Applications due Sunday, Sept 27 at midnight. Note: HYFC members will vote to select our delegates. We'll use the info you put into this form to put make a little bio about each person who wants to be a delegate, and then we'll take a simple vote of our members. Don't stress over this "application." :)
The Hoosier Young Farmers Coalition can send 5 folks to this year's "Convergence." Convergence is a gathering of young farmers from across the country. Since we're a chapter of the National Young Farmers Coalition, we get to send five "delegates" to this gathering. That could be you!
Convergence is an incredible chance to hear from other farmers, give input on NYFC's farming policy efforts, and to focus on building a better future for beginning farmers nationwide.
This year's theme is "Achieving Equity Through Agriculture," and we can't think of anything more important as we build a stronger food system in Indiana.
Each chapter of NYFC is being asked to send a delegation that is majority BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). Each delegate commits to the three-day event, and to bringing knowledge and ideas back to our chapter so that we can all learn from this incredible three-day experience.
Five quick notes:
1. We hope to find a mix of delegates who have been involved with our chapter's work for a while, and folks who are newer to our group.
2. The majority of our delegates need to be actively farming, and the majority need to be BIPOC farmers or farmer allies.
3. We've set aside a little cash, and each delegate will receive a $100 stipend as a thank-you for participating in Convergence and bringing this knowledge back to our chapter.
4. You must be a dues paying member of NYFC to be a delegate. If you're not yet a member (or you aren't current with dues), feel free to handle that later, after you're selected as a delegate!
5. Note that this year's Convergence is virtual, but next year's Convergence will be in the southeast (pandemic depending) - - and we'll help fundraise to get you there. So far, our delegates' flights and housing have always been covered by grants or fundraising). Attending this year is a pre-requisite for attending next year.
Maybe we're getting ahead of ourselves. It's because Convergence is excellent and we're excited. Details below, from the folks at the National Young Farmers Coalition. Read the details below, and fill out this form to apply to be one of our delegates!
6th Annual National Leadership Convergence November 9th - 12th, 2020
Virtual Gathering
https://www.youngfarmers.org/convergence2020/We are excited to announce that the 6th Annual Leadership Convergence will take place November 9th - 12th,, 2020. This year's Convergence will be held virtually as the first year in a two-year event with the theme of "Achieving Equity Through Agriculture." Convergence 2020 is being planned by a committee of four Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) farmer leaders from across the country: Tre Smith, OK; Qaadir Anderson-Perry, PA; Laura Xiao, WA; and Michelle Week, WA. This year will focus on developing a shared language and understanding of racial equity, and programming and workshops will center the needs and experiences of farmers of color. Year two, which will be held in-person in the Southeast in 2021, will focus on transforming participants’ farming communities by applying the knowledge gained during the first year. Attendance at Convergence 2020 will act as a prerequisite for attending in- person Convergence in 2021.
What to expect from 2020 Virtual Convergence:
• Keynotes from Leah Penniman, co-founder of Soul Fire Farm and author of Farming While Black and Chris Newman, owner and operator of Sylvanaqua Farms;
• A presentation from the Young Farmers Policy Committee to present the proposed 2021- 22 Federal Policy Platform;
• Opportunities to engage with Young Farmers’ three to five year strategic planning process;
• Daily virtual farm tours and farmer directed breakout sessions (you pick the topic!);
• Plenty of opportunities to connect with your young farmer peers across the country
through text, message boards, small discussion rooms and video chat;
• Workshops and panels on Cooperative Farming, Urban Agriculture, Environmental and
Climate Justice, BIPOC Mental Health, Oral Histories, and more!
Logistics
Chapter Delegates and Guidelines
Your chapter may select/elect up to five delegates to represent your chapter at the Convergence. In order to maintain a majority BIPOC space for this year’s event we have a few guidelines for chapters:
We ask that you aim to send a majority BIPOC delegation to represent your chapter at this year’s event if possible.
a. If your chapter would like to send 5 delegates, a minimum of three delegates must identify as BIPOC.
b. We encourage you to send an entirely BIPOC delegation if your chapter has 5 BIPOC members interested in attending.
2. If you chapter has fewer than 3 (or no) members who identify as BIPOC and who would like to attend,
a. You may send a maximum of two white delegates in your delegation.
b. You will forfeit any additional spots to be redistributed to other BIPOC chapter
members/farmers/ranchers around the country.
Choosing Chapter Delegates
Here are some important guidelines to consider for selecting delegates:
• Chapter delegates do not need to be one of your chapter officers, but do need to be a
current dues-paying member of Young Farmers. You can join here.
o If you are not sure of your chapter officers’ or members’ membership status,
please contact Caitlin.
• At least three of the five chapter delegates must be currently farming (or one of the two if only sending two delegates).
• Delegates should demonstrate commitment to building chapter capacity and bringing lessons learned at Convergence back to the chapter.
• If you are having trouble selecting delegates, consider selecting a few delegates that have attended Convergence in previous years and have been organizing with your chapter for some time, and a few delegates that are newer to the chapter and have not attended a previous Convergence.
We recommend selecting your chapter delegates through a voting process. At your next chapter meeting or via email, allow for every chapter member to nominate themself or another member to attend. The chapter president or meeting leader will then call for a vote on the nominations. For example: “I’d like to entertain a motion to send Gabe and Michelle to Convergence. Do I have a motion?” – Eli moves. Sheena seconds. President: “Any further discussion?” If none: “All in favor say aye.”
