Farmer Ivan Hurd grabs hay for his horses in the evening on his farm in Lemoore, California on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. I van can trace his family back to Africans who were brought to this country as slaves. On working on his farm he says, “What I do out here on my land, with these animals, this is work in a way but it’s much more than that. It’s relaxing to me because when I’m on my property, the feeling I have is freedom. It’s freedom of being self-employed, freedom of not having to rely on other people, freedom to do what I love. So, it’s work and it‘s not easy and it's not for everybody. But this life, the feeling it can give is much more than that.”
Like Black farmers across the country, the contributions of California's Black farmers to the state's agricultural sector have historically received little recognition or appreciation. A century of institutional racism, loan denials, and USDA discrimination has resulted in the unfortunate truth that they now make up less than 1% of California farmers. Many of them trace their ancestry back to Africans who were brought to this country as slaves, but who eventually clawed their way to sovereignty and independence and took with them the precious knowledge they had gained by cultivating the land. The migration of Black farmers from the south to California, was part of the "Great Migration" that saw millions of African Americans leave the south in search of better economic opportunities, political rights and to escape from the racist and violent conditions they were facing. Even though some of them were able to acquire land, these farmers often found themselves without access to credit, government programs, or other resources. The farmers that did succeed, however, brought their culture with them. Many of the Black farmers continued to grow southern crops like okra, black-eyed peas, collard greens, and yams. Growing these crops helped keep their culture and community alive. Despite Black farmers being an integral part of the state's farming industry, without a younger generation to continue their practices the future of this community is uncertain.
Farmers William Scott Jr., his brother Melvin Scott and Pete Oliver plants eat breakfast together at Ho Ho’s Kafe in Fresno, California on Monday, July 26, 2021. The regularly eat breakfast together.
Farmer Pete Oliver plants peas on his farm in Fresno, California on Monday, July 26, 2021. Farmer Pete Oliver, 77, a third- generation farmer who grows vegetables commonly found in the south, checks up on the black-eyed peas he is growing on his farm in Fresno, California on Monday, July 26, 2021. He is one of the last Black farmers in the Central Valley. Oliver says, "There’s so very few black farmers left. There were a lot of them 30 or 40 years ago when I was a youngster but when the old timers die off the children don’t want to be bothered. They sell all the land and move to town. In another 20 years we will only have a few Blacks left so it’s gonna be tough. The Black farmers are gonna become extinct. We’re gonna be a thing of the past."
Farmer Ivan Hurd guides his son Curt Hurd as he brings hay out for their animals on their farm in Lemoore, California on Thursday, July 1, 2021. Ivan is teaching his son how to run the farm. On working on his farm he says, “What I do out here on my land, with these animals, this is work in a way but it’s much more than that. It’s relaxing to me because when I’m on my property, the feeling I have is freedom. It’s freedom of being self-employed, freedom of not having to rely on other people, freedom to do what I love. So, it’s work and it‘s not easy and it's not for everybody. But this life, the feeling it can give is much more than that.”
Farmer Melvin Scott takes a break from farming while drinking a soda in his car in Fresno, California on Friday, July 30, 2021.
Farmer Ivan Hurd (left) sits on a bench as he bids on cows during the Visalia Livestock show in Visalia, California on Wednesday, July 28, 2021. Ivan can trace his family back to Africans who were brought to this country as slaves. His own grandfather escaped slavery by sneaking onto a boat with his mule and wagon in Manchester, Texas. The boat brought him to Idabel, Oklahoma where he started his own farm. When his family heard there was money out in California they left Texas and moved to California to pick cotton.
Farmer James McGill,79, takes a coffee break after feeding his hogs on his farm in Bakersfield, California on Thursday, July 29, 2021. McGill has been farming with his family his entire life. He is a 3rd generation hog farmer and Vietnam Army veteran. After going into foreclosure, McGill struggles to make ends meet and is always looking to get money to clean up the farm. Because money is so tight, McGill feeds his hogs with spoiled food that has been donated to him.
