About Freedmen Heirs Foundation

Helping farmers take root and flourish

The Dream

James Beard Impact Award 2025

The James Beard Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to celebrate, support, and elevate the people behind America’s food culture and champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability.

Our Team

Seanicaa Edwards Herron

President and CEO

Patrice Lazard

Communications and Operations Coordinator

Sharlene Brown

COO

Lori Hylton

Director of Strategic Programming 

Eva Mazura

Project Manager

Board of Directors

Seanicaa Edwards Herron

President and CEO

Kellee James

Co-Founder of Freedmen Heirs Foundation

VP of Agriculture 

Argus Media

Dr. Ron Rainey

Assistant Vice President and Professor

University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture 

Dr. Loutrina Staley

Plant and Soil Scientist

Karl Binns, Jr.

Founder and Principal

KAVO Consulting, LLC 

Megan Rock

Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer 

Sustainability and Innovation

CHS, Inc.

Latest Newsletters

Explore our latest newsletters for insights to all things farming

The Minority AgVocate: July 2024 Issue

Freedmen Heirs Foundation is thrilled to announce that Seanicaa Edwards Herron, our Founder and Executive Director, has been selected as a 2024 Aspen Institute Food Leaders Fellow.

The Minority AgVocate: May 2024 Issue

Sedrick Rowe, Freedmen Heirs Foundation’s Farmer Liaison, attended the Berry Family Farm Field Day in Glennville, GA last month.

The Minority AgVocate: April 2024 Issue

Welcome Back! Freedmen Heirs Foundation is excited to announce the revival of the Minority AgVocate as a digital magazine and a vital publication dedicated to supporting and uplifting minority farmers.

Watch Us Grow

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