The Kansas Black Farmers Association (KBFA) recently met in person with federal offices to discuss policy issues affecting farmers, land access, fair credit, and long-term economic opportunity. These conversations are part of KBFA’s ongoing effort to ensure that the experiences and needs of underserved farmers are reflected in federal policy discussions.
In a meeting with Senator Jerry Moran’soffice, KBFA spoke with a member of the Senator’s staff who comes from a multigenerational farm family in Wamego, Kansas, located about 15 miles east of Kansas State University. She shared that her family has transitioned their farm to fully regenerative practices. That background helped ground the conversation in real-world agricultural experience and reinforced the importance of climate-smart and regenerative approaches in today’s policy landscape.
KBFA also met with Sharice Davids’office to discuss fair credit legislation and economic relief options for farmers. Representative Davids showed strong interest in the fair credit issues raised and expressed support for the goals behind the legislation. She also noted that if KBFA moves forward in seeking a co-sponsor for the Economic Relief Bill, she would welcome additional information and further discussion. Her engagement signaled an openness to continued collaboration on policies aimed at reducing financial barriers for farmers.
During the meeting with Sharice Davids’office, representatives from a Native American Fund requested to join the conversation. KBFA welcomed their participation, and the group introduced themselves to the Representative during the meeting. Their presence reflected the value of inclusive dialogue and relationship-building among organizations engaged in shared efforts around land access, agriculture, and economic equity.
Taken together, these meetings highlight the importance of direct, in-person engagement between farmer-led organizations and policymakers. They also point to growing awareness at the federal level of the challenges faced by underserved agricultural communities, particularly around credit access, land stewardship, and sustainability. KBFA will continue these conversations and remain engaged in policy discussions that support fair access to resources, responsible land management, and long-term economic stability for farmers.
This article summarizes discussions from in-person meetings with federal offices and is intended for educational and research purposes.
