Help Save Our Family Farm
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Help Save Our Farm
Good Day!! Nate and Vicky Zondo are two incredibly hard working Liberian immigrants (now American citizens) with a dream of helping others as they have been helped. Their hope is that by reading this short narrative you will find that this is indeed a worthy cause.
Nate and Vicky Zondo were born in Liberia, Africa. Both were raised on family farms and worked as “farmhands”. Liberia is a country that was racked by civil war for many years. During what is known as the First Liberian Civil War (1989 to 1997) Nate was able with the help of an American Christian community to flee the country and come to the United States. He was a teenager at the time. During what is known as the Second Liberian Civil War (1999 to 2003) Vicky was moved to a refugee camp in Ivory Coast before gaining entrance to the United States in 2002.
Upon reaching U.S. soil Nate worked various jobs including coal mining in eastern Montana and with a traveling outfit that specialized in waterproofing basements. He eventually enrolled at the Tesst College of Technology in Maryland where he earned credentials as an IT network troubleshooter. He has worked full time in that profession for many years and still does so on a freelance basis. Nate gained U.S. citizenship in 2000.
For her part, Vicky began by working in a restaurant and within a year enrolled in a program sponsored by the state of Minnesota and earned accreditation as a Certified Nurses Assistant. She has worked in that field ever since and continues to do so full time today. Vicky gained U.S. citizenship in 2010.
These two met when Nate was in Minneapolis for a Rotary Club leadership conference. They got married and now have a family which includes their five daughters.
Nate and Vicky are patriotic Americans. They are grateful for the opportunities that have been given them here in the land of the free. They are grateful for those many people who gave of their time and energy to provide opportunity and help them along the way. As you can see, they have taken full advantage of those opportunities and have worked steadfastly to become contributing citizens. Their desire now is to give something back. Here in Vicky’s words is their plan.
“Coming from farming backgrounds our dream has long been to have a working farm of our own. After many years of saving we were able to put a down payment on a forty acre parcel near Bertha Minnesota. The property includes a sturdy four bedroom home. Our goal is to get the farm producing to the point where we can set aside our other endeavors and concentrate full time on giving back.”
“As you are probably aware, farming is not an avocation flooded with those from the black community. Nationwide only 1.4% of more than three million farmers identify as black and in Minnesota black farmers, women and minorities account for only .003% of farm ownership.”
“We decided to give back to our community by starting a home for troubled young Black men from the inner cities, providing hands on training in farming and agriculture to equip them to be responsible and productive citizens. We also have a program for minorities and African immigrants who want to farm but do not know where to start or lack resources. Our 'Come Farm With Us' program is a 12 months program that helps with credit building, locating property, seeking right funding, selecting in demand livestock or crops, creating a marketing strategy and offers farm business planning and management.”
“Guided by our faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and trusting His Divine Providence we began buying livestock and prepping 9 acres of tillable ground to grow organic vegetables. Then COVID-19 shut down the economy affecting everyone.”
“Due to the pandemic, my husband is unemployed while actively seeking employment. I am the only person working to sustain the home and the farm. With limited hours our dream to farm and prepare to give back is in danger. I am kindly asking you to please help me ‘Save Our Farm’.”
Nate and Vicky and their daughters bought the farm and house just as the coronavirus pandemic was beginning. This has posed numerous hardships for them as it has for many. Vicky contracted the virus at work and eventually it passed through the entire family. Both she and Nate spent time in the hospital and Nate was laid up for nearly eight weeks with severe symptoms. Still, in their first year they have cleaned and cleared land, put up fencing, made repairs to outbuildings, and purchased a good amount of breeding livestock including cattle, pigs, goats, and chickens.
They have applied to the USDA for assistance and have successfully completed the mentorship program provided through that agency. With spring planting season not far off they are in need of a financial boost. Please consider donating to help them save their dream.
Funds raised through this site will be dedicated to achieving as much of the following as possible:
1) Used Farm Equipment (stock trailer, tiller, plow, tractor with loader, incubator, used box truck)
2) Livestock and Feed
3) Remodel Boys Home (bunk beds, 3 stall bathrooms with standup showers, toilet, blankets, food, plates, spoons, kitchen, stove, refrigerator, hot water heater, etc.)
4) 40’ x 60’ Livestock barn and
5) 3 Full time staff
We invite you to contact us or come visit our farm at any time. You can reach us via email, this page or at this link https://www.facebook.com/zondofamilyfarm.