Farmer Ivan Hurd closes the door to one of his barns in Visalia, California on Wednesday, July 28, 2021. Ivan can trace his family back to Africans who were brought to this country as slaves. His own grandfather escaped slavery by sneaking onto a boat with his mule and wagon in Manchester, Texas. The boat brought him to Idabel, Oklahoma where he started his own farm. When his family heard there was money out in California they left Texas and moved to California to pick cotton. Of his grandfather Ivan says, "He got to picking cotton by hand, dragging a long cotton sack.You have to pick about 700 lbs a day to make any money, and I'm talking about like $15 dollars...That's how we ended up in this part of the country." Ivan started as a farmer when he was a young boy. He says, "Before I'd go to school...it was my job to take care of the animals and change the irrigation pipes and farm the cotton before I went to school. So I grew up around it and I never did get away from it."
Farmer Ivan Hurd (left) brands his cows with a friend in Visalia, California on Wednesday, July 28, 2021. Ivan can trace his family back to Africans who were brought to this country as slaves. His own grandfather escaped slavery by sneaking onto a boat with his mule and wagon in Manchester, Texas. The boat brought him to Idabel, Oklahoma where he started his own farm. When his family heard there was money out in California they left Texas and moved to California to pick cotton. Of his grandfather Ivan says, "He got to picking cotton by hand, dragging a long cotton sack.You have to pick about 700 lbs a day to make any money, and I'm talking about like $15 dollars...That's how we ended up in this part of the country." Ivan started as a farmer when he was a young boy. He says, "Before I'd go to school...it was my job to take care of the animals and change the irrigation pipes and farm the cotton before I went to school. So I grew up around it and I never did get away from it."
Farmer Melvin Scott grabs melons from his truck to bring to a farmers market in Oakland, California on Saturday, July 24, 2021.
Farmer Ivan Hurd nuzzles with one of his horses in the evening on his farm in Lemoore, California on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. I van can trace his family back to Africans who were brought to this country as slaves. On working on his farm he says, “What I do out here on my land, with these animals, this is work in a way but it’s much more than that. It’s relaxing to me because when I’m on my property, the feeling I have is freedom. It’s freedom of being self-employed, freedom of not having to rely on other people, freedom to do what I love. So, it’s work and it‘s not easy and it's not for everybody. But this life, the feeling it can give is much more than that.”
A hog on farmer James McGill,79, farm in Bakersfield, California on Thursday, July 29, 2021. McGill has been farming with his family his entire life. He is a 3rd generation hog farmer and Vietnam Army veteran. After going into foreclosure, McGill struggles to make ends meet and is always looking to get money to clean up the farm. Because money is so tight, McGill feeds his hogs with spoiled food that has been donated to him.
Farmer Ivan Hurd guides his son (not pictured) as he disks the farmland on his property in Lemoore, California on Thursday, July 1, 2021. Ivan is teaching his son how to run the farm. Ivan can trace his family back to Africans who were brought to this country as slaves. His own grandfather escaped slavery by sneaking onto a boat with his mule and wagon in Manchester, Texas. The boat brought him to Idabel, Oklahoma where he started his own farm. When his family heard there was money out in California they left Texas and moved to California to pick cotton. Of his grandfather Ivan says, "He got to picking cotton by hand, dragging a long cotton sack.You have to pick about 700 lbs a day to make any money, and I'm talking about like $15 dollars...That's how we ended up in this part of the country." Ivan started as a farmer when he was a young boy. He says, "Before I'd go to school...it was my job to take care of the animals and change the irrigation pipes and farm the cotton before I went to school. So I grew up around it and I never did get away from it."
Farmer James McGill (center) gets help unloading a truck full of donated food in order to feed his hogs on his farm in Bakersfield, California on Thursday, July 29, 2021. James cannot afford to buy food for them and is struggling to make ends meet.
Farmer Ivan Hurd puts out water for his horses in the evening on his farm in Lemoore, California on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. I van can trace his family back to Africans who were brought to this country as slaves. On working on his farm he says, “What I do out here on my land, with these animals, this is work in a way but it’s much more than that. It’s relaxing to me because when I’m on my property, the feeling I have is freedom. It’s freedom of being self-employed, freedom of not having to rely on other people, freedom to do what I love. So, it’s work and it‘s not easy and it's not for everybody. But this life, the feeling it can give is much more than that.”