Seanicaa Edwards Herron is a respected agricultural economist and market analyst with more than two decades of cross-sector experience spanning academia, the private sector, government, and nonprofit leadership. Rooted in a rich agricultural and farming legacy, she brings lived experience, cultural heritage, and professional rigor to the evolving landscape of food and agriculture.
Throughout her distinguished career, Seanicaa has served in senior agricultural economist roles with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB) and the Economic Research Service (ERS), the University of Missouri-Columbia’s Commercial Agriculture Program, and the global consulting firm formerly Informa Economics in Memphis. Her body of work includes comprehensive market analyses, livestock and commodity outlook reports, and extension guides covering U.S. livestock, dairy, and poultry sectors. She has developed strategic briefings for senior decision-makers and provided expert insights to both national and international audiences. A skilled agricultural market analyst, she is known for her expertise in economic modeling, forecasting, and translating complex data into actionable insights.
Seanicaa is also a sought-after guest lecturer and thought leader in agricultural economics and market systems. She has presented to undergraduate and graduate students, policy professionals, and emerging leaders across institutions and professional forums, bridging the gap between economic fundamentals, practice, and equity. Her lectures and talks explore topics such as global and domestic commodity markets, agricultural trade, price formation, the economics of sustainability, and the policy landscape shaping rural and food system transformation. She is deeply committed to cultivating the next generation of agricultural professionals by connecting academic research to real-world economic decision-making and embedding cultural and historical context into discussions of market access, land ownership, and agricultural equity.
As President and CEO of Freedmen Heirs Foundation, Inc., Seanicaa leads a national nonprofit dedicated to dismantling structural barriers that prevent farmers, particularly small and mid-sized producers from full participation in the agricultural economy. Under her leadership, the Foundation empowers farmers to build generational wealth through expanded market access, technical assistance, and enhanced financial resilience.
Seanicaa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness and a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Mississippi State University. She is an Aspen Institute Food Leaders Fellow, an inaugural 2025 James Beard Foundation Impact Awardee, and a recipient of the Albert R. Hagan Award for excellence in Agricultural Economics. In 2022, she was named to Mississippi State University’s inaugural Reveille 25 class, recognizing exceptional young alumni for leadership and service.
A leading voice for agricultural equity, Seanicaa continues to advocate for a more inclusive and resilient food system—ensuring that farmers are not only at the table but actively shaping the future of agriculture through their expertise, innovation, and lived experience.
