Kendall Rae Johnson has had a green thumb for as long as she can remember. It wasn’t that long ago. She’s 7 years old.
The South Fulton girl recently received a proclamation as Georgia’s Youngest Certified Farmer, courtesy of the City of South Fulton.
The proclamation was issued on September 28, 2021 with city officials in tow.
Kendall Rae Johnson Is Georgia’s Youngest Farmer
“Agriculture, by far, remains the state’s largest industry,” Mayor William Edwards said at the event, according to 11Alive. “Still, it remains an industry with few women. With her enthusiasm, determination and love for gardening, Kendall is about to change that. We are proud of such an accomplished young lady at such a young age.”
Kendall is quite literally the future of Georgia farming. The Atlanta girl is serious about growing fruits and vegetables and even has her own website, agrowkulture.com.
With food insecurity becoming a burgeoning problem not only in faraway places, but right here in Atlanta, Kendall’s endeavors are gaining a lot of attention — and support.
She is currently lining up partnerships to raise awareness about the need to cultivate farmland in metro Atlanta.
Kendall’s love for gardening stems from her fascination with watching things grow. “Kendall got a chance to see a collard green stem placed in the dirt. A couple weeks later, we see foliage! Wow! We can do that,” Ursula Johnson, Kendall’s mother told WSBTV.
But it also originated with her grandmother. “Although Kendall Rae doesn’t quite remember her great-grand, she remembers hearing her saying, “Don’t throw my collard green stems away, put them back in the dirt.” That’s when it all started,” it says on Kendall’s website.
Kendall is not the only African-American dedicated to growing crops from God’s green Earth. Metro Atlanta has some deliberate farmers who are doing what they can to keep the discipline alive. Here are some black farmers in Atlanta you may not know about.
If you’re in the mood for a more finished product on your plate, check out our Atlanta Soul Food Guide.
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