Missouri Humanities | S1 E1: Henry Kirklin Black Farmer Scholarship with Billy Polansky and Eddie Linzie

In this inaugural episode, we discuss Columbia's Center for Urban Agriculture (CCUA) and their Henry Kirklin Black Farmer Scholarship Fund with Executive Director, Billy Polansky, and their first scholarship recipient, Eddie Linzie, who operates a small farm in Boone County.

During our conversation we delve into the topic of representation of Black farmers in Missouri, the story of Henry Kirklin and his namesake scholarship, Billy and Eddie's agricultural backgrounds, and how their work impacts their local communities.

What is Missouri Humanities ?

Welcome to Season 5: The Story of US! Throughout 250 years of United States history, the people and places of Missouri have played a vital role in shaping the nation’s story. At the crossroads of rivers, frontiers, and ideas, Missouri has been a stage for exploration, innovation, conflict, and change. From Indigenous peoples to French settlers and westward pioneers, Missouri’s story began before statehood and remains ingrained in the nation’s history. As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, The Story of US invites Missourians to reflect on how Missouri’s people and communities have shaped defining chapters of our shared American journey. In this year-long series, we honor the enduring power of place and the voices, both celebrated and too often unheard, that reveal Missouri’s contributions to the complexity and promise of the American experience.

PAST SEASONS:
Season 1, "Eat, THINK, & Be Merry: Missouri's Foodways and Edible History"
Season 2, "Roots & Routes: The Movement and Settlement of Missourians"
Season 3, "Missouri Marvels: Humanities, Discovery, and Innovation"
Season 4, "Missouri Voices: Civics and Citizenry"

For more from Missouri Humanities, visit mohumanities.org