Farming while green and Brown: A case study of beginning farmers of color in California

Final report for FW23-417

FW23-417 (project overview)
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2023: $24,999.00
Projected End Date: 05/31/2026
Grant Recipient: Three Feathers Farm
Region: Western
State: California
Principal Investigator:
Dilip Sharma
Email
Three Feathers Farm
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Project Information

Summary:

The title of our project is a reference to Leah Penniman’s “Farming While Black:  Soul Fire Farm’s Practice Guide to Liberation on the Land” (2018) written by a Black farmer in New York. Our project draws inspiration from this work to document and share our experiences as beginning farmers of color in California’s highly competitive agricultural landscape. Beginning farmers are a critical demographic in the U.S., as census data illustrates that the U.S. farmer population is both aging and shrinking, indicating the importance of young and new-entry farmers (USDA NASS 2017). Unfortunately, beginning farmers face a suite of challenges in developing sustainable farming operations, especially accessing land and start-up capital (Ahearn 2011; Calo 2018). Beginning farmers of color face additional challenges in developing their farm businesses, as they face both explicit and implicit racism in farming programs. Given the challenges that beginning farmers of color face in developing sustainable agricultural operations, it is important that these farmers understand strategies for accessing support. Our project aims to share strategies for accessing such support through a tightly-coupled approach to research and education.

Our research consists of a case study supported by qualitative analysis of participant observation data gathered from our day-to-day experiences as beginning, small-scale farmers of color. Findings provide information about strategies for overcoming obstacles facing beginning farmers of color. Following bi-weekly data analysis and identification of emergent themes, we developed and uploaded a total of 12 videos to YouTube, social media, and our website to share our findings. We also shared major findings of our study through a field day at our farm in Morgan Hill, CA, and through a presentation at the annual EcoFarm conference in Pacific Grove, CA.

Project Objectives:

Research Objective 1: Conduct participant observation and collect ethnographic field notes daily to record the challenges we experience as we develop our farming operation.

Research Objective 2: Conduct bi-weekly analysis of field notes to identify emergent themes.

Educational Objective 1: Produce monthly YouTube videos and a website to host videos and additional resources.

Educational Objective 2: Conduct an in-person farmer field day at our farm in Morgan Hill, CA.

Educational Objective 3: Present our findings at the Ecological Farming Association’s annual conference in Pacific Grove, CA.

Timeline:
Date Activity Team members
April 2023

Create website to host videos and additional resources

 PIs (Dilip Sharma, Hector Calderon-Victoria)
May 2023 - Sep 2025

Daily: Conduct participant observation and collect ethnographic field notes

Bi-weekly: Conduct bi-weekly analysis of field notes to identify emergent themes

Monthly: Produce monthly YouTube videos and update website

 PIs (Dilip Sharma, Hector Calderon-Victoria), TA (Aysha Peterson) will guide qualitative coding processes
June 2024 Complete annual reporting PIs (Dilip Sharma, Hector Calderon-Victoria)
Summer 2024 Host farmer field day at farm in Morgan Hill, CA PIs (Dilip Sharma, Hector Calderon-Victoria), TA (Aysha Peterson) will support with facilitation
Dec 2025 – Jan 2026 Prepare for and host EcoFarm conference presentation PIs (Dilip Sharma, Hector Calderon-Victoria), TA (Aysha Peterson) will support with facilitation
June 2026 Complete final reporting PIs (Dilip Sharma, Hector Calderon-Victoria)

 

Cooperators

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Research

Materials and methods:

