{"id":513799,"date":"2023-11-17T13:14:20","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T18:14:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/?p=513799"},"modified":"2023-11-19T15:55:56","modified_gmt":"2023-11-19T20:55:56","slug":"jenkins-mba-alum-receives-prestigious-james-beard-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/jenkins-mba-alum-receives-prestigious-james-beard-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Jenkins MBA Alum Receives Prestigious James Beard Award"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>By Lea Hart<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-lead wp-block-paragraph\">Social entrepreneur Olivia Watkins (MBA \u201921) received the Humanitarian of the Year Award earlier this year at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesbeard.org\/blog\/the-2023-james-beard-award-winners#\">2023 James Beard Awards<\/a>. These awards are among the most prestigious in the food industry, and the Humanitarian of the Year award is \u201cgiven to an individual or organization working in the realm of food who has given selflessly and worked tirelessly to better the lives of others and society at large,\u201d according to the organization\u2019s website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Watkins was honored alongside Karen Washington. The two are co-founders of <a href=\"https:\/\/blackfarmerfund.org\/\">Black Farmer Fund<\/a>, a community investment fund committed to building a just and equitable food system in the Northeast United States.<\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"has-green-400-text-color wp-block-ncst-pullquote\">\n  <div class=\"pullquote-container\">\n    <p class=\"pullquote-content\">\u201cIt\u2019s not just funding \u2013 we\u2019re making sure marginalized communities have capital, but we\u2019re also providing programming that brings people together to access technical assistance and other forms of education.\u201d<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/BFF-Melanie-Allen-Black-Yard-Farm_1500x844-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"two male farmers\" class=\"wp-image-514062\" srcset=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/BFF-Melanie-Allen-Black-Yard-Farm_1500x844-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/BFF-Melanie-Allen-Black-Yard-Farm_1500x844-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/BFF-Melanie-Allen-Black-Yard-Farm_1500x844-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/BFF-Melanie-Allen-Black-Yard-Farm_1500x844.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Volunteers working on a farm associated with the Black Farmer Fund.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s not just funding \u2013 we\u2019re making sure marginalized communities have capital, but we\u2019re also providing programming that brings people together to access technical assistance and other forms of education,\u201d Watkins says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The James Beard Award is the latest in a list of accolades for Watkins. In 2021, she was recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Impact list. She also received recognition on The Grist 50, which is an annual list of \u201cemerging leaders from across the U.S. who are working on fresh, real-world solutions to our planet&#8217;s biggest challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"has-green-400-text-color wp-block-ncst-pullquote\">\n  <div class=\"pullquote-container\">\n    <p class=\"pullquote-content\">\u201cIt continues to inspire action and let the broader public know about our work.\u201d<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Watkins remains humble about the recognition, noting it ultimately raises the profile of the work she and others are doing while confirming their work hasn\u2019t gone unnoticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt helps put causes on the map that I care about and others care about,\u201d she says. \u201cIt continues to inspire action and let the broader public know about our work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/CNR-Hofmann-4877_1500x844-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"rows of crops in the field\" class=\"wp-image-513926\" srcset=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/CNR-Hofmann-4877_1500x844-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/CNR-Hofmann-4877_1500x844-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/CNR-Hofmann-4877_1500x844-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/CNR-Hofmann-4877_1500x844.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>From Farming to the Business of Farming<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Watkins has a unique perspective in her work because she\u2019s spent time in the shoes of those she\u2019s trying to help.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-ncst-aside-widget default left-aside\"><blockquote class=\"has-orange-400-text-color wp-block-ncst-pullquote\">\n  <div class=\"pullquote-container\">\n    <p class=\"pullquote-content\">Watkins has a unique perspective in her work because she\u2019s spent time in the shoes of those she\u2019s trying to help.