Cindy Ayers-Elliott, who received her Ph.D. from Jackson State University in 2006, was featured this week on Katie Couric’s talk show to discuss her decision to leave Wall Street to start a Mississippi farm operation.
Ayers-Elliott was an investment banker for years, managing pension funds and the accounts of high-end companies and individuals. She decided to leave all that behind, and three years ago began operating Footprint Farms, located in Jackson.
She talked about her goat farming operation during an appearance on The Katie Show that aired on Monday, Dec. 9.
In an interview with Jackson State University on Tuesday, Ayers-Elliott said she was inspired by a speech given my Michelle Obama a few years ago. The First Lady had talked about the need to raise better food for the nation’s school children.
“I just really started researching it and looked at how I could become a part of doing something. My family owned land in Mississippi,” Ayers-Elliott said. “I’m a full-fledged farmer with vegetables, cows and goats. This is not a hobby. This is my livelihood.”
Ayers-Elliott said she’s had the opportunity to show others how to farm. She leases plots for a $1, and is currently working with the Wingfield High School football team. The team planted melons over the summer and sold them to raise funds.
“We’re bringing them into the economic arm of what we’re doing. They’re learning science and math and leadership,” Ayers-Elliott said.