Sherrod Institute’s ‘laying ground’ event connects innovation to deeper rural challenges

ALBANY — Conversations among community leaders from 14 counties this week revealed a defining tension shaping the future of underserved farmers across southwest Georgia: Innovation is advancing, but long-standing structural barriers remain firmly in place.

The discussions, held during the Sherrod Institute’s two-day “laying ground” event, are part of a yearlong research effort aimed at identifying the most pressing challenges facing minority and small-scale farmers in the region. 

Kourtney Sherrod, the organization’s policy coordinator, said the initiative grew out of a need for more targeted programming. Survey data and focus group responses showed consistent themes across counties, including limited access to capital, gaps in information and broader economic stagnation.

“The main thing participants kept saying over and over is, ‘there’s no jobs, there’s no opportunities,’” Sherrod said. “So then people leave, and they don’t come back.” 

Those economic realities are compounded by volatility in agriculture itself. Farmers identified fluctuating market prices and access to water as their most significant operational challenges, reflecting rising input costs and uncertain returns.

At the same time, land — a cornerstone of generational wealth in rural communities — is increasingly vulnerable.

“A lot of minorities are losing land, have lost land, they cannot hold on to their land,” one panelist said, citing tax sales, outside buyers and family succession issues. 

Research presented during the event underscores that risk: Roughly 84% of respondents reported having no estate plan in place, leaving family-owned land exposed during generational transitions.

“If you don’t pass that on, you’re going to lose it,” one participant said. “They end up not paying the taxes. We need to get them to understand that this is their heritage.” 

The issue has already prompted action, with estate planning workshops incorporated into the event.

Concerns about the future workforce surfaced repeatedly. Older farmers said younger generations are increasingly disengaged from agriculture, viewing it as neither viable nor desirable.

“Children just don’t see the vision of ownership,” one panelist said. “They don’t want to do it the way mom and dad did.” 

Despite those challenges, many farmers are adapting — experimenting with new business models aimed at stabilizing income and reclaiming control over their markets.

A growing number is turning to cooperative economics and value-added production, shifting away from raw commodity sales toward finished goods, a model highlighted by participants in panelist discussions during Friday’s events. 

“Don’t just grow the crop and sell it to the industry,” one panelist said. “Come up with a product.” 

Participants emphasized that innovation alone cannot overcome systemic inequities, particularly in communities facing broader infrastructure challenges. The research found that 66% of respondents reported difficulty accessing fresh fruits and vegetables, despite living in a region dominated by agriculture. In some counties, residents must travel outside their communities to find groceries.

“They’re having to travel to a different county in order to get food,” Sherrod said. “Or they rely on food banks. But the line is so long that by the time you get there, they’ve run out.” 

Those gaps reflect deeper issues — including transportation, education and economic opportunity — that intersect with agriculture in complex ways.

“It’s all interconnected,” Sherrod said. 

Panelists also pointed to the need for policy interventions, including workforce training, improved access to information, and targeted support for small and minority farmers. Underlying the conversation was a shared understanding that lasting change will require collective effort.

“One person cannot do it alone,” a panelist said. “We have to come together to improve the way of life for communities collectively.”

For many, that work has already begun. But as discussions at Farm Day made clear, the stakes extend beyond individual farms, with growth inevitably rooted in land, legacy and the long-term future of rural communities across southwest Georgia.