A house RESOLUTION

to recognize and honor Bonita Clemons, the founder of several organizations focused on community wellness, health, nutrition, and food access, and to congratulate her upon being named the 2023 South Carolina Woman Farmer of the Year.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that Bonita Clemons received the South Carolina Woman Farmer of the Year award at the 2023 annual South Carolina Black Farmers Coalition conference; and

Whereas, with over twenty years of experience in integrative health, she earned a master's degree in public health from the University of South Carolina and has earned numerous certifications, including Integrative Nutrition, Motivational Interviewing Techniques, and Group Lifestyle Balance; and

Whereas, Ms. Clemons is a guest lecturer on health and wellness in the United States and abroad, and she is the founder of several organizations focused on community wellness, health, nutrition, and food access, including Bonita Global, LLC,  Dianne's Call, and FarmaSIS; and

Whereas, Dianne's Call was one of the distributors chosen to participate in the South Carolina Department of Agriculture's Farmers to Food Banks program, and she operates as a sub awardee of the Local Food Purchase Agreement (LFPA) program focused on sourcing local food from minority farmers, strengthening market opportunities for local farmers, and distributing food to communities in need; and

Whereas, Ms. Clemons is a leader in the agriculture community and successfully educates, inspires, and enriches many by uniting women and teaching them how to farm and lead healthier lives.  She is an advocate and thought leader on South Carolina Agriculture and its impact on small farmers; and 

Whereas, Bonita Global, LLC, currently serves as a partner with the Growing Local Initiative and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture  (ACRE) on its RBDG; and

Whereas, Ms. Clemons has relevant school nutrition experience through her work as a sponsor with the United States Department of Agriculture's summer feeding program from 2015 to 2020.  In 2015-2016, she sourced produce from Rogers Vegetable Farm, a local farm, and prepared meals for a summer feeding program in Sumter; and

Whereas, she has been featured on Fox Weather, WLTX, WIS, WACH 57, and SCETV; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is grateful for the expertise and resources that Bonita Clemons has provided our citizens, and the members appreciate the pride and recognition that her award has brought to her community and to the Palmetto State.  Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Bonita Clemons, the founder of several organizations focused on community wellness, health, nutrition, and food access, and congratulate her upon being named the 2023 South Carolina Woman Farmer of the Year.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Bonita Clemons.

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