My name is Aziyah Blackwell. I was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I am currently a senior in high school attending Tacony Academy Charter high school and when I graduate I plan to attend Delaware Valley University and major in Agriculture and obtain my Bachelors degree. Usually during the week, I work a part time job at a grocery store. Other days, I enjoy spending time at the barn with my ex-racing thoroughbred, Victory Tour. I also have a whole bunch of plants and am starting to grow my own fruits and veggies at home. Attending Delval and majoring in AG will help me pursue my dream of becoming a farmer and sustaining myself off my land and animals. Farming is one of the many lucrative industries and one of the most rewarding to citizens around the country. The agricultural industry helps many families keep food on the table and nourishes households. Agriculture-related work provides many different jobs for millions of American citizens. They also contribute to about 5.5% US gross domestic product, which helps strengthen the economy. Agriculture also opens up opportunities for food export, allowing families around the world to be able to eat as well. Unfortunately, not all Americans are able to enjoy nor afford the opportunity to support families through farming. In America, black farmers face discrimination in the form of systemic racism. To start, more often than not, many African Americans wanting to start up their farms face issues with obtaining and holding land. Discrimination due to race makes it extremely difficult for Black Americans to buy land compared to White Americans. According to the USDA, in 2022, of the 2 million farm plots in America, 91% were white owned, 4% were Hispanic owned, 2% were American Indian or Alaskan, 1% were Asian and the remaining 1% were black owned. In 2022, only 36% of black farmers were granted loans from the United States Department of Agriculture. In comparison, 72% of white applicants were granted loans. Statistics from the USDA also show that in 2022, there were 46,736 black producers, and 32,653 black farmers. They made up one 1.4% of America's 3.4 million producers alone in the entire country. In Texas, they make up 3% of Texas’ producers in total. Higher percentages of producers were found in Georgia (4%), Alabama (6%), Carolina (7%), Louisiana (7%), and with the highest being Mississippi with a total percentage of twelve. A census in 2022 showed that the makeup of acreage that was owned from Black Americans in Texas was 3,245,991, and the acreage that was rented was 2,077,663. The total acreage in possession was 5,323,654. If we compare this number of black operated farms and producers combined, 79,391, which is nowhere close to the total number of farms owned in the US, 1,900,487. Black farmers are subject to discrimination in the form of systemic racism. This is because it is incredibly difficult for black people to gain funding through grants and loans due to being denied even with proven paperwork. Black farmers also make up less than 1% of America’s entire farming population. This makes them a minority. Due to them being a minority, it is difficult for their farms to succeed. As part of the minority group, it is important that the path I am following is clear so that others can follow. As a future first-gen farmer, I will be setting an example. African American Farmers make up only 1% of the entire population nationwide, and my college education will help me change that, even if only by a little bit.

Being around and being involved with horses means everything to me and i’m so happy to be a Black Cowgirl. Fletcher street is my family. From rodeos, to camping, to horse shows, we’ve done it all together. I am so grateful for everything that we do and I am grateful for what it made me and who i am. I am Aziyah Blackwell, That Cowgirl From Philly. Usually during the week, I work a part time job at a grocery store. Other days, I enjoy spending time at the barn with my ex-racing thoroughbred, Victory Tour. I came across Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club in 2021. I initially went there as a young, arrogant teenager. My behavior was changed because of a pony I met named Tip Toe. Together, Tip Toe and I built a bond. I took  falls that would humble me, but I would get back up. Teaching and learning. I also started building responsibility and learned a few lessons as well. Tip Toe unfortunately passed away in 2022; this was sort of a breaking point for me as Tip Toe was like an emotional support for me. I mourned for days after that. A week after she passed, the founder of the club took me to a horse auction and bought a little white pony just for me. I named that pony Slim Shady. Just like the name suggests, he was a bit of a loose cannon. Whenever I mounted his back to ride, he threw me off. He would nip and bite and kick as well. There were times when I considered throwing in the towel and giving up, but I persevered regardless. I watched videos and learned from the club members around me. I asked for advice and took criticism to help me. Eventually, I stopped fearing him and I learned how to balance his rough ride. I worked with him to gain his respect on the ground. In the end, through many months of hard work, failure and success, he was made a much better pony, and I became an even better horsewoman. Throughout the years I've had many different experiences and amazing opportunities with FSURC Including ride outs, rodeos, horse shows, camping trips, dinners and so much more. I am so grateful for these experiences and I can not thank FSURC enough for helping mold me into the horsewoman I am today. Being a horsewoman has taught me so much. It has also improved my mental health tenfold. I have been an inspiration to those who have seen my story, and those who want to follow in my footsteps, and soon, I will be getting my very own horse from the American Quarter Horse Association, because of the horsewoman that I am.