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She studied soil science as an undergraduate and went to work in the industry as a farmer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDuring my time working on farms, I was involved in working with different organizations that were doing advocacy work for farmers,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Watkins saw little investment taking place in the sustainable agriculture industry and, at the same time, came to better understand the challenges of Black farmers who were often not receiving equal access to capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She began to focus on finding ways to invest in these causes. With that in mind, Watkins enrolled in NC State University\u2019s Poole College of Management to pursue a Jenkins MBA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/BFF-Onyx-Ramirez-Rocky-Acres_1500x844-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-514068\" srcset=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/BFF-Onyx-Ramirez-Rocky-Acres_1500x844-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/BFF-Onyx-Ramirez-Rocky-Acres_1500x844-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/BFF-Onyx-Ramirez-Rocky-Acres_1500x844-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/BFF-Onyx-Ramirez-Rocky-Acres_1500x844-1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Founding Black Farmer Fund<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Black Farmer Fund was founded in 2017. The organization\u2019s pilot fund raised about $1 million. They had more than 50 applicants for that initial $1 million and could not support them all, Watkins says. Even today, demand is greater than supply when it comes to funding.<\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"has-orange-400-text-color wp-block-ncst-pullquote\">\n  <div class=\"pullquote-container\">\n    <p class=\"pullquote-content\">The fund had more than 50 applicants for an initial $1 million and could not support them all. Even today, demand is greater than supply when it comes to funding.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe ones we have supported, we\u2019ve made a tremendous impact,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Black Farmer Fund invests in Black farmers with three priorities in mind, she says. Those include how the farmers are prioritizing ecological well-being, how they\u2019re building community wealth, and how they\u2019re serving as an economic flagship for their community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Black Farmer Fund was founded, Watkins says, there were no other organizations doing the same type of work. That\u2019s changed over the past five years as people in different regions of the United States are finding ways to create funds or pools of funds that can be distributed to farmers, she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking to the future, Watkins says Black Farmer Fund has reached about the 50% mark in funding as the organization works toward its goal for a new $20 million fund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/CALS-sorghum-6279_1500x844-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"sorghum crop field\" class=\"wp-image-513924\" srcset=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/CALS-sorghum-6279_1500x844-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/CALS-sorghum-6279_1500x844-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/CALS-sorghum-6279_1500x844-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/CALS-sorghum-6279_1500x844.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Applying Her Jenkins MBA<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Much of Watkins\u2019 current focus is on fundraising, and she\u2019s also involved in organizational management, strategy and workplace culture.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-ncst-aside-widget default right-aside\"><blockquote class=\"has-green-400-text-color wp-block-ncst-pullquote\">\n  <div class=\"pullquote-container\">\n    <p class=\"pullquote-content\">Watkins&#8217; undergraduate degree helped her understand the science of farming, and her MBA gave her deeper business understanding.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her undergraduate degree helped her understand the science of farming, and her MBA gave her deeper business understanding, she says. Watkins concentrated in financial management and participated in several internships during her time with Poole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Poole College felt like the right fit in her work with farmers, in part, she says, because NC State is a land-grant institution.<\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"has-orange-400-text-color wp-block-ncst-pullquote\">\n  <div class=\"pullquote-container\">\n    <p class=\"pullquote-content\">Poole College felt like the right fit in Watkins&#8217; work with farmers, in part because NC State is a land-grant institution.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Watkins entered the Jenkins MBA program focused on understanding the programmatic side of raising and employing funds, and she found she also improved upon many of the soft skills needed to do the work she does now. She says she\u2019s a better negotiator, communicator and manager, thanks to her time in the program.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-ncst-aside-widget default left-aside\"><blockquote class=\"has-orange-400-text-color wp-block-ncst-pullquote\">\n  <div class=\"pullquote-container\">\n    <p class=\"pullquote-content\">Surround yourself with people who are excited about your work and are willing to invest time and energy.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think those were some of the things that I learned through my classes, and by listening to some of my peers and their experiences,\u201d she says. \u201cReal world scenarios prepared me for some of the things that I wasn\u2019t expecting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The people she met in the program \u2013 classmates, faculty and mentors \u2013 widened her world perspective, Watkins says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s allowed me to be better at my job, because I\u2019ve gained so much experience through my peers,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"has-green-400-text-color wp-block-ncst-pullquote\">\n  <div class=\"pullquote-container\">\n    <p class=\"pullquote-content\">\u201cOne of the most instrumental things for me in the early days were the people around me who were really excited about the idea.