Name: Barbara James Norman
City: Covert, Michigan
Workplace: Barbara’s Blueberry Batch, Farm Research Cooperative
Title: Blueberry Farmer, Community Leader, developer of project ideas
How do you think that Bold Women of Business demonstrate being bold?
Being Bold means never taking no for an answer when you know that the community needs more. It is coming up with new ideas on how to make things happen and inspiring community members to step up and try new ways to be successful.
Bold women are often defined by a number of descriptors. Please choose from the following descriptors to produce the top three that you would say most exemplify your personality?
Courageous
Daring
Strong
Please provide an example of when you feel you were at your very best in taking action on the job or in your role.
Pairing knowledge with action is probably my best strength. I am a third generation Michigan blueberry farm owner who has devoted myself to assisting limited resource and minority farmers reach both economic and environmental sustainability on their farming operations. Early in my life, I developed a natural interest in my family’s fifty-three-acre multigenerational high bush blueberry farm. As I took over the family farm, I faced issues that could be improved through use of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) operating loans, conservation practices, and risk management practices. As a Black female grower, I also faced some barriers in accessing these programs and services from a few of the local USDA staff. Working through these barriers, I learned the details of the USDA programs and how to break-down the barriers that small-scale and minority farmers have in trying to access these programs and services. I began helping my neighboring farmers to understand the benefits of many of the USDA programs (“the best kept secrets of USDA” for small farmers) and took them to the USDA service center to assist them in applying for programs and services. Over the last few decades, I have helped many of her neighbors in Van Buren, Berrien, Cass, and Allegan Counties to improve their farming practices, their marketing techniques and their use of USDA service providers. As a result, many new farmers have been able to start farming, and many others have improved their economic and ecological sustainability. For many years I have used and promoted sustainable practices such as cover crops, composting, no till, natural/organic, and innovative marketing strategies. My passion for helping neighbors in southwest Michigan has led to designing many grant requests (that were funded) to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Kellogg Foundation, and other grant organizations. These grants provided educational sessions, established mentoring between farmers and provided outreach to farmers and families in southwest Michigan. The Kellogg grant was focused on building strong families and communities. My work with the non-profit Farm Research Cooperative had a major focus on encouraging youth to recognize their potential to become entrepreneurs, scientists, and other interesting careers.
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened on your road to success?
Probably the funniest thing may be a real shocker – they locked me out of the USDA office. They didn’t want to answer my questions and provide service. It was not funny at the time but now I can laugh.
Who most inspires your personal drive for success every day?
W.E.B Dubois and Dr. LeRoy Ray, Jr. They taught me that I am allowed to do the job that I love and be successful.
What is your best advice to women in Southwest Michigan looking to succeed, as you have, in business?
Be Persistent. Aim for your goals and do something that you love.
What does your selection to the ranks of the Bold Women of Business from Moody on the Market mean to you?
It is an honor and I am very proud to continue to work for my community as a Bold Woman of Business.