My name is Aziyah Blackwell. I was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I am currently a senior in high school attending Tacony Academy Charter high school and when I graduate I plan to attend Delaware Valley University and major in Agriculture and obtain my Bachelors degree. Usually during the week, I work a part time job at a grocery store. Other days, I enjoy spending time at the barn with my ex-racing thoroughbred, Victory Tour. I also have a whole bunch of plants and am starting to grow my own fruits and veggies at home. Attending Delval and majoring in AG will help me pursue my dream of becoming a farmer and sustaining myself off my land and animals. Farming is one of the many lucrative industries and one of the most rewarding to citizens around the country. The agricultural industry helps many families keep food on the table and nourishes households. Agriculture-related work provides many different jobs for millions of American citizens. They also contribute to about 5.5% US gross domestic product, which helps strengthen the economy. Agriculture also opens up opportunities for food export, allowing families around the world to be able to eat as well. Unfortunately, not all Americans are able to enjoy nor afford the opportunity to support families through farming. In America, black farmers face discrimination in the form of systemic racism. To start, more often than not, many African Americans wanting to start up their farms face issues with obtaining and holding land. Discrimination due to race makes it extremely difficult for Black Americans to buy land compared to White Americans. According to the USDA, in 2022, of the 2 million farm plots in America, 91% were white owned, 4% were Hispanic owned, 2% were American Indian or Alaskan, 1% were Asian and the remaining 1% were black owned. In 2022, only 36% of black farmers were granted loans from the United States Department of Agriculture. In comparison, 72% of white applicants were granted loans. Black farmers are subject to discrimination in the form of systemic racism. This is because it is incredibly difficult for black people to gain funding through grants and loans due to being denied even with proven paperwork. Black farmers also make up less than 1% of America’s entire farming population. This makes them a minority. Due to them being a minority, it is difficult for their farms to succeed. As part of the minority group, it is important that the path I am following is clear so that others can follow. As a future first-gen farmer, I will be setting an example. African American Farmers make up only 1% of the entire population nationwide, and my college education will help me change that, even if only by a little bit.

