By james art 
In this first-person story, Andrew Vaasava, a farm teacher, shares his journey from North Carolina to Nevada, where he finds the extension upgrading on Thomas Monroe Campbell-Pur-in-law, the nation-based black farmers.
Back to North Carolina, before moving to Nevada, I was confronted with black farmers everywhere. During my time, I worked with the North Carolina Agricultural Leadership Commission at North Carolina State University I had the opportunity to communicate with many of them. They were growing crops such as corn, sweet potatoes and tobacco and raised livestock. But when I arrived in Nevada, I wondered, “Where are the black farmers and how do they grow something in the desert?”
Surprisingly, there are actually black farmers here and they make him work in ways I have never imagined. Some operate city farms in Clark and Washo Counts, sell production on farmers, deliver local restaurants and donate to food banks to support families in need. Currently, several of these farmers are supported by expansion through various initiatives, including the Urban Indoor Farm project. This project provides education for pest and disease management, grant applications and how to manage hydroponic farms – usually indoors and without soil – for growing commercial vegetables and herbs.
Just last year, the Extension Health Food Systems Program, in partnership with United Methodist Church Zion United, northern the community in Northern Las Vegas in sustainable agriculture, and energy, a consulting company for sustainable technology in the NEVDA. Together, they provided nearly $ 900,000 to help city farmers achieve economic success.
I can’t help but imagine how proud Thomas Monroe Campbell, the first Afro -American agent to expand agriculture in the country would be if he was alive today. His pioneer work laid the basis for empowering black farmers and the efforts of the expansion in support of city farmers, especially those in the undervalued communities. Our present work reflects its vision for the creation of agricultural justice, creating sustainable opportunities for all agricultural communities.
Who was Thomas Monroe Campbell?
Campbell was a paths in agricultural and expansion, dedicated five decades to the service of Afro -American farmers to the south.
After graduating from the Tuskegee Institute in 1906, he was hired by a special agent of the US Department of Agriculture to support efforts to support black farmers to the south.
In 1914, following the signing of the Smith-Bover Act by President Woodrow Wilson, Campbell became the first agent for expansion hired in the cooperative expansion system. He travels to country farms, teaching black farmers modern plowing techniques, soil enrichment, poultry, home economy, food protection and rural health. Through the Tuskegee Campbee Campbee Agriculture School reached thousands of farmers every month, improving agricultural practices to the south.
Expanding agricultural extension services against the background of adversity
Among the segregation of Jim Crow, Campbell has created economic opportunities for black farmers. During World War I, he organized Uncle Sam’s “Saturday Service League”, encouraging farmers to invest extra hours to stimulate food production.
Until 1919, Campbell was promoted to a field agent, where he controlled about 459 programs to expand agriculture in seven states. During the Great Depression, Campbell uses policies for new transactions to support the fight of farmers, advocating for better access to credit, education and land ownership.
In the 1930s, he launched the radio program of the Tuskegee Institute, which was the first radio program specifically aimed at training black farmers. The program provided education for agricultural and home economy of African -American communities, supplementing its efforts to improve agricultural practices and living conditions in rural areas.
Global influence on rural development
In 1944, Campbell took his experience beyond the United States, heading for West Africa to study agricultural practices and share his knowledge. His work there had a lasting impact on global agricultural education, emphasizing the importance of practical, localized teaching. Along the Way, He Earned Severral Prestigious Honors, Including the First-Ever Harmon Award for Distinguished Service in Farming, An Honorary Master of Science Degree from Tuskeee in 1936 Department of Agriculture in 1947. By the Time Campbell Retire in 1953, He had Had Helped Pave the Way for More Than 850 African AmeroE Professionals, A Legacy That Contines To See Shape
Permanent impact on expansion services today
Campbell has played a key role in the formation of the cooperative expansion system, which has been formalized by the Smith-Liever Law of 1914. His work to attract scientifically-based agricultural solutions by underestimated farmers laid the basis of the expansion services we see today. In 2002, Campbell was posthumously introduced into the national 4th Hall of Fame and his heritage continued to influence the mission of the extension bureaus. Today, these offices use seminars, technologies and information to deal with modern challenges, similar to Campbell throughout their lives.
Campbell’s work continues to resonate in the efforts of the University of Nevada, Renault Extension. Like Campbell, the extension is dedicated to supporting various farmers, including black farmers in Nevada, providing the resources and training necessary to strengthen sustainable food systems.