Dear Colleagues,

As Black History Month comes to a close and we set our sights on the months ahead, I’d like to share a brief reflection with you all. 

As the first Black woman and first woman of color to serve in the role of Deputy Secretary at USDA, I stand on the shoulders and build on the legacies of those who blazed a path before me, and I take seriously my role in ensuring that a clear path is set forth for those who will come after. It is not lost on me that every day at this department we have the opportunity to interact with talented individuals who will undoubtedly make a mark on the history of USDA.

Earlier this month, I traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana, and I was fortunate enough to meet with a small subset of the incredible and talented AMS leaders and employees, at all levels of this organization, that many of us work with daily. While interacting with local AMS Federal Grain Inspection Service staff in Destrehan, Louisiana, the team walked me through how they examine the quality of grains and remove foreign materials. During the visit, I was reminded of, and inspired by, the commitment and resiliency of our diverse workforce. The passion expressed from our colleagues was a reminder of why we have chosen these careers—to be a voice for those we serve and positively impact their lives and livelihoods.

That mission was cemented further when I visited with 1890s scholars and faculty at Southern University in Baton Rouge and was afforded the opportunity to say hello to students in classrooms learning about agribusiness and urban forestry. The students were not shy about expressing their love of agriculture and interest in embarking on a career at USDA. I hope this serves as a reminder to you as you continue work on and fortify our internship and fellowship recruitment and experience efforts.

Later in the day, I participated in a Black farmer roundtable at the Southern University Agricultural Research Farm. I appreciated the candid conversation and the willingness of local farmers to share their stories of resiliency and hopes for the future continues. I encourage leaders to consider and incorporate local workforce and stakeholder perspectives as they work to implement their Equity Action Plans and improve customer experience for those who need our programs and services most. I encourage all of you to consider and incorporate the diverse perspectives of your local teams and customers as you work to implement your Equity Action Plans and to better improve customer service, particularly for those who need our programs and services most.

It is stories like theirs that motivate me and keep me going each day. I’m grateful to all the hard work taking place every day at USDA, and equally grateful for our efforts to keep our workforce safe throughout the pandemic.

There is still so much to learn from our workforce and the producers and stakeholders we serve, and in the coming weeks and months, I look forward to visiting with staff across the country to better inform the work Secretary Vilsack and I are leading to make USDA a great place to work and to advance equity through our programs and services.

Though Black History Month is ending, I hope that we can commit to celebrating not only Black history, but ALL history that makes us a better, each day, and that we commit ourselves to investing in the development and leadership of our workforce.

We’re stronger when we’re diverse and we ALL benefit from a more diverse USDA.

Sincerely,

Deputy Secretary Bronaugh