Our research consists of a case study supported by qualitative analysis of participant observation data gathered from our day-to-day experiences as beginning, small-scale farmers of color. Rather than prioritizing generalizability of results – as is typical of much quantitative scientific research – a qualitative case study employs context-dependent knowledge to develop theory (Flyvbjerg 2006). This approach is commonly utilized in the social sciences to offer fine-grained analyses of a phenomenon and we model our approach after SARE project LNC90-028. In our case, we utilize the case study approach to offer detailed insight into the challenges experienced by beginning farmers of color, as well as into the strategies utilized to overcome these challenges. With this approach, we aim to produce a case study of the challenges we experience that is directly accessible to other farmers. Our method follows what some scholars refer to as the “farmer-to-farmer” approach, in which farmers share their insights directly with their peers (Holt-Gimenez 2006). We expect this case study to document administrative activities (e.g., how we chose an online bank that did not charge a monthly fee, how we went about registering a company, how we wrote our business operation and planning document, what forms we filed with FSA and NRCS) as well as field activities (e.g., how we disked the land, how we conducted and interpreted soil and water tests, how we applied compost and cover crops). 

Research Objective 1: Conduct participant observation and collect ethnographic field notes daily to record the challenges we experience as we develop our farming operation.

Social scientists have long utilized “participant observation” as a data collection method in which the researchers observe the subject of research by participating directly in the action (Spradley 2016). In our case, we are interested in the experiences of beginning farmers of color – especially those working at a small-scale – as we/they struggle to develop a sustainable agricultural operation. Although scholars have conducted some research on this subject, often utilizing interviews with farmers, we explored the struggles of beginning farmers of color by documenting our own experiences through participant observation. With this method, we observed and recorded our experiences daily using “ethnographic field notes.” Following Chiseri-Strater and Sunstein (1997), all field notes included not only facts about what happened, but also sensory impressions, personal responses and reflections, and questions for future investigation. Notes were recorded by each farmer on every day that farm-related work took place in a field journal.

Research Objective 2: Conduct bi-weekly analysis of field notes to identify emergent themes.

There are multiple strategies utilized in the social sciences to qualitatively analyze ethnographic field notes. For our project, we used an inductive approach to data analysis which allows for open-ended analysis. This approach differs from other qualitative analysis techniques in which the researcher codes for pre-determined themes. First, we read through our field notes and highlighted different processes. These processes were then grouped into categories, and finally into even broader themes (e.g. “acquiring field equipment” or “accessing capital”) (Saldaña 2021). This process took place bi-weekly in preparation for development of videos and blog posts (see “Educational Plan”).

Research results and discussion:

As fledgling farmers, our journey has been dotted with numerous hurdles and triumphs alike. We are grateful to have received a project extension due to various setbacks associated with starting our business, and completed our project in early 2026 (rather than in 2025, as originally planned).

Throughout the 2024 and 2025 seasons, we collected ethnographic field notes (Objective 1) and conducted regular analysis of our field notes (Objective 2). We completed data analysis and identified 12 themes highlighting the various challenges we have experienced in developing our farm business. These themes guided development of 12 videos (see "Educational Plan") and were refined throughout the video production process. Themes included the following:

  1. Establishing a farm business partnership between the two co-owners
  2. Preparing the farm site, including initial clean-up, fencing, and breaking ground
  3. Acquiring field equipment
  4. Accessing capital, including grants and loans
  5. Seeking technical assistance from local farm assistance organizations
  6. Managing weeds
  7. Establishing markets
  8. Crop planning
  9. Navigating relationships with neighbors
  10. Managing burnout
  11. Designing and managing irrigation
  12. Building soil health
Participation summary
2 Farmers/Ranchers participating in research
1 Ag service providers participating in research

Research outcomes

Recommendations for sustainable agricultural production and future research:

During the 2023 and 2024 seasons, we observed and recorded our daily experiences using ethnographic field notes. Throughout the seasons, we conducted structured reflections on our field notes every other week and have now identified emergent themes. Findings indicate that greater research and extension on the following topics would be beneficial for beginning farmers of color: (1) establishing strategic business partnerships; (2) initial farm site preparation; (3) acquiring field equipment; (4) accessing start-up capital; (5) identifying and collaborating with local farm assistance organizations; (6) managing weeds;  (7) accessing markets; (8) making a crop plan;(9) navigating relationships with neighbors; (10) managing burnout; (11) designing and managing irrigation systems; (12) building soil health.