\u201d<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her advice to others that may be considering a similar path is simple. Surround yourself with people who are excited about your work and are willing to invest time and energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOne of the most instrumental things for me in the early days were the people around me who were really excited about the idea,\u201d Watkins says. \u201cWhen times are hard, when things are uncertain, those folks are going to stick by your side and help you figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/BFF-Onyx_Ramirez-Farm_Fresh_Caribbean_1500x844-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"two female and two male farmers\" class=\"wp-image-514063\" srcset=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/BFF-Onyx_Ramirez-Farm_Fresh_Caribbean_1500x844-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/BFF-Onyx_Ramirez-Farm_Fresh_Caribbean_1500x844-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/BFF-Onyx_Ramirez-Farm_Fresh_Caribbean_1500x844-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/BFF-Onyx_Ramirez-Farm_Fresh_Caribbean_1500x844.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Volunteers working on a farm associated with the Black Farmer Fund.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false,"raw":"<!-- wp:ncst\/dynamic-header {\"block\":\"ncst\/default-immersive-post-header\"} -->\n<!-- wp:ncst\/default-immersive-post-header {\"backgroundColor\":\"orange_400\",\"displayCategoryID\":5,\"showAuthor\":false,\"subtitle\":\"Black Farmer Fund co-founder Olivia Watkins is recognized for the tremendous positive impact of her work on marginalized communities.\"} \/-->\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/dynamic-header -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><em>By Lea Hart<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"className\":\"is-style-lead\"} -->\n<p class=\"is-style-lead\">Social entrepreneur Olivia Watkins (MBA \u201921) received the Humanitarian of the Year Award earlier this year at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesbeard.org\/blog\/the-2023-james-beard-award-winners#\">2023 James Beard Awards<\/a>. These awards are among the most prestigious in the food industry, and the Humanitarian of the Year award is \u201cgiven to an individual or organization working in the realm of food who has given selflessly and worked tirelessly to better the lives of others and society at large,\u201d according to the organization\u2019s website.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Watkins was honored alongside Karen Washington. The two are co-founders of <a href=\"https:\/\/blackfarmerfund.org\/\">Black Farmer Fund<\/a>, a community investment fund committed to building a just and equitable food system in the Northeast United States.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/pullquote {\"value\":\"\u201cIt\u2019s not just funding \u2013 we\u2019re making sure marginalized communities have capital, but we\u2019re also providing programming that brings people together to access technical assistance and other forms of education.\u201d\",\"textColor\":\"green_400\"} -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-ncst-pullquote has-green-400-text-color has-quotes\"><div class=\"pullquote-container\"><p class=\"pullquote-content\">It\u2019s not just funding \u2013 we\u2019re making sure marginalized communities have capital, but we\u2019re also providing programming that brings people together to access technical assistance and other forms of education.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/pullquote -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":514062,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/BFF-Melanie-Allen-Black-Yard-Farm_1500x844-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"two male farmers\" class=\"wp-image-514062\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Volunteers working on a farm associated with the Black Farmer Fund.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not just funding \u2013 we\u2019re making sure marginalized communities have capital, but we\u2019re also providing programming that brings people together to access technical assistance and other forms of education,\u201d Watkins says.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The James Beard Award is the latest in a list of accolades for Watkins. In 2021, she was recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Impact list. She also received recognition on The Grist 50, which is an annual list of \u201cemerging leaders from across the U.S. who are working on fresh, real-world solutions to our planet's biggest challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/pullquote {\"value\":\"\u201cIt continues to inspire action and let the broader public know about our work.\u201d\",\"textColor\":\"green_400\"} -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-ncst-pullquote has-green-400-text-color has-quotes\"><div class=\"pullquote-container\"><p class=\"pullquote-content\">It continues to inspire action and let the broader public know about our work.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/pullquote -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Watkins remains humble about the recognition, noting it ultimately raises the profile of the work she and others are doing while confirming their work hasn\u2019t gone unnoticed.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cIt helps put causes on the map that I care about and others care about,\u201d she says. \u201cIt continues to inspire action and let the broader public know about our work.