Partner Spotlight: Supporting Native American Farmers and Ranchers with Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC)
The Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) was founded in 1987 and is the leading organization in providing education, advocacy, and technical support to Native American Farmers and Ranchers across the United States. In 2020, Barn2Door partnered with IAC to support their promotion in the conservation and development of agriculture for the benefit of Native Americans.
We recently sat down with Kelsey Scott, owner of DX Beef, Director of Programs at IAC, and Kari Jo Lawerence, Executive Director of IAC, on the Direct Farm Podcast. We got the scoop on the evolution of IAC, the resources they provide to their members, and what to expect at their upcoming Conference on December 7-10 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Both Kelsey and Kari have been involved with IAC for a while - dedicated to supporting their members and growing the organization. Kelsey, a third-generation IAC member, was first introduced to the organization by her family. “My grandfather was on the committee that guided the establishment of IAC, and my father followed in his footsteps. He took me to the annual conference in 2009. At that time, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my career, but I knew I wanted to be with these people. So, when I graduated from college, I became the Youth Programs Coordinator at IAC, and that’s when I met Kari Jo.”
Kari Jo was also introduced to IAC by her family. “My dad would receive their Newsletters back in the 90s. I saw an opportunity to write an essay and apply for scholarships which helped me land my job at Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS). Even though I worked with NRCS, I already formed a connection to IAC. When an opportunity arose to work at IAC, it felt like I came home to do what I was meant to do: continue the work IAC has been doing since 1987.”
The Evolution of IAC & Member Resources
IAC has many resources to support Native Farmers and Ranchers - ranging from financial best practices to conservation planning. “We provide a true assessment for our members. For example, what does your balance sheet look like, what are your operational ins and outs of cash flow, is there a way to better restructure your debt in a way that aligns with the production system that you envisioned?” These are some of the ways IAC supports Farmers - helping them implement the best practices to create a thriving Farm business.
Kelsey discussed the shared experiences between IAC and Barn2Door. “One of the things that drew me to Barn2Door is how they have what IAC offers in the form of direct, human-to-human technical support. My Onboarding Manager worked with me every week and held me accountable for pursuing my goals. In this instance, I was on the receiving end of what IAC provides to our members.”
Recently, IAC built a Policy and Government Relations Department to fully understand policies currently being presented and passed in Washington, DC “We now have a direct connection with someone to understand what’s happening in DC. It’s essential for us to know what policies are making their way through the channels and how that policy is interpreted and implemented.” Kelsey and Kari Jo emphasized the importance of their involvement with such policies, as it directly impacts their members' livelihoods and land.
IAC Accomplishments
Over the last year, IAC has committed itself to promote the sustainable business practices implemented by Farmers and Ranchers. In 2021, they announced their Region Nation Pledge - a commitment to implement sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices. “It is a commitment to the consumer saying ‘I will, in every way possible, produce this product in a way that is regenerative of the nation that we exist within, through the economy and the people, but also the ecosystem.” For IAC, this commitment emphasizes the appreciation of a shared environment and understanding the need to work harmoniously with the land.
Kari Jo expressed how grateful she was for the increased awareness among consumers of locally produced foods. “I’m very proud of the strides we’ve made to connect people to regionally available food. It’s opened a lot of eyes on how easy it can be to find and get.”
Kelsey also shared the accomplishment of partnering with Barn2Door and how that’s helped expand IAC’s effort to help the Native American community. “We established a partnership between our American Indian Foods Program and Barn2Door. This helps us amplify our producers that are using the Made and Produced by American Indians trademark. It’s helping them build a more robust online purchasing option - getting their products into more local hands.”
What’s next for IAC?
There’s plenty more to come for IAC as they continue to grow and expand. “There’s so much power behind messages that carry the voice of such a diverse group of tribal leaders and allies. A lot of what we are working towards resonates with many producers, working to feed local communities.”
IAC is also holding their annual conference this year on December 7-9, in Las Vegas, Nevada. This will be a hybrid event with some in-person sessions and online sessions. If you’re interested in attending (in-person or virtually), you can learn more on IAC’s website and subscribe to their weekly Resiliency Through Agriculture Newsletter to receive updates.
At Barn2Door, we’re proud to partner with IAC and support Native American Farmers, Ranchers, and Producers in their commitment to using regenerative agricultural practices and serving their community with locally produced food. If you’re interested to learn more about IAC membership opportunities or other resources, visit the Intertribal Agriculture Council Website to learn more.
Barn2Door provides an all-in-one solution to grow and manage your Farm business. If you’re curious to learn why successful Farms run on Barn2Door, watch this 5-minute video.