Janie Simms-Hipp
Chief Executive Officer, Native American Agriculture Fund
Janie Simms Hipp is a Citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and currently serves as CEO of the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF), a private charitable trust focusing on providing support for the continued success of Native American farmers and ranchers. The trust was the outgrowth of decades-long litigation involving discriminatory lending practices and is the largest philanthropic organization in the United States focusing solely on Native farmers, ranchers, fishers and food systems. Prior to serving as CEO, Ms. Hipp served as Director of the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative, specializing in policy interventions to support Native agriculture. She also served as Senior Advisor to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and former USDA National Program Leader providing national leadership for farm financial management, trade adjustment assistance, risk management education and beginning farmer and rancher development. She has over 35 years domestic and international experience in agriculture and food law and policy.