Prepared for Virginia State University College of Agriculture and VSU Small Farm Outreach Program
Presented by Danielle Freeman Jefferson and Herman EllisonYour Content Goes Here
Virginia State University’s (VSU) Small Farm Outreach Program conducted 10 focus group meetings across the state, October 2025–March 2026, on behalf of the VSU College of Agriculture. This report presents findings from those meetings where140 small and urban farmers across Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland provided input and insights on the emerging issues and opportunities for producers in the Commonwealth. Participants also discussed ways that VSU College of Agriculture and the Small Farm Outreach Program can play an integral role in agriculture education, training, and research. Their responses reveal that farming is not only an occupation but also a personal identity, with deep connections to land, family, and community.
For purposes of this report, “peer” refers to individuals engaged in similar agricultural roles or professional experiences (e.g., fellow farmers or producers), and does not denote any demographic, racial, or identity-based grouping.
All findings are presented based on operational, geographic, and access-related factors identified by
participants, without regard to race or ethnicity, in alignment with applicable federal non-discrimination
requirements.