The Trailblazer Hunger Leadership Award is presented to individuals who are creating new paths to achieving food security in their community, and who use their voice and influence to create real change in reducing hunger. This year, we recognize Janie Simms Hipp, J.D., LL.M, for her profound knowledge and leadership on the complex intersection of Indian law and agriculture and food law, and her dedication to building a fairer and more just food system and ensuring the legal rights of communities in Indian Country.

Janie Simms Hipp, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, was most recently CEO of the Native American Agriculture Fund. Over her lengthy domestic and international legal career, she has worked as Senior Advisor to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in the Office of Tribal Relations, and as Director of Risk Management Education Division and National Program Leader of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, both at the U.S Department of Agriculture. She was the founding director of the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative at the University of Arkansas from 2013 to 2019. She is currently awaiting Senate confirmation to the position of General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Ms. Hipp holds a JD from Oklahoma City University and an LL.M. in agriculture and food law from the University of Arkansas. Among her numerous accolades are the Excellence in Agricultural Law Award from the American Agricultural Law Association (2019 and 2014), Recognition of Leadership from the Intertribal Agriculture Council (2018), the Tim Wapato Public Advocate of the Year Award from the National Center for American Indian Economic Development (2017), and a Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service awarded by President Barack Obama and presented by the Corporation for National and Community Service (2016).