A Farmer and a Superhero: Meet Mississippi’s USA TODAYs Girls of the 12 months Honoree
Cindy Ayers Elliott is one in every of USA Right now’s Girls of the 12 months, a recognition of ladies throughout the nation who’ve made a major affect. Tthis system began in 2022 as a continuation of itGirls of the Century, a 2020 venture that commemorated the a centesimal anniversary of ladies’s suffrage. Meet this 12 months’s honorees at atwomenoftheyear.usatoday.com.
The footwear with the pink bottoms are gone.
Christian Louboutin’s iconic designer heels aren’t farm-appropriate sufficient.
The dusty boots with the sunflower print on them at the moment are in place as Cindy Ayers Elliott walks by way of a few of the most fertile soil on the earth on 68 acres in Hinds County.
Her objective, by way of Foot Print Farms, is to offer wholesome meals choices and educate Mississippians on eat higher, in addition to present for themselves by way of city agriculture.
There are specialty crops, greens and a livestock farm, with an emphasis on agritourism for group improvement in Jackson. Devoted to rising an array of vegetables and fruit, elevating goats and beef cattle, she believes that by planting seeds within the land, contemporary greens will develop. Nevertheless, planting a seed within the minds of younger folks will create new alternatives.
USA TODAYs Girls of the 12 months honoree for Mississippi: Cindy Ayers Elliott
Cindy Ayers Elliott of Foot Print Farms shares about discovering her roots in Mississippi and giving again to the group.
Hannah Mattix, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
Together with her background in authorities affairs and finance, Ayers-Elliott was in a position to lower by way of mountains of pink tape to assist make a distinction for Mississippi’s underserved.
Whereas some think about her a rock star on the earth of enterprise and agriculture in Mississippi, she is actually a superhero, as Google featured her in a current animated movie as she was honored as one in every of America’s Girls in Enterprise.
From New York funding banker to Mississippi farmer, Ayers-Elliott is a USA TODAY Mississippi Lady of the 12 months honoree.
This story has been edited for readability and brevity.
My ancestors paved the best way. what they did with what that they had and nonetheless made it work. For me, I by no means appeared intently at it till it was proper in my face. You do not notice it. I believe the pandemic has proven lots of people how essential it’s to have the ability to develop your individual meals. I believe they notice how essential it’s and what it takes to develop it. For me, there’s a nice story of individuals, the great and the dangerous, about what will be completed to make a distinction. And for me well being and the way we do one thing to assist. And that was one of many driving forces for me: We are able to do one thing in regards to the issues in entrance of us.
You see it now. Now, what do we provide to assist? So this fashion of paving got here out of necessity. I am making an attempt to pave the best way for extra folks to know the significance of caring for the land, the significance of accessing rising your individual meals and wholesome meals, and making a monetary arm.
Nearly daily for me is a proud second. Once I can go to an space or a retailer or a farmer’s market and I can see meals that was grown by farmers which can be there, it makes me proud even when it is not my meals. What makes me so proud, too, is once I’m in a spot or a retailer and somebody who purchased your merchandise comes up and says, I had that kale and it was a few of the finest I’ve had. You do not know them, however they know you. Sure. After which comes that smile and for me, that is the second to know you make a distinction. Each day that I get up, that is a proud second as a result of I do know that what I am doing goes to make a distinction in somebody’s life at that second.
At my lowest factors, I say, “Okay, I do know that is flawed and it is not working. Who may also help change this? The place are the change brokers for this?” I’ve to be that catalyst to assist make it occur. Coping with paperwork is a low level that highlights the battle of figuring out I’ve to do one thing. I can not look ahead to another person to do it. I’ve one thing to do.
Cindy Ayers Elliott, proprietor and head farmer at Foot Print Farms, retains contemporary lettuce in one in every of her tunnel gardens. It gives meals, diet and training to these in the neighborhood.
Cindy Ayers Elliott, proprietor and head farmer at Foot Print Farms, retains contemporary lettuce in one in every of her tunnel gardens. It gives meals, diet and training to these in the neighborhood.
HANNAH MATTIX/CLARION LEDGER
You realize what, that is simple. It truly is. As a result of my definition of braveness is getting up daily and making a distinction. My definition of braveness is with the ability to step out, see one thing round you and see that it is not proper and communicate up. So my definition of braveness isn’t being sturdy, it is being vocal. Additionally it is vocal in the correct ears. To see the braveness half, to make a distinction, means you have got to have the ability to have that anxiousness to say one thing and do one thing. However many instances, we need to inform, however we do not know who to inform.
Each day we’ve is a day to vary and make a distinction so to talk. I consider in saying it, however all the time in the correct tone and to the correct individual. It may be a mantra or a tenet by which you reside your life. And it is perhaps one thing you have been dwelling your life with for the reason that day you have been positioned on this planet, or it is perhaps one thing you have discovered.
So many individuals. I look again at some nice writers who wrote on the time issues which can be nonetheless taking place. I search for many individuals who nonetheless battle however by no means surrender and discover the braveness to take action. I determine in the event that they by no means stop then why ought to I? I am in search of these ancestors and people historical past makers, particularly the ladies. However you get to see the unsung heroes in addition to the heroes that have been on the market. You realize, you all the time consider folks like Fannie Lou Hamer, after all for us in Mississippi. You possibly can see a sure form of reality and oh my god, look what this girl did to vary every thing for all of us.
I additionally have a look at the nice Maya Angelou and a few of the nice writers which can be on the market and simply say, wow, now how do you specific that? How do you pull this off? There are the unsung heroes, these mothers who’re on the market daily making an attempt to work, working minimal wages, making an attempt to nonetheless help their household.
Oh my youngest? Sure. Oh my god. I might inform myself to recollect your ideas of why you’re right here. I inform my youthful self that due to upbringing you have got the inspiration of these early days. Stand on them. I inform my younger folks to consider in these ideas and construct on them after which you’ll have a strong basis. You’ll fall however you’ll rise up and hold going. What I nonetheless inform my youthful self, even my older self, is that you’ll meet your different self once more. Simply consider and keep on with your ideas and browse on. Learn nice folks and browse deeply.
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