PRAIRIE VIEW, TX: Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture Deputy Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights, Monica Rainge, visited Prairie View A&M University’s College of Agriculture and Human Sciences. On her June 6, 2022, visit, she met with several department heads and learned more about what her office can do to support the college and local producers and farmers.   

Rainge has worked in the public and private sectors for more than 25 years. She holds an agribusiness degree from Florida A&M University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida. Before this appointment, she was the Director of Land Retention and Advocacy for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund. She supported initiatives that helped disadvantaged and marginalized farmers and ranchers, a goal that has been the crux of her service thus far.   

The visit kicked off with a meeting with the Agriculture and Natural Resources Unit’s Program Leader, Clarence Bunch, Ph.D., and then with Sarina Willis, Ph.D., who discussed options available to increase enrollment and scholarship opportunities within the college. Students participating in AgDiscovery also heard from Rainge as she extolled the benefits of joining programs like it and 4-H, which can prepare them for various job opportunities in their future careers. She also reminded students not to pigeonhole themselves in agriculture and explore different avenues in the field. Rainge herself holds both agribusiness and agriculture law degrees.   

PVAMU President Ruth Simmons’ Chief of Staff, the newly elected Prairie View Mayor Ron Leverett, and CAHS department heads hosted a luncheon in her honor. After lunch, the meet-and-greets continued with Regents Professor award recipient, Alfred Parks, Ph.D., and CAHS Executive Associate Director of Research, Erdogan Memilli, Ph.D.  

The following day Rainge met with several farmers and producers who discussed their production, and challenges they face.  

“Our visit with USDA Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Monica Rainge allowed us to discuss initiatives to bridge the gap between the needs of minority and African American farmers in the State of Texas and their limited resources,” Bunch said.  

Rainge praised the college’s efforts to lend a strong helping hand to neighboring farmers, especially during turbulent times.  

“I think PVAMU’s Cooperative Extension Program is doing a great job connecting with farmers by providing meaningful extension services. This connection helps to support farmers, especially in this time of post-pandemic prices where people are still recovering and trying to maximize production on their farms,” Rainge said.  

Rainge believes farmers need in-depth education and training to grow their farms during this time.   

“I think some of the Cooperative Extension Services, including educational programs that help them understand the best practices for expanding their operations and sustaining their operations, can offer peer-to-peer learning and demonstrations showing them how they can adopt new technology. Through this service, farmers get one-on-one practical experience on improving their farming practices and increasing their bottom line.”   

Both the college and Monica Rainge’s office are committed to strengthening this partnership to impact and improve the work of local producers and the community they serve. 

Pascale Mondesir
Communication Specialist
pamondesir@pvamu.edu