4 Grants received that built upon this project
5 New working collaborations

Education and Outreach

10 Consultations
1 Tours
2 Workshop field days

Participation summary:

172 Farmers/Ranchers
123 Agricultural service providers
Education and outreach methods and analyses:

Our case study employed a tightly-coupled approach to research and education that aimed to both document challenges facing beginning farmers of color and share strategies for overcoming these challenges with a wide in-person and online audience. The aim of our research has been to document every step of our own personal experiences. We hope the case study that we produce can serve as a reference for aspiring farmers and organizations that help support them. Accordingly, we have sought to share our case study widely through both online and in-person educational activities.

Educational Objective 1: Produce monthly YouTube videos and a website to host videos and additional resources

Following completion of data analysis and identification of emergent themes, we developed and uploaded 12 videos to YouTube to share our findings. Videos take the form of personal reflections and conversations between the lead farmer (Hektor) and our technical assistance provider (Aysha), in which we discuss our findings and include images/videos of our farming activities whenever relevant. By making these videos public, we hope that we will help not only farmers but also farmer assistance providers who seek to work with beginning farmers of color. Videos are hosted on our YouTube channel (@3feathersfarm) and linked on our website (https://www.3feathers.farm/).

Educational Objective 2: Conduct an in-person farmer field day at our farm in Morgan Hill, CA

On May 25, 2024, we organized and hosted an in-person farmer field day at our farm (see photos below). The purpose of this field day was to share our preliminary research findings with other beginning farmers of color and with regional technical assistance providers, as well as to provide a networking space where beginning farmers of color could meet each other and learn about various resources available to them. To do so, we partnered with Agroecology Commons, a collective of farmers and land managers in the Bay Area. Agroecology Commons helped to conduct outreach for the field day and facilitate day-of events. We began with a presentation followed by a discussion about the challenges that we and others experience in developing our farms. Additionally, Agroecology Commons coordinated multiple skillshares to address some of our preliminary findings, including “Seeking technical assistance from local farm assistance organizations,” “Building soil health," and “Determining crop profitability and making a crop plan."

Attendees (farmers and technical assistance providers) at field day.Hektor Calderon presents preliminary research findings to field day participants.

Educational Objective 3: Present our findings at the Ecological Farming Association’s annual conference in Pacific Grove, CA

On January 24, 2026, we organized and hosted a workshop at the Ecological Farming Association’s annual conference (EcoFarm) entitled "Starting from scratch: Dialogue among small-scale beginning farmers of color." EcoFarm is a regional networking and educational hub for farmers, researchers, educators, and others working towards sustainable agricultural systems, and we had an enthusiastic audience of about 60 people, with about 10 people participating through use of a Spanish-language interpreter. We shared our research findings, drawing on our repository of videos to provide engaging presentation materials. We also left plenty of time for discussion so that beginning farmers of color and others in the audience could discuss our journey with us and share from their own experiences.

Additionally, on January 22, 2025, we hosted an EcoFarm Farm Tour (see photos below), where ~200 conference attendees toured our farm to learn about the challenges and successes that we are experiencing. During our presentation, we referenced preliminary findings from our study and shared about WSARE grant opportunities.

EcoFarm 2025 Tour 2 EcoFarm 2025 1

Education and outreach results:

We successfully held a Farmer Field Day on May 25, 2024 (Objective 2). We had 32 farmers and 3 technical assistance providers in attendance, which exceeded our goal of 20 attendees. Given that not all attendees were comfortable with reading and writing, we administered the WSARE survey verbally at the end of the event, giving us an opportunity to discuss responses. Everyone in attendance agreed that this event improved their awareness of the topics covered, provided new knowledge, provided new skills, and modified their opinions or attitudes. Everyone in attendance said that they would adopt one of more of the practices shown, to increase their operation’s diversifications, reduce their use of purchased off-farm inputs, increase their networking with other producers, and incorporate value-added into some aspect of their operation. Both producer and professional attendees were particularly interested in our process of seeking assistance from local farm assistance organizations. In response, we shared more about our challenges and successes related to seeking assistance from local farm assistance organizations and recommended that farmers build a relationship with one trusted technical assistance provider who could provide in-depth insight about which individuals, organizations, and programs might be supportive to them. The 3 professionals in attendance also indicated that they were looking forward to seeing our videos so that they could use them in trainings with farmers.

