Biography

Leon Crump was born the son of a sharecropper in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, where he first experienced farming. Leon is presently serving as the State Director for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund in South Carolina. There he has assisted farmers and landowners in the areas of economic development and social justice. He works closely with state and county FSA offices in supplying debt-restructuring services to FSA borrowers and farmers. He serves as a mediator between the farmer and FSA, when necessary, with other lenders (such as banks). FSC/LAF is instrumental in the development of self-supporting communities with programs that increase income, enhance other opportunities and assists in land retention and development for all family farmers. FSC/LAF has taken an active role in poor areas across the South through education and outreach strategies that support low-income people in molding their communities to become more humane and livable. FSC/LAF also assists in the development of cooperatives and credit unions as a collective strategy to create economic self-sufficiency. Leon served on the Executive Committee of the National Family Farm Coalition and is presently serving on SARE advisory committee. He conducted a weekly farm news segment, "The Friday Farm Report", on WBTW TV 13, a CBS affiliate, that broadcasted to a viewing audience of over one half million people. He operates a small vegetable farm in Florence, SC and has started experimenting with organic, hydroponics and aquaculture. Leona has started experimenting with organic, hydroponics, and aquaculture operation to is operating an organic vegetable farm and an hydroponics and aquaculture operation.