Chisa Brigham brings her expertise in the education world, a love of agriculture, and a military upbringing to her role as program coordinator at the national office of Farmer Veteran Coalition. She joined the team in June 2023 as program manager after more than 15 years in education in the Waco, Texas area.
“As a child of a Navy Nurse Corps Veteran, I fell in love with the sense of community that grew out of necessity on the Alameda Base in Alameda, California,” Chisa said. “The base provided me with a variety of cultural experiences that I draw from to this day.”
Background
Chisa is a native of Waco, Texas, and married her high school sweetheart, Spc. LaTrael Brigham, who served two tours in the Iraq War as an Army scout. “We have three young warriors that we prayerfully guide every day as they explore this world,” she said.
“I spent summers in my grandparents’ backyard gardens enjoying the fruits of their labor. As parents, my husband and I made it our mission to provide fresh clean food from our backyard garden to our growing family.”
Chisa and LaTrael run their own urban farm, H.A.D. Land Farms, which is named for ancestors Hazel, Alice, and Lue Dean, who worked the land.
The farm, she said, was formed out of a necessity to impact their communities that lacked adequate access to fresh food.
“Our current poultry enterprise and value-added products are made available seasonally at our local farmers markets,” Chisa said. “Sankofa Way is our nonprofit organization that provides agricultural experiences, investing in beginning producers, veterans, and our youth.” She also is a member of the Central Texas National Women in Agriculture Association.
FVC Involvement
Chisa said she believes working with FVC is a good fit. “My longtime mentor taught me to ‘start where you are and use what you’ve got to do what you must do,’ which is what I carry, along with my family’s support to advocate for those who need it most,” she said. “I believe our Veterans’ commitment to our country should be considered and matched, and the work I do with Farmer Veteran Coalition affords me such an opportunity.”
