ST PAUL, Minn. — According to the latest agriculture census from 2017, there were only 39 Black farmers in the entire state of Minnesota.
The state's Department of Agriculture is looking to boost that number and make farming more inclusive by removing barriers.
By establishing the state's and the nation's first Emerging Farmers Office within the MDA, the department is looking to help diverse farmers like Martha Omwenga.
There's a chill in the air and it's clear harvest season is coming to a close. There's not much left to harvest, but Ramsey farmer Martha Omwenga takes in her plot at the community garden, satisfied.
"I grew up on a farm," Omwenga said. "So when I moved to America I came straight to Minnesota. So I started renting community gardens like this one here so that's where I started from."
Under the shadow of the city of Ramsey's water tower, the city's land is loaned out, free of charge to residents interested in farming.
But Omwenga found herself, wanting more.
"I started renting like big farms like one acre, I could do corn, beans, and I had people who were interested to buy," she said.
Lucrative to say the least, Omwenga said renting a farm was just too unreliable, especially with how popular her produce was getting.
"It's not easy," Omwenga said, referring to renting farmland. "This year you are granted, you are going to farm there. Next year, they're like oh no, I'm not renting out, so it's tough."
The biggest one-two-punch barrier that farmers from underrepresented communities face is land.
"Land and finances are always a one and two--in that order--of preventing people from seeking prosperity," Minnesota Department of Agriculture Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey said. "To be able to have generational wealth."
Bailey added that the nation's first-ever office of Emerging Farmers will actively change that fate.
Just short of giving away land...they had down payment assistance.
"The first time we came out the moneys were gone; this is half a million dollars," Bailey said. "It was gone in 15 minutes. And that was round one. Round two, the moneys were gone! The first time we didn't do a carve out for emerging farmers. The second time around we did.
That second round was what brought Martha Omwenga, farmer, and renter to Martha Omwenga, farmer, and owner.
"It's in Pine City," Omwenga said, referring to the land she just bought this past Summer. "It's 2.37 acres. So it's big-- it's enough for me to start with."
Gone are the days of pining for her.
"Every time I drive around when I see land, I was like, 'Oh I wish I had one like this,'" Omwenga said. "So my goal was in the future wanted to own my own land."
"And that tells you how big the need is and how big the disparity is, in terms of people wanting to own land," Bailey said. "This is yet another opportunity for people to have a different avenue, another barrier knocked off."
For Omwenga, this year's harvest may be over, but her season is only just beginning.
"I got it this year June 29th, was the closing date," Omwenga said. "So it was late for me to farm for this year, but I already I've started preparing it for next year."
If you would like to learn more about the Minnesota Emerging Farmer's Office, you can find information here.