Xochitl Torres Small

Xochitl is a sunny New Mexican who loves the land. The granddaughter of farmworkers, Xoch went on to serve her home as an attorney practicing water and natural resources law, a United States Representative, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary. Now, she’s proud to continue forging solutions as executive director of Quivira Coalition, which fosters resilience on working lands.

Xochitl lives in Las Cruces, New Mexico with her husband, horses, dogs, and cats. They spend as much time as possible hunting and exploring the great outdoors.

Plenary Speaker

Grassroots Agricultural Policy: A conversation with Sarah Hackney and Xochitl Torres Small

Who has a say when it comes to healthy food and working lands? Like it or not, policy has a large influence on how we raise animals, grow food, and care for our lands across the country. But often, those with the most practical experience aren’t at the decision-making table. Join the conversation as Sarah Hackney demystifies the Farm Bill, Xochitl Torres Small pulls back the curtain from her time in Congress and USDA, and we all grapple with ways to share hard-earned knowledge on this big web of a food system.