In her 1937 novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston wrote, “There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” The last month felt like one of the ones that answer.
Well, working with young people is…challenging. Not the I wanna give up kind of challenging, but the I need to do more kind of challenging. Unlike the older generation, they like to see, to experience; they are visual learners. Teaching them about agriculture is no different. They want to see for themselves. You will finish a talk on climate smart agriculture and they will be staring at you like, Yoow Unc, can we see what you were saying [they have never said this but I do not doubt they can].
That is why our biggest milestone this year has been the launch of the SMACHS Center of Excellence. With the Center, we are able to move from explanation to demonstration. Talking about apiaries and bees is one thing; walking someone through the hive, showing them the processes, and letting them experience it for themselves is another. The Center gives young people a space to learn by doing, to connect what they are taught with practical application, and to see firsthand the results of climate smart agriculture. It allows them to engage directly with tools, techniques, and processes, ask questions as they go, and build understanding through experience rather than theory alone.
So next came the Strategic Plan 2026 to 2030. This document lays out our priorities for the coming years, providing structure, direction, and focus. It ensures that the work we do now builds toward clear outcomes, that the programs we implement are aligned with long-term goals, and that our impact is measurable and sustainable. It answers the question of where SMACHS is headed and how seriously we are planning to get there. For anyone interested in exploring it in detail, the Strategic Plan is available for download in the Resources section of our website.
The last month also saw the signing of multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with different partners, cementing our commitment to youth-led climate smart agriculture. These partnerships represent shared goals, collaborative programs, and opportunities for scaling our work. Each agreement strengthens our ability to reach more young people, deliver practical solutions, and support communities in adopting sustainable agricultural practices.
Taken together, the last month was decisive. It gave us a space to teach and demonstrate, a plan to guide the next five years, and partnerships to expand our reach. It answered questions about readiness, impact, and direction. It set the stage for what comes next. And SMACHS is stepping into it fully prepared.
