First Nations’ Native Farmer Professional Cohort aims to strengthen the stewardship and farming skills of 16 Native farmers. This cohort is designed to build skills such as financial management, accounting, agribusiness economics and marketing, and conservation planning. The Native Farmer Professional Cohort will further support members in accessing resources from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS). The goal of this cohort is to improve soil health, water quality, local food systems, and stewardship.
Through this unique opportunity, cohort members will 1.) deepen their understanding of traditional stewardship practices to improve tribal lands, 2.) participate in specialized training on conservation and business planning, 3.) create their own conservation or business planning documents, and 4.) engage in a peer network of other Native beginning farmers.
2025-2026 Native Farmer Professional Cohort, First Nations Staff and First Nations Consultant.
First Nations is pleased to support the following Native farmers:
- Aaron Baumgarner, Catawba Indian Nation
- Alexander Lozinto, Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians
- Anna Roush, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
- Cheyenne Stone, Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley
- Fredrick Fast Horse, Rosebud Sioux Tribe
- Jesse Blackdeer, Ho-Chunk Nation
- John Wilson, Oglala Lakota
- Kaulupali Makaneole, Kanaka Maoli Native of Hawaii
- Kiera Nordin, Navajo Nation
- Mia McDonald, Sainty Regis Mohawk Tribe
- Narissa Wilburn, Navajo Nation
- Nathaniel Etsitty, Navajo Nation
- Tiana DuBois, Three Affiliated Tribes
- Troy Honahnie, Jr., Hopi Tribe
- Veronica Pipestem, Otoe-Missouria Tribe
- Yolanda Latham, Hoopa Valley Tribe
This work is supported by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services.
