Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund

09/30/2026

Meet us there! 🌱 CoopEcon 2026 is part of an ongoing effort to train and connect people across the South who are working to build strong and sustainable cooperative economies!

📅 October 15–17, 2026
📍 Rural Training and Research Center, Epes, Alabama
👥 Cooperative members and prospects

As communities face rising costs, limited economic opportunities, and the loss of local ownership, cooperatives help people meet shared needs, create opportunities, and build wealth that stays in their communities.

Under this year’s theme, “Staging Sustainable Futures,” join us for workshops, shared learning, and networking focused on cooperative development, capitalization and fundraising, marketing, leadership, and more!

Register Here: https://federation.coop/events -events

Members: Check your membership and access member scholarship opportunities at https://app.joinit.com/o/federation-of-southern-cooperatives-laf or contact your local Federation office.

Event times and the agenda are available through registration.

09/27/2026

Our partners at Farm Aid are standing with us for now and the next generations! We attended this year’s Farm Aid and left with renewed hope for our family and rural farmers. We need them now more than ever, and it’s our responsibility to ensure that policy and our voices uplift and empower them! Grateful for these moments alongside our partners at Farm Aid National Family Farm Coalition Rural Coalition!

08/24/2026

08/24/2026

08/24/2026

More captures from sponsors!

08/24/2026

Captures from our sponsors National Policy Research Center!

08/21/2026

Cultivators Collective had the opportunity to visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute while attending the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund conference in Birmingham.

The experience was a powerful reminder that food systems work does not exist separately from civil rights history.

Land access, neighborhood investment, voting rights, education, economic opportunity, ownership, and food access are deeply connected. The policies that shaped where people could live, own property, build wealth, and participate politically also shaped the food systems and neighborhood conditions we continue to address today.

For us, cultivation has always meant more than growing food.

It means cultivating access.
Cultivating ownership.
Cultivating knowledge.
Cultivating opportunity.
Cultivating stronger communities.

We honor those who came before us by continuing to build systems that allow communities not only to survive, but to own, grow, lead, and thrive.

“One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.” — Psalm 145:4

Cultivating Food, Community & Opportunity. 🌱

08/21/2026

Our hearts are full, and our spirits are still soaring following an unforgettable Annual Meeting with over 400 attendees!

For 59 years, the Federation has stood alongside farmers, landowners, and cooperatives. This year’s gathering reminded us of the strength, history, and love within our movement. We are incredibly thankful to our members, friends, staff, and partners who made the weekend so special.

Together, we honored legendary civil rights attorney Fred David Gray, whose son, Attorney Fred David Gray Jr., accepted the award on his behalf. We also recognized our lifetime members, welcomed Matagorda Bay as our newest member cooperative, celebrated progress at the Rural Training and Research Center, and enjoyed the food, fellowship, and culture of the Taste of the Federation.

Here are a few memories from a beautiful weekend centered around innovation, resilience, and member engagement. Thank you for continuing this journey with us!

07/03/2026

Today, we celebrate Cooperatives and their power to build stronger, more resilient communities.

“This year’s theme recognizes that cooperatives help create more peaceful societies by advancing democratic participation, economic inclusion, and community resilience. Rooted in shared ownership and people-centered values, cooperatives empower people to shape their own futures while reducing inequality and strengthening the communities they call home.” - UN

These principles have guided the Federation’s work since our founding in 1967 by twenty-two cooperatives. Together, they launched a movement dedicated to building self-supporting communities through cooperative economic development, land retention, and advocacy.

Today, we remain committed to growing a strong network of farmers, landowners, and coops rooted in local ownership and local control. We believe coops are not only essential to creating sustainable rural communities but also a powerful model for advancing equitable development and helping communities meet today’s most pressing challenges.

Happy International Day of Cooperatives! 🌎🌱

thefederationofsouthencooperatives

06/24/2026

Dear Members, Supporters, and Friends,
Register here: https://www.federation.coop/annualmeeting

We are pleased to announce that registration is now open for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund's 59th Annual Meeting & 25th Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony, taking place August 13–15, 2026! Events will begin in Birmingham, AL, and end in Epes, AL.

This year's gathering will bring together farmers, landowners, cooperatives, community leaders, advocates, and supporters from across the South under the theme "Sustaining the Future: Innovation, Resilience, and Member Engagement!"

We invite you to join us for three days of fellowship, learning, recognition, and member engagement, including the 25th Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony honoring Attorney Fred D. Gray, educational workshops, the Taste of the Federation, the Annual Membership Business Meeting, prayer breakfast, scholarship presentation, and more.

Additional agenda details, workshop information, and updates regarding the Anulet P. Jackson Memorial Scholarship will be announced in the coming weeks. We encourage you to visit the Annual Meeting webpage regularly for the latest updates!
https://www.federation.coop/annualmeeting

We look forward to welcoming you in August!