be heading back to Washington DC in the coming weeks to further discuss her bill, "Empowering Women in Agriculture Act" looking to push it through legislation this fall.