The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences (SAFHS) is celebrating Black History Month with two on-campus screenings of “Hip Hop Farmers,” Dr. Obadiah Njue, interim dean/director for the School, said. The video series encourages minority youth to consider agricultural careers and highlights the broad services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
There will be two screenings of the film, both of which are free and open to the public. The first will take place Wednesday, Feb. 19, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Henderson-Young Hall Auditorium (1999 John Kennedy Dr.). The second screening is set for Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Woodard Hall Auditorium (1200 N. University Dr.). Following the screenings, the filmmakers and cast will speak with the public. Snacks will be provided.
“The project is the brainchild of James Bunch, a UAPB agriculture alumnus who went on to have a 35-year career with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS),” Dr. Njue said. “The videos work to popularize the field of agriculture among young Americans, especially among Black, Hispanic and other minority youth.”
Bunch said he came up with the idea for “Hip Hop Farmers” as a way to reach young people who spend free time on their phones on popular apps such as TikTok and Instagram. He believes content creation for platforms like these is key for the future of agricultural outreach.
“Think Green Acres meets hip-hop,” Bunch said. “In my series, a young New York City hip-hop music mogul relocates to Memphis, Tennessee after the unexpected passing of a dear college friend. Along with his fashion influencer fiancée, he takes on the challenge of running an urban farm in a community struggling to survive gentrification.”
In the video series, the three main characters met and bonded while attending UAPB. Two earned degrees in agriculture, while the third pursued a degree in music. Bunch believes this unique mix of themes will appeal to the millennial generation.
“The series not only works to recruit youth to agriculture by presenting a compelling story, but it also demonstrates how families can use USDA resources to make their family farms profitable and sustainable,” he said.
For more information about the event, contact Deseray McKinzy, Extension specialist, program manager for the SAFHS Office of Communications, at [email protected].