Additionally, we successfully hosted a workshop at the annual EcoFarm conference in Pacific Grove on January 24, 2026. We had about 60 people in attendance, which exceeded our goal of 20 attendees. We estimated through a show of hands that about 2/3 of attendees (40 individuals) were farmers, while about 1/3 of attendees (20 individuals) were technical assistance providers and educators. We also made Spanish interpretation available, which about 10 people took advantage of through use of headsets. We administered the WSARE survey in both English and Spanish. All respondents indicated positive experiences with the workshop, and many provided qualitative feedback to indicate (1) what they would take away from the workshop, and (2) how insights from our research would shape their future work. To the first point, many respondents indicated that what they would take away from the workshop was information about access to capital, with responses such as:

  • "I learned that bridge loans for reimbursement based grants are rare but available"
  • "There is the possibility of advance payments, I didn't know about that option"
  • "There are plenty of resources out there but what's lacking is grant writers for those who don't have the ability to write them"
  • "It is important to look into tax responsibility with grants"

To the second point (how insights from our research would shape their future work), respondents overwhelmingly indicated that they would use the information provided in the workshop to pursue and/or amplify funding opportunities for small-scale beginning farmers of color. Some illustrative responses included:

  • "I will stay aware of grants and be clear on my income return"
  • "Help provide a clearinghouse of opportunities (I am an educator)"
  • "I can delve deeper into the myriad of resources available to small farmers. I learned a lot about different departments and organizations"
  • "Maybe start a grant writing service"
  • "Research CDFA grants and other opportunities; connect with farmers in the room"

All together, these responses are consistent with our own experience: although there are a lot of funding opportunities available to support small-scale beginning farmers of color, information about these opportunities often does not trickle down to this demographic of farmers. It is important for funders and technical assistance to be proactive in getting funding information to this demographic.

During our EcoFarm Farm Tour in 2025, we showed our farm to - and shared preliminary findings from our study with - about 200 conference attendees. Based on a show of hands, we estimated that about 50% of participants were farmers (~100 individuals), and about 50% were technical assistance providers, educators, and other agricultural professionals (~100 individuals).

Education and Outreach Outcomes

72 Farmers/Ranchers gained knowledge, skills and/or awareness
23 Agricultural service providers gained knowledge, skills and/or awareness
72 Farmers/Ranchers intend/plan to change their practice(s)
Recommendations for education and outreach:

In both of our workshops, we found that beginning farmers of color responded well to discussion-based portions of the workshop, as many had challenges similar to our own and were able to contribute their own stories to expand on our presentation. It is now becoming more and more common in agricultural extension settings to provide space for farmer-to-farmer mentoring; our experience showed that farmer-to-farmer interactions yielded both insight and enthusiastic engagement from participants. In this process, many farmers (ourselves included) made connections with neighbors who we will continue to collaborate with to share resources and information. We recommend that future projects incorporate this farmer-to-farmer approach to sharing research results (see, for example, the book "Campesino a Campesino" by Eric Holt-Giménez (2006)).

Although learning certainly took place at our Farm Tour with EcoFarm conference attendees in January 2025, we did not administer a WSARE-approved survey at the event so do not have quantitative data about changes in knowledge or practices. Accordingly, those 200 individuals are excluded from quantitative estimates in this section of our report.

Key changes:

  • Accessing capital

  • Seeking assistance from local farm assistance organizations

  • Establishing a business partnership

  • Building soil health

  • Determining crop profitability and making a crop plan

Information Products

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Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.