Marbleseed Conference 2026 - Session

The Black Farmer Affinity Group will create a dedicated space to reflect on the deep and often overlooked leadership of Black farmers in farm to school organizing, particularly across the southeastern region of the United States. The session will ground participants in a brief history of early Black farmer cooperatives that sold food to local schools, alongside the origins of the School Breakfast Program as a community-led intervention initiated by the Black Panther Party. From this shared historical context, participants will engage in facilitated discussion about current opportunities and barriers within K–12 school food markets, including procurement, scale, and policy constraints. The conversation will also highlight resources and pathways offered through the National Farm to School Network and NCAT to support Black farmers interested in school markets. This affinity group will be facilitated and led by Tomas Delgado, Program Manager with the National Farm to School Network, and is intended for Black farmers seeking connection, strategy, and cooperative learning.

This is a place for HMoob farmers and ag staff to rejuvenate, strengthen collaborative power, and be authentically present where informal networking, idea and knowledge sharing, and farmer support . It is also a place to relax, let go of stress, and remove overwhelming expectations.

En nuestras vivencias esta la fuerza….Juntemosnos! para conocernos y compartir ideas y experiencias

El trabajo agrícola nos deja muy pocas horas para relajarnos y socializar. Muchas veces, sin querer nos alejamos de nuestra comunidad y llegamos a sentirnos aislados. Pero la fuerza de una comunidad reside en sus experiencias compartidas, sus historias de esperanza, de resiliencia y de transformación. Aprovechemos este momento lejos de casa para pasar un rato alegre mientras nos conectamos, compartimos historias e intercambiamos ideas que nos ayuden a recargar nuestras baterías física, emocional y mental.¡Este es un espacio para celebrar! ¡Traiga a sus amigos y familiares!

In our shared experiences lies our strength.. Let's get together! to get to know each other and share ideas and experiences.
As agricultural workers, we are left with very few hours to relax and socialize. Often, unintentionally, we become distanced from our community and end up feeling isolated. But the strength of a community lies on the shared experiences, on the stories of hope, resilience and transformation. Let's take advantage of this time away from home to have a good time while we connect, share stories, and exchange ideas that help us recharge our physical, mental, and emotional batteries. This is a space to celebrate! Please bring your friends and family to share stories!

Join veteran farmers to connect, share experiences, and build community. This gathering offers space to exchange resources, discuss challenges, and opportunities in farming, and strengthen veteran-to-veteran support networks.

Join the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) for an interactive listening session to identify and prioritize the most pressing research needs for organic farmers and ranchers. Your invaluable insights will directly inform researchers, helping them focus on the issues that matter most to you. The conversation will center around research and informational needs, changing environmental and economic conditions, and evolving challenges for organic producers. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss a number of research topics, such as seed and plant breeding, soil health, livestock welfare, and economic barriers to organic production. Information from this listening session will be incorporated into OFRF's next Regional and National Organic Needs Agenda, to be used by organic advocates, researchers, and policy makers to support organic initiatives across the US.

This short session provides an opportunity for Tribal producers and key partners to connect on current efforts while discussing possible collaborations.