Florida Family Advances Agriculture for Black Farmers

This article first appeared in Florida Farm & Family.

Farming has been part of John “Ronnie” Nix’s life for as long as he can remember. The operation he runs today in Alachua County, Florida, was started by his grandfather in 1910, growing row and vegetable crops as well as raising cattle.

“My uncles took over when I was in high school, and I would work on the farm with them,” Nix says.

After graduating from Kansas State with a degree in agricultural engineering and a specialty in livestock environment management, Nix worked for several agricultural companies and utilities, teaching them about efficient energy use and conservation. He enjoyed the work, but when his uncles decided to retire, it was a no-brainer for him to take over the farm.

“I decided to buy cattle, and what we were once using for row crops became pasture,” he says. “Today, we have about 50 head of cattle on 80 acres.”

Nix currently sells about 20 calves per year to local livestock markets but says he’s working toward selling more grass-fed, grain-finished beef directly to consumers.

See more: Yee Farms in Florida Supplies Consumers With Fresh Asian Vegetables

Fighting the Stigma

In the early 1900s, when the Hall family farm was started by Nix’s grandfather, there were approximately 900,000 Black farmers in the country. Today, that number has dwindled to 45,000. In Florida, only about 2,000 farms are owned by African Americans.

“Part of the reason is a lot of systemic discrimination over the years that didn’t allow Blacks to purchase or maintain farmland,” Nix says. “But there’s also a stigma among Black people that farming has ties to slavery. We want to help change that thought process and teach the next generation that it’s not the same thing. Farming today is about technology, food security and health. It’s so important for our community.”

To help make a difference, Nix is involved in several organizations, including the North Central Florida Black Farmers Association and the Florida chapter of Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association. Both have the same goal: to maintain Black farms and keep them profitable.

“One thing we want to encourage for the future is bringing agritourism attractions to the farms to help diversify income,” Nix says. “We have a beautiful farm and want to share it with others. I do a lot of school tours and interface with teachers. There’s a demand for agritourism.”

See more: Florida Cattle Rancher Huey Howard Lassos a Legacy

Keeping it in the Family

Lucky for Nix, there’s another person who wholeheartedly agrees with him about the farm’s future and the role of Black farmers: his grandson, Keilyn Fuller.

“I’ve been on the farm ever since I can remember,” Fuller says. “I would play while my grandad was working, then help him when I was old enough. Being in that environment has greatly impacted my future.”

Fuller has an associate degree in animal science and is pursuing a bachelor’s in agricultural management with a plan to take over the farm when Nix retires.

Growing up in Miami, Fuller says he didn’t have a lot of friends who could relate to his interest in agriculture, but that just inspired him to educate and energize people about farming.

“I want to keep pushing forward and show the African American community that farming isn’t just what you see on TV shows,” he says. “You don’t realize how much farming plays a role in your daily life. I also like to take people out to the farm and show them how we take care of the cattle. They’re always surprised at how much goes into it.”

Fuller echoes his grandfather’s desire to diversify through agritourism and other avenues of income.

“It’s a different age,” he says. “We have social media and other things online, so there’s multiple ways to increase revenue while educating people.”

The Future of Farming

Nix says he’s hopeful for the future of farming, seeing how many young people, including his grandson, have a desire to come back to the land. For him, farming has not only been a connection to his family history but also taught him many life lessons that bleed into his relationships with others.

“I’ve learned so much with my farm background that has allowed me to be a better professional,” Nix says. “When I get a chance to participate in leadership workshops or have roles on committees, I always fall back on things I learned on the farm. That, coupled with all the subjective things that become part of the farming equation, like legacy, profitability and raising your family in a wholesome environment, is what makes the family farm such a unique and interesting place.”