Interview Q&A
How long have you been in business?
The Intertribal Agriculture Council was founded in 1987 to pursue and promote the conservation, development and use of our agricultural resources for the betterment of our people.
What is your primary product or service?
The Intertribal Agriculture Council conducts a wide range of programs designed to further the goal of improving Indian Agriculture. The IAC promotes the Indian use of Indian resources and contracts with federal agencies to maximize resources for tribal members.
How did you first become interested in your line of business? (if owner) - What is your background? (If owner or store manager)
Early work with the Federal government resulted in significant change in statute or policy, but the on-reservation agriculture producer may have seen very little change or benefit. Therefore it was necessary to assist the reservation community in learning about the USDA programs available to them, and to assist USDA staff in learning to communicate effectively with a community they had previously not served. The IAC Outreach Program started with part-time IAC employees from the local communities who were trained on USDA programs and sent out to facilitate meetings between local USDA offices and the Tribes and producers those offices were supposed to serve. That part-time program, developed into our current Outreach project which consists of four offices around the country with IAC staff extensively trained on USDA programs to facilitate USDA/Tribe and producer meetings and to build long-term relationships between all levels of the USDA and the Indian community.
How do you differentiate yourself from other businesses in your category and area?
IAC has grown to prominence in Indian Country and among the federal government agencies and the agricultural field with which it works on behalf of individual Indian producers and Tribal enterprises. The IAC has over the last decade become recognized as the most respected voice within the Indian community and government circles on agricultural policies and programs in Indian country.
How many locations do you have and do you have plans to expand?
The main office is located at 100 27th Street in Billings. We have Technical Assistance offices around the country. Visit our TA website at http://www.iactechhelp.com/regions/ for more information.