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":513926,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/CNR-Hofmann-4877_1500x844-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"rows of crops in the field\" class=\"wp-image-513926\"\/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2><strong>From Farming to the Business of Farming<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Watkins has a unique perspective in her work because she\u2019s spent time in the shoes of those she\u2019s trying to help.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/aside-widget {\"alignment\":\"left\"} -->\n<aside class=\"wp-block-ncst-aside-widget default left-aside\"><!-- wp:ncst\/pullquote {\"value\":\"Watkins has a unique perspective in her work because she\u2019s spent time in the shoes of those she\u2019s trying to help.\",\"textColor\":\"orange_400\"} -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-ncst-pullquote has-orange-400-text-color\"><div class=\"pullquote-container\"><p class=\"pullquote-content\">Watkins has a unique perspective in her work because she\u2019s spent time in the shoes of those she\u2019s trying to help.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/pullquote --><\/aside>\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/aside-widget -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>She studied soil science as an undergraduate and went to work in the industry as a farmer.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cDuring my time working on farms, I was involved in working with different organizations that were doing advocacy work for farmers,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Watkins saw little investment taking place in the sustainable agriculture industry and, at the same time, came to better understand the challenges of Black farmers who were often not receiving equal access to capital.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>She began to focus on finding ways to invest in these causes. With that in mind, Watkins enrolled in NC State University\u2019s Poole College of Management to pursue a Jenkins MBA.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":514068,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/BFF-Onyx-Ramirez-Rocky-Acres_1500x844-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-514068\"\/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2><strong>Founding Black Farmer Fund<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Black Farmer Fund was founded in 2017. The organization\u2019s pilot fund raised about $1 million. They had more than 50 applicants for that initial $1 million and could not support them all, Watkins says. Even today, demand is greater than supply when it comes to funding.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/pullquote {\"value\":\"The fund had more than 50 applicants for an initial $1 million and could not support them all. Even today, demand is greater than supply when it comes to funding.\",\"textColor\":\"orange_400\"} -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-ncst-pullquote has-orange-400-text-color\"><div class=\"pullquote-container\"><p class=\"pullquote-content\">The fund had more than 50 applicants for an initial $1 million and could not support them all. Even today, demand is greater than supply when it comes to funding.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/pullquote -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cThe ones we have supported, we\u2019ve made a tremendous impact,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Black Farmer Fund invests in Black farmers with three priorities in mind, she says. Those include how the farmers are prioritizing ecological well-being, how they\u2019re building community wealth, and how they\u2019re serving as an economic flagship for their community.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When Black Farmer Fund was founded, Watkins says, there were no other organizations doing the same type of work. That\u2019s changed over the past five years as people in different regions of the United States are finding ways to create funds or pools of funds that can be distributed to farmers, she says.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Looking to the future, Watkins says Black Farmer Fund has reached about the 50% mark in funding as the organization works toward its goal for a new $20 million fund.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":513924,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/CALS-sorghum-6279_1500x844-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"sorghum crop field\" class=\"wp-image-513924\"\/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2><strong>Applying Her Jenkins MBA<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Much of Watkins\u2019 current focus is on fundraising, and she\u2019s also involved in organizational management, strategy and workplace culture.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/aside-widget -->\n<aside class=\"wp-block-ncst-aside-widget default right-aside\"><!-- wp:ncst\/pullquote {\"value\":\"Watkins' undergraduate degree helped her understand the science of farming, and her MBA gave her deeper business understanding.\",\"textColor\":\"green_400\"} -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-ncst-pullquote has-green-400-text-color\"><div class=\"pullquote-container\"><p class=\"pullquote-content\">Watkins' undergraduate degree helped her understand the science of farming, and her MBA gave her deeper business understanding.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/pullquote --><\/aside>\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/aside-widget -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Her undergraduate degree helped her understand the science of farming, and her MBA gave her deeper business understanding, she says. Watkins concentrated in financial management and participated in several internships during her time with Poole.