Illinois entrepreneur advances agricultural equity
Evera Ivy never planned to take over the family business. In the early 1970s, her parents moved the family from Chicago to rural Pembroke Township, Ill. to start Ivy League Farms. Evera and her siblings initially didn’t want anything to do with the farm. However, another farmer in the area once told her that “Land is the one thing that cannot be produced or reproduced.” That wisdom stuck with her and opened her eyes to the value of her family’s land and business.
As her parents started to get older, Evera began to wonder, “What will become of the land and the farm?” At the same time, she became interested in hemp and its active ingredient CBD. This led her to become more “hands-on” over the course of 10 years, and she now handles office work, farming and logistics. Under Evera’s leadership, the farm once received a hemp license; however, they decided not to renew it as the emerging industry doesn’t have a lot of structure or resources. As the industry develops, Ivy League Farms may renew its license in the future. Meanwhile, the farm continues its production of eggplant, pepper, watermelon, okra, squash, peas, beans and other vegetables.. She reflects, “All this time, I grew up in an area with something so valuable. I had taken it for granted and stepped away from it. But when I came back, I really appreciated it.”
Due to Evera’s knowledge and passion for the industry, she was appointed to Illinois’ Agriculture Equity Commission, which promotes equity by recognizing the difficulties and inequities faced by Black and other minority farmers in the industry, and the effect of those difficulties on the vulnerable communities that rely on their produce. The commission is currently in its beginning phase and they’ll soon begin their work. It’s much needed as less than 2% of America’s farmers are Black. Evera states “There are some people that suggest the resources that are coming to communities or businesses of color are for us to somehow get ahead. But it’s not about getting ahead, it’s about leveling the playing field.”
In Kankakee County where Ivy League Farms is located, Evera notes that in the past, resources have not been equally distributed between communities. Pembroke Township–a historically Black farming community–has been historically disinvested in and remains one of the most impoverished communities in Illinois. Evera says that she wants her farm’s land to be “Productive and profitable. It’s not enough to have the land, you have to do something with it. For me, entrepreneurship means ‘how do you use what you have to do the most good for others?’”
That’s why Evera’s goal for Ivy League Farms is to collaborate with more partners, especially to expand access to fresh produce and reduce hunger. She plans to partner with a grocery store so it can sell the farm’s produce. She notes there’s food deserts across the state, including in under-resourced parts of Chicago. Also, Evera plans to take this further by partnering with food pantries in the future.
As she reflects on her entrepreneurial journey, she advises other small business owners to “Build a strong and passionate team that can do the work with you: your business thrives, as your people thrive. You’ll go as far as they do”