Summary
Participants in this session will examine the history of racism in US rural land use and farm systems, attempting to answer the question, “Why are there so few Black farmers in America today?” It wasn’t always this way, so how did we arrive here? This session aims to develop educators’ content area knowledge and is suitable for all grade levels but best applies to secondary school US History or AP Human Geography teachers. Participants will leave the session with a grab-and-go unit plan that is ready to use directly with students.
Session Focus
Secondary/ High School | U.S. History/Human Geography | Diversity in agriculture
Conference Room
Clark
Meet the Presenters
Leah Hood (she/her) grew up the sixth generation of Hoods on R. G. Hood Family Farms Inc. in NE Iowa. After earning her B.A. in Geography & History from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, she began teaching secondary social studies in 2008. Leah completed her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2013 from Hamline University (St. Paul, MN). She has spent the last 18 years teaching middle school and high school social studies & adult basic education in the Twin Cities, as well as undergraduates at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN. Leah is passionate about turning a spotlight on the history of the intersections between US agricultural systems and civil rights movements, and takes very seriously her responsibility as a farm owner and an educator to act with social responsibility to support diverse and emerging farmers.