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Poole College felt like the right fit in her work with farmers, in part, she says, because NC State is a land-grant institution.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/pullquote {\"value\":\"Poole College felt like the right fit in Watkins' work with farmers, in part because NC State is a land-grant institution.\",\"textColor\":\"orange_400\"} -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-ncst-pullquote has-orange-400-text-color\"><div class=\"pullquote-container\"><p class=\"pullquote-content\">Poole College felt like the right fit in Watkins' work with farmers, in part because NC State is a land-grant institution.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/pullquote -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Watkins entered the Jenkins MBA program focused on understanding the programmatic side of raising and employing funds, and she found she also improved upon many of the soft skills needed to do the work she does now. She says she\u2019s a better negotiator, communicator and manager, thanks to her time in the program.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/aside-widget {\"alignment\":\"left\"} -->\n<aside class=\"wp-block-ncst-aside-widget default left-aside\"><!-- wp:ncst\/pullquote {\"value\":\"Surround yourself with people who are excited about your work and are willing to invest time and energy.\",\"textColor\":\"orange_400\"} -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-ncst-pullquote has-orange-400-text-color\"><div class=\"pullquote-container\"><p class=\"pullquote-content\">Surround yourself with people who are excited about your work and are willing to invest time and energy.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/pullquote --><\/aside>\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/aside-widget -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cI think those were some of the things that I learned through my classes, and by listening to some of my peers and their experiences,\u201d she says. \u201cReal world scenarios prepared me for some of the things that I wasn\u2019t expecting.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The people she met in the program \u2013 classmates, faculty and mentors \u2013 widened her world perspective, Watkins says.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s allowed me to be better at my job, because I\u2019ve gained so much experience through my peers,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/pullquote {\"value\":\"\u201cOne of the most instrumental things for me in the early days were the people around me who were really excited about the idea.\u201d\",\"textColor\":\"green_400\"} -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-ncst-pullquote has-green-400-text-color has-quotes\"><div class=\"pullquote-container\"><p class=\"pullquote-content\">One of the most instrumental things for me in the early days were the people around me who were really excited about the idea.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/pullquote -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Her advice to others that may be considering a similar path is simple. Surround yourself with people who are excited about your work and are willing to invest time and energy.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cOne of the most instrumental things for me in the early days were the people around me who were really excited about the idea,\u201d Watkins says. \u201cWhen times are hard, when things are uncertain, those folks are going to stick by your side and help you figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":514063,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/425\/2023\/10\/BFF-Onyx_Ramirez-Farm_Fresh_Caribbean_1500x844-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"two female and two male farmers\" class=\"wp-image-514063\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Volunteers working on a farm associated with the Black Farmer Fund.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Black Farmer Fund co-founder Olivia Watkins is recognized for the tremendous positive impact of her work on marginalized communities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":514060,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"views\/single-immersive.blade.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"Lea Hart","ncst_show_custom_author":true,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-immersive-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"backgroundColor\":\"orange_400\",\"displayCategoryID\":5,\"showAuthor\":false,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"subtitle\":\"Black Farmer Fund co-founder Olivia Watkins is recognized for the tremendous positive impact of her work on marginalized communities.\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[26,5],"tags":[],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[41],"class_list":["post-513799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newswire","category-student-alumni"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":5,"name":"Student and Alumni Success","slug":"student-alumni","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":38,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/513799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=513799"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/513799\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":514234,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/513799\/revisions\/514234"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/514060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=513799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=513799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=513799"},{"taxonomy":"_ncst_magazine_issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_ncst_magazine_issue?post=513799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}