Page 6 - Feast_Vol3

Taking
My journey into agriculture is a unique one. I grew up in
Harlem, New York, about five blocks from the famous Apollo

Theatre—a major force in the emergence of jazz, swing,
bebop, R&B, gospel, blues and soul with music greats like
Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr., Gladys Knight and Lauryn
the During my senior year of high school, my mom and I were
Hill—but far from an agricultural hub.

talking about college. She asked what I wanted to study. I told
her I wanted to be a lawyer.
“There are too many lawyers out there,” she replied. “What
about agriculture?”
“I don’t want to be a farmer.” I was a young, city slicker.
Farm than you can ever imagine.”
“Patrice, agriculture is so much more than farming. It includes more

The conversation stuck with me. I didn’t realize at the
time it would change the very direction of my life.
I headed off to Prairie View A&M University, a historically
Black college in Prairie View, Texas. While there, I attended the
World Food Expo in Chicago and met Dan Glickman, Secretary
of Agriculture under the Clinton administration. As we walked
Road into the Expo, my preconceived notions were shattered. I saw
companies I never considered to be a part of agriculture: Glacier
Water, Coca-Cola, Pepperidge Farm. I began to recognize the
wisdom in my mom’s words. Farming was part of agriculture
but so were multinational businesses, research institutions and
technology. My worldview of agriculture was wide open, and I
wanted to be a part of it all.

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

By Patrice Bailey, Assistant Commissioner, Eventually, my path led to my current role as the Assistant
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture
(MDA). I oversee outreach, agricultural marketing and
development, dairy and meat inspection, and food and feed
safety. I have witnessed how crucial agriculture is in all of

6 FEAST! Local Foods Magazine