Press Releases
Board of Trustees Application
The Native American Agriculture Fund accepts applications for the position of Trustee on a rolling basis. Interested parties should submit an application for consideration as positions become available. NAAF's grantmaking is focused on advancing economic opportunity...
The Anchor or The Wind: The Moore Family Redefines What It Means to be a Native Producer
The Anchor or The Wind: The Moore Family Redefines What It Means to be a Native ProducerBy Keona Mason (Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma)Eddie Moore still remembers the day the USDA officer leaned back in his chair, snuffed out his cigarette on the ashtray and bluntly said,...
Faces of Native Agriculture – Spring 2026
At NAAF, we believe the most powerful stories in Native agriculture are the ones lived every day, in the fields, in the classrooms, in the boardrooms, and at the kitchen table. Faces of Native Agriculture is our celebration of those stories. This inaugural edition...
Native American Agriculture Fund Opens 2026 Request for Applications, Launching 8th Funding Cycle
The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) has opened its 2026 Request for Applications (RFA), marking the organization’s eighth funding cycle supporting Native farmers, ranchers, and food systems across Indian Country. Eligible entities can apply through May 1,...
How the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Built a Division of Agriculture and a Future for Its Producers, Youth, and Communities
Across Indian Country, Tribal Nations are rethinking how agriculture fits into their long-term vision for sovereignty, economic development, and community well-being. For the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, one of the most significant steps forward came through a structural...
From Vision to Viability: The Coushatta Tribe’s Department of Agriculture Leads the Way
With support from the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) in 2023, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana launched an ambitious Rice–Crawfish Pilot Project to rebuild agricultural capacity and reclaim Tribal lands for Native-led production. Spanning 200 acres, the pilot...
Statement from the Native American Agriculture Fund on the Passing of Michelle Fox
Statement from the Native American Agriculture Fund on the Passing of Michelle Fox Februrary 22, 2026The Native American Agriculture Fund mourns the loss of our respected trustee, Michelle Fox, who passed away this weekend. Her absence is deeply felt within our board...
Why Tribal Governments are Talking about Departments of Agriculture
After years of collaborative work to expand opportunities for Tribal agricultural development, the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF), in partnership with the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI), successfully worked with the members of the National...
Native CDFIs transformed agricultural lending. Now they need stable funding.
Native CDFIs transformed agricultural lending. Now they need stable funding. November 23, 2025 In tribal agriculture, timing means everything. Delayed financing can force producers to sell herds, miss planting windows or lose land opportunities that may not...
Native American Agriculture Fund Awards $10 Million in Grants to Support Agriculture Across Indian Country
Native American Agriculture Fund Awards $10 Million in Grants to Support Agriculture Across Indian Country August 25, 2025 BISMARCK, ND -- The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) is proud to announce its 2025 grantees, awarding $10 million in grants to 27 entities...
Native American Agriculture Fund Appoints Three New Trustees to Board
Native American Agriculture Fund Appoints Three New Trustees to Board May 27, 2025 New Board Members include a foundational Keepseagle claimant, a former USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator, and a former Small Business Administration Assistant Administrator for the...
Supporting Rural Prosperity: The Urgent Need to Educate About the Value of Native CDFIs
Supporting Rural Prosperity: The Urgent Need to Educate About the Value of Native CDFIs March 21, 2025 BISMARCK, ND - The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) aims to raise awareness about the vital role of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs),...
Native American Agriculture Fund Calls for Urgent Protection of Bureau of Indian Education Schools
Native American Agriculture Fund Calls for Urgent Protection of Bureau of Indian Education Schools January 31, 2025 Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, CEO of the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF), is speaking out in support of Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools...
BIE, NAAF, and Tribal Agriculture Fellowship Enhance Agricultural Education at Cherokee Nation’s Sequoyah High School
BIE, NAAF, and Tribal Agriculture Fellowship Enhance Agricultural Education at Cherokee Nation's Sequoyah High School January 16, 2025 Leaders from the Cherokee Nation, Sequoyah High School, Bureau of Indian Education, the Native American Agriculture Fund, and the...