AGRICULTURAL WORKER HEALTH SYMPOSIA

From Field to Community:
Food, Environment, and the Health of Agricultural Workers

Thank you!

The National Center for Farmworker Health (NCFH) extends our sincere appreciation to everyone who joined us for the Spring Agricultural Worker Health Symposium, held April 15-17 in New Orleans, LA. Your presence, participation, and shared commitment created a dynamic space for learning and connection. 

We were thrilled to have brought together more than 150 health center staff, outreach workers, educators, and partners from agricultural worker-serving organizations representing 27 states and territories. Together, we explored our conference theme: From Field to Community: Food, Environment, and the Health of Agricultural Workers. 

Thank you to our colleagues and partners that contributed to our event programming.  

Event Highlights 

Spring Symposium highlights include: 

• A dynamic offsite learning experience to the AgriAquaculture Center of Excellence, showcasing how innovation and sustainability are shaping the future of food systems and community impact, including a tour of the state’s largest closed-loop aquaponics facility.  

• Two Intensive sessions offering a deep dive on food for health in agricultural communities and resource development strategies to maintain and expand care for agricultural worker families. 

• 12 interactive trainings focused on key conference areas: Nutrition and Wellbeing, Environmental Impacts on Health, and Access to Care for Agricultural Worker Families. 

• Engaging general sessions featuring: 

• A state welcome and health center landscape update from Gerrelda Davis, Executive Director of the Louisiana Primary Care Association, highlighting the impact of LA health centers across the state.   

• Keynote address by award winning author, 2015 Texas State Poet Laureate, and San Antonio’s first City Poet Laureate, Dr. Carmen Tafolla, whose powerful message grounded our work in storytelling, traditions, and community.  

• A screening of Did You Guys Eat? / ¿Ya comieron?, a compelling documentary about Michigan’s food and farming communities, followed by a live Q&A with filmmaker and producer, Stephany Slaughter, Alma College, and featured health center staff member, Jesse Costilla, Migrant Services Director, Great Lakes Bay Health Centers.  

• A New Orleans-Themed Poster Walk highlighting innovation and research in agricultural worker health facilitated by Health Outreach Partners, one of our Symposium planning partners. 

• A National Policy Update presented by Joe Dunn, Chief Policy Officer, National Association of Community Health Centers 

• Recognition of our 2025 Increase Access to Care for Agricultural Workers Program Promising Practices award recipient, Columbia Valley Community Health (WA) and six NCFH Scholarship recipients from across the U.S. See more details on these recognition in entries below. 

• An engaging Closing session featuring a “Wall of Wonder” activity facilitated by NCFH, where attendees had an opportunity to shape future training and technical assistance offerings by reflecting and sharing their thoughts on three questions, 1) What’s working; 2) What’s needed; and 3) What’s next?.  

• A New Orleans-style sendoff featuring music by Sunny Side Jazz band. 

NCFH extends sincere appreciation to all presenters, planning committee members, partners, and exhibitors who contributed to the success of this year’s symposium. Special thanks to Health Outreach Partners for their partnership and on-site support, and the Bureau of Primary Health Care for supporting many of the training sessions.  

Moving Forward 

As we reflect on this year’s symposium and celebrate nearly 40 years of convening this vital space, we are inspired by the passion and dedication of those working to ensure agricultural workers and their families have access to quality healthcare. 

For almost four decades, NCFH has relied on federal funding to support this convening. That funding has now come to an end. As we look ahead, NCFH remains committed to continuing to bring partners together in meaningful ways.  While future convenings may look different, our dedication to fostering connection, shared learning, and collaboration remains unchanged. We will keep our partners and community informed as we navigate the path forward together. 

Thank you for being part of this community. We look forward to continuing this important work together! 

Hear from past participants.

Watch our Fall Symposium recap video to hear directly from attendees about their experience and the impact of the event.

For any questions, please email Symposia@ncfh.org.