Director of Agriculture Research and Sustainability
Evi R. Locklear is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. She resides in Pembroke, North Carolina where she obtained her BA in Sociology from the University of NC at Pembroke. As a student in the Masters of Science Community Development Program at Kansas State University, she focuses on community development strategies for indigenous and rural communities.
Coming from six generations of Native American farmers, Evi has learned firsthand the value of sweat equity in farming. Growing up, she spent her summers shucking corn and picking field peas and butter beans. Today, she assists her father in managing their 170-acre farm, where they primarily raise cattle for beef and other livestock.
Through her experience, Evi recognized a disconnect between the minority farmer and significant resources, which led her to become an advocate for the minority farmer. To build the bridge between the two, she serves as Farmer Outreach and Program Assistant for the Association of American Indian Farmers. Her responsibility is to close the gap for all minority farmers through education and outreach. In her role with AAHA! VA, Evi supports the work of the Agriculture/Forestry/Solar Research Campus.