Debra Mellion’s journey into agriculture began unexpectedly, sparked by a shift in her academic path. Originally pursuing pre-med chemistry, she found herself in the agricultural building of her university, intrigued by the science behind farming. With no prior experience in agriculture, she enrolled in a crop production class, where she grew green beans for the first time. Unfamiliar with the fresh produce, she initially discarded her harvest, only to be encouraged by her professor to cook and enjoy the beans. This small act of growing and harvesting ignited a deep passion for agriculture, as Mellion realized the potential of feeding her community through farming. This moment marked the beginning of a lifelong dedication to agriculture.
Mellion’s academic background includes a degree in plant and soil sciences, a master’s degree in agricultural education, and a Ph.D. in agriculture and Extension education. She started her professional career at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she worked on the Section 2501 program, which was created by the 1990 Farm Bill to support underserved farmers. She later became the director of the program, which expanded under the 2014 Farm Bill to include veterans. Mellion’s work at Southern extended to the Cooperative Extension Service, where she held various roles, ultimately becoming vice chancellor for Extension and Outreach.
Her time at Southern University was transformative, as she witnessed the Extension program evolve from serving primarily Black farmers to supporting a more diverse group, including white farmers. Mellion’s belief in the importance of providing farmers with relevant, timely information remained a guiding principle throughout her career. Farmers, she realized, simply needed practical, accessible knowledge to improve their operations and remain in the business of farming.
After retiring from Southern University, Mellion continued her work in agriculture by supporting small teams at land-grant universities through the Extension Foundation. The Foundation provided funding for pilot programs aimed at improving agricultural practices. She also contributed to the USDA’s NextGen Program, which supports the development of diverse professionals in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. As project director for the NextGen technical service provider opportunity, Mellion helped minority-serving institutions compete for grants to advance agricultural education.
In 2024, Mellion was appointed executive director of the National Black Growers Council (NBGC), an organization dedicated to advocating for Black farmers across the U.S. One of her first major tasks was organizing the NBGC’s annual meeting in Charleston, South Carolina. The meeting, held in December, was an opportunity to bring together Black farmers, industry representatives, and USDA officials to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Black farmers today. The choice of Charleston as the meeting location aimed to provide better access for East Coast members and offer a new experience for those from other regions.
Mellion’s vision for the NBGC is to strengthen the organization and leave it in a better position than when she took over. Drawing inspiration from the book Good to Great by Jim Collins, she aims to lead the organization from good to great by fostering growth, collaboration, and innovation within the farming community. With a wealth of experience supporting both minority and majority farmers, Mellion is poised to make a significant impact on the future of Black agriculture in the U.S.
