Dr. Cindy Ayers-Elliott is the Chief Executive Officer and co-owner of a 68-acre farm and agricultural enterprise in Jackson, Mississippi. Recognized as a distinguished contributor to agriculture, community development, and education, she is affectionately known as “The Agrarian Evangelist”.
Before her agricultural journey, Dr. Cindy held a successful career as an investment banker in New York. She decided to move back to her home state of Mississippi, trading her high heels for sturdy work boots. In 2010, she began operating Foot Print Farms, Mississippi’s largest urban farm dedicated to growing a variety of fruits and vegetables. The farm also raises meat goats and cattle. Foot Print Farm’s mission is to grow not only healthy food but also provide youth outreach opportunities and educate the community about agriculture through agri-tourism. Additionally, Dr. Ayers-Elliott is the President and Principal CEO of the organization T.I.M.E. —To Improve Mississippi Economics — which provides hands-on training and education to underserved communities.
Dr. Cindy collaborates closely with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in partnership with the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) National Urban Agriculture Program (NuAg) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). She is also the Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) first-appointed Outreach Ambassador. As Ambassador, Dr. Cindy educates producers in underserved communities on farm business structure, record keeping, and risk management tools. Her collaborative work also includes contributing to NRCS Racial Equality and serving as an outreach educator for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation MS Ag Innovation Center.
Dr. Cindy strongly believes that planting seeds in the earth yields fresh vegetables, however, planting seeds in the minds of young people cultivates a new universe of scholars. With her background in finance and experience working with government agencies, she has successfully broken through mountains of red tape and helped make a difference for the disenfranchised in Mississippi.
A catalyst for change, Dr. Cindy has received numerous honors and awards, including the 2024 Women United Excellence Award from United Way and being named USA Today’s 2023 Women of the Year honoree for Mississippi. In 2022, she was featured as GOOGLE’s Hero of Small Business and named 2021 Farmer of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Cooperatives. She was also featured in the HULU docuseries “Searching for Soul Food”, Episode 1 entitled “Mississippi”, released in June 2023. Additional honors include Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Businesswomen in Mississippi, Who’s Who Among Black Americans, Outstanding Minority Business of Central Mississippi from the Mississippi Minority Business Alliance, Inc., and Women for Progress of Mississippi awardee.
Her commitment to education extends to her efforts in establishing the 2nd Freedom School Summer Program in Washington County, Mississippi. She is also a proud member of the George Washington Carver Future Scientist of America 4-H Club and recently received the Women Entrepreneurs Award from the Jackson State University College of Business. In 2014, she was elected chairman of the Hinds County Soil and Water Conservation District and is an active member of the Hinds County Board of Commissioners.
Dr. Cindy takes immense pride in her Alma Mater, “Thee” Jackson State University, where she earned her Ph.D. Her signature color combination, pink and green, are the colors of her beloved sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. However, pink also represents her role as a female farmer and green symbolizes the earth and the bounty it produces. She is a proud, loving mother to sons LaGrand and Eric Elliott and a doting grandmother to Christian, Erica, Zoe, and Skylar Elliott. Dr. Cindy’s life and career embody a legacy of service, innovation, and dedication to improving her community and the broader agricultural landscape.
To learn more about Footprint Farms and T.I.M.E., please visit www.footprintfarmsms.com and www.toimprovems.org. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