Good Day!! Nate and Vicky Zondo are two incredibly hard working Liberian immigrants (now American citizens) with a dream of helping others as they have been helped. Their hope is that by reading this short narrative you will find that this is indeed a worthy cause.
Nate and Vicky Zondo were born in Liberia, Africa. Both were raised on family farms and worked as “farmhands”. Liberia is a country that was racked by civil war for many years. During what is known as the First Liberian Civil War (1989 to 1997) Nate was able with the help of an American Christian community to flee the country and come to the United States. He was a teenager at the time. During what is known as the Second Liberian Civil War (1999 to 2003) Vicky was moved to a refugee camp in Ivory Coast before gaining entrance to the United States in 2002.
Upon reaching U.S. soil Nate worked various jobs including coal mining in eastern Montana and with a traveling outfit that specialized in waterproofing basements. He eventually enrolled at the Tesst College of Technology in Maryland where he earned credentials as an IT network troubleshooter. He has worked full time in that profession for many years and still does so on a freelance basis. Nate gained U.S. citizenship in 2000.
For her part, Vicky began by working in a restaurant and within a year enrolled in a program sponsored by the state of Minnesota and earned accreditation as a Certified Nurses Assistant. She has worked in that field ever since and continues to do so full time today. Vicky gained U.S. citizenship in 2010.
These two met when Nate was in Minneapolis for a Rotary Club leadership conference. They got married and now have a family which includes their five daughters.
Nate and Vicky are patriotic Americans. They are grateful for the opportunities that have been given them here in the land of the free. They are grateful for those many people who gave of their time and energy to provide opportunity and help them along the way. As you can see, they have taken full advantage of those opportunities and have worked steadfastly to become contributing citizens. Their desire now is to give something back. Here in Vicky’s words is their plan.
“Coming from farming backgrounds our dream has long been to have a working farm of our own. After many years of saving we were able to put a down payment on a forty acre parcel near Bertha Minnesota. The property includes a sturdy four bedroom home. Our goal is to get the farm producing to the point where we can set aside our other endeavors and concentrate full time on giving back.”
“As you are probably aware, farming is not an avocation flooded with those from the black community. Nationwide only 1.4% of more than three million farmers identify as black and in Minnesota black farmers, women and minorities account for only .003% of farm ownership.”
“We decided to give back to our community by starting a home for troubled young Black men from the inner cities, providing hands on training in farming and agriculture to equip them to be responsible and productive citizens. We also have a program for minorities and African immigrants who want to farm but do not know where to start or lack resources. Our 'Come Farm With Us' program is a 12 months program that helps with credit building, locating property, seeking right funding, selecting in demand livestock or crops, creating a marketing strategy and offers farm business planning and management.”
“Guided by our faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and trusting His Divine Providence we began buying livestock and prepping 9 acres of tillable ground to grow organic vegetables. Then COVID-19 shut down the economy affecting everyone.”
“Due to the pandemic, my husband is unemployed while actively seeking employment. I am the only person working to sustain the home and the farm. With limited hours our dream to farm and prepare to give back is in danger. I am kindly asking you to please help me ‘Save Our Farm’.”
Nate and Vicky and their daughters bought the farm and house just as the coronavirus pandemic was beginning. This has posed numerous hardships for them as it has for many. Vicky contracted the virus at work and eventually it passed through the entire family. Both she and Nate spent time in the hospital and Nate was laid up for nearly eight weeks with severe symptoms. Still, in their first year they have cleaned and cleared land, put up fencing, made repairs to outbuildings, and purchased a good amount of breeding livestock including cattle, pigs, goats, and chickens.
They have applied to the USDA for assistance and have successfully completed the mentorship program provided through that agency. With spring planting season not far off they are in need of a financial boost. Please consider donating to help them save their dream.
Funds raised through this site will be dedicated to achieving as much of the following as possible:
1) Used Farm Equipment (stock trailer, tiller, plow, tractor with loader, incubator, used box truck)
2) Livestock and Feed
3) Remodel Boys Home (bunk beds, 3 stall bathrooms with standup showers, toilet, blankets, food, plates, spoons, kitchen, stove, refrigerator, hot water heater, etc.)
4) 40’ x 60’ Livestock barn and
5) 3 Full time staff
We invite you to contact us or come visit our farm at any time. You can reach us via email, this page or at this link https://www.facebook.com/zondofamilyfarm.
Fundraising team (2)
Victoria Zondo
Organiser
Bertha, MN
Madi Hicks
Team member