My name is Aziyah Blackwell. I was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I am currently a senior in high school attending Tacony Academy Charter high school and when I graduate I plan to attend Delaware Valley University and major in Agriculture and obtain my Bachelors degree. Usually during the week, I work a part time job at a grocery store. Other days, I enjoy spending time at the barn with my ex-racing thoroughbred, Victory Tour. I also have a whole bunch of plants and am starting to grow my own fruits and veggies at home. Attending Delval and majoring in AG will help me pursue my dream of becoming a farmer and sustaining myself off my land and animals. Farming is one of the many lucrative industries and one of the most rewarding to citizens around the country. The agricultural industry helps many families keep food on the table and nourishes households. Agriculture-related work provides many different jobs for millions of American citizens. They also contribute to about 5.5% US gross domestic product, which helps strengthen the economy. Agriculture also opens up opportunities for food export, allowing families around the world to be able to eat as well. Unfortunately, not all Americans are able to enjoy nor afford the opportunity to support families through farming. In America, black farmers face discrimination in the form of systemic racism. To start, more often than not, many African Americans wanting to start up their farms face issues with obtaining and holding land. Discrimination due to race makes it extremely difficult for Black Americans to buy land compared to White Americans. According to the USDA, in 2022, of the 2 million farm plots in America, 91% were white owned, 4% were Hispanic owned, 2% were American Indian or Alaskan, 1% were Asian and the remaining 1% were black owned. In 2022, only 36% of black farmers were granted loans from the United States Department of Agriculture. In comparison, 72% of white applicants were granted loans. Black farmers are subject to discrimination in the form of systemic racism. This is because it is incredibly difficult for black people to gain funding through grants and loans due to being denied even with proven paperwork. Black farmers also make up less than 1% of America’s entire farming population. This makes them a minority. Due to them being a minority, it is difficult for their farms to succeed. As part of the minority group, it is important that the path I am following is clear so that others can follow. As a future first-gen farmer, I will be setting an example. African American Farmers make up only 1% of the entire population nationwide, and my college education will help me change that, even if only by a little bit.

My name is Aziyah Blackwell. I was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I am currently a senior in high school attending Tacony Academy Charter high school and when I graduate I plan to attend Delaware Valley University and major in Agriculture and obtain my Bachelors degree. Usually during the week, I work a part time job at a grocery store. Other days, I enjoy spending time at the barn with my ex-racing thoroughbred, Victory Tour. I also have a whole bunch of plants and am starting to grow my own fruits and veggies at home. Attending Delval and majoring in AG will help me pursue my dream of becoming a farmer and sustaining myself off my land and animals. Farming is one of the many lucrative industries and one of the most rewarding to citizens around the country. The agricultural industry helps many families keep food on the table and nourishes households. Agriculture-related work provides many different jobs for millions of American citizens. They also contribute to about 5.5% US gross domestic product, which helps strengthen the economy. Agriculture also opens up opportunities for food export, allowing families around the world to be able to eat as well. Unfortunately, not all Americans are able to enjoy nor afford the opportunity to support families through farming. In America, black farmers face discrimination in the form of systemic racism. To start, more often than not, many African Americans wanting to start up their farms face issues with obtaining and holding land. Discrimination due to race makes it extremely difficult for Black Americans to buy land compared to White Americans. According to the USDA, in 2022, of the 2 million farm plots in America, 91% were white owned, 4% were Hispanic owned, 2% were American Indian or Alaskan, 1% were Asian and the remaining 1% were black owned. In 2022, only 36% of black farmers were granted loans from the United States Department of Agriculture. In comparison, 72% of white applicants were granted loans. Statistics from the USDA also show that in 2022, there were 46,736 black producers, and 32,653 black farmers. They made up one 1.4% of America's 3.4 million producers alone in the entire country. In Texas, they make up 3% of Texas’ producers in total. Higher percentages of producers were found in Georgia (4%), Alabama (6%), Carolina (7%), Louisiana (7%), and with the highest being Mississippi with a total percentage of twelve. A census in 2022 showed that the makeup of acreage that was owned from Black Americans in Texas was 3,245,991, and the acreage that was rented was 2,077,663. The total acreage in possession was 5,323,654. If we compare this number of black operated farms and producers combined, 79,391, which is nowhere close to the total number of farms owned in the US, 1,900,487. Black farmers are subject to discrimination in the form of systemic racism. This is because it is incredibly difficult for black people to gain funding through grants and loans due to being denied even with proven paperwork. Black farmers also make up less than 1% of America’s entire farming population. This makes them a minority. Due to them being a minority, it is difficult for their farms to succeed. As part of the minority group, it is important that the path I am following is clear so that others can follow. As a future first-gen farmer, I will be setting an example. African American Farmers make up only 1% of the entire population nationwide, and my college education will help me change that, even if only by a little bit.