The Mississippi Farm to School Network is entering a new chapter of leadership, rooted in the relationships, partnerships, and shared vision that have shaped our work since 2014. After nearly five years as Director, Umi Jenkins has concluded her time with Mississippi Farm to School Network on October 30, and Associate Director Sydney Turnipseed is stepping into the Director role. We are incredibly grateful for Umi’s thoughtful leadership and the foundation she has helped build, and excited for Sydney to carry this work forward alongside our network of partners.
A Note of Gratitude and Transition from Umi Jenkins
As I prepare to conclude my time as Director of the Mississippi Farm to School Network (MFSN) on October 30, I find myself reflecting with deep gratitude on nearly five years of learning, growing, and building alongside incredible advocates, farmers, educators, community leaders, and partners across our state.
Serving in this role has been a meaningful chapter of my life. I’m grateful for the lessons learned, the relationships nurtured, and the many beautiful experiences made possible by the people who have supported me, challenged me, shared their wisdom, and remained committed to creating a more connected, accessible, and equitable food system for Mississippi. Your partnership and encouragement have made this journey all the more meaningful.
We are living through a time of immense change, and as I look ahead, I’m making space to listen more closely to how I’m being called to show up for myself, my community, and the work of creating lasting change. While my role with MFSN is coming to a close, my commitment to expanding access and cultivating meaningful change across Mississippi’s food systems remains.
I’m also excited about the leadership transition ahead. Sydney Turnipseed is preparing to step into the Director role, supported by MFSN’s Advisory Team, our fiscal sponsor, Earth Island Institute, and our many statewide partners. I’m grateful for the collective care and collaboration helping to support this next chapter for the Network.
To everyone who has walked alongside me in this work: thank you. Thank you for your trust, your generosity, your vision, and your continued commitment to the communities we serve. The work has always been bigger than any one person, and I’m honored to have contributed to a movement rooted in relationships, possibility, and the belief that our communities deserve a food system that nourishes us all.
With gratitude,
Umi Jenkins
A Note on the Next Chapter from Sydney Turnipseed
Looking back on the last 10 years of my participation in this movement, I’m overwhelmed by the joyful moments, challenges we have faced together, victories, learnings, and opportunities we have built for Mississippi farmers, students, and educators. In these reflections, I see immense growth for the cause we all hold so dearly. I’m certain we can build on this momentum and deepen our collective impact, creating lasting change in the lives of Mississippians.
I’m deeply inspired by the legacy Umi has built through her leadership and dedication to this organization, and I feel both the privilege and responsibility of carrying that legacy forward. I’m so excited for this next chapter - thank you for the trust and stewardship that has led us to where we are today.
While not yet complete, I’d like to share snippets of our updated Mission & Vision as part of a strategic plan for the future Mississippi Farm to School Network:
“We envision a just food system where all Mississippi children have access to free, nutritious, Mississippi grown school meals and are connected to the roots and rituals of local food systems.”
“We believe in taking bold steps to positively transform Mississippi's food systems. We are more than a network -- we are a movement working to reimagine Mississippi's landscape.”
As we put the finishing touches on our updated strategic plan, we look forward to inviting you, our trusted network, to share your insights, ideas, and feedback. Together, we’ll shape the path ahead and continue building stronger, more equitable food systems for Mississippi.
In solidarity,
Sydney Turnipseed
As the Mississippi Farm to School Network enters this next chapter, our commitment to building a more just, connected, and equitable food system for Mississippi remains at the center of our work. We are grateful for the farmers, educators, partners, and communities who have helped strengthen the farm to school movement across our state. We look forward to continuing this work together and building on all that we've grown.
