About Us
Providing Sustainable Agriculture in the Desert
The Zion Urban Farm is located at Zion United Methodist Church in North Las Vegas and serves communities by providing people access to fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables grown in Southern Nevada's dry, desert valley. The farm uses sustainable agriculture methods such as drip irrigation to conserve water, permeable walkways to reduce heat islanding, and hydroponic technologies for resource efficiency. The Zion Urban Farm consists of 1.5 acres featuring 64 irrigated raised beds including 24 ADA beds; 3,000 square feet of irrigated crop land; a 1,500 square foot greenhouse, grape vines, and an orchard featuring 42 fruit and nut trees with over 20 varieties including figs, pomegranates, pears, apples, almonds, walnuts, pecans, and more.
Rev. Dr. Khalif Akil Smith Sr.
S.N.U.A.A.P. | Program Director
Khalif decided to answer God’s calling upon his life in 2006 after serving
Grayson United Methodist Church as a Sunday school teacher for adults and
Senior High youth. He is a graduate of the Candler School of Theology at
Emory University has completed a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of
Ministry (DMin) with a focus on Food Insecurity and Asset-Based
Community Development.
I look forward to serving Zion United Methodist Church in Las Vegas,
where I believe that my gifts for building community, passion for social
justice in food insecurity, and adaptive leadership skills will be used to
Steward the vision of our incredible Conference, “A healthy church for a
healthy world.” I believe that my history of serving in leadership as a bridge
The builder will help me to strengthen the connections within the ministries of
the Las Vegas community, and the connections to the agricultural
community and the people that they serve.
Pastor Linda Stanley
S.N.U.A.A.P. | Community Outreach Consultant
Linda decided to answer God’s full-time calling upon her life in 2011, while she served at Page Community Methodist Church as Director of the Soup Kitchen. She completed her undergrad work in Theological Studies and received her Master of Business Education Degree with a Major in Organizational Leadership at the Christian University of Southern Indiana. After pastoring Zion United Methodist Church for eight years, she will continue her role as the Director of the Zion Urban Farm as Rev. Dr. Khalif Smith is appointed Pastor.
While going to college, Linda worked for 12 years as the Assistant Development Director of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation. Continuing her education, she ministered on several reservations with the Native People, mostly on the Navajo Nation later. She grew up in her grandmother’s gardens in Waco, TX, where her great-grandfather was a Native American. Linda heard a call to full-time agricultural ministry after receiving the vision to get ready for the switch in NV. She says she’s always willing to obey the call of God, being committed to the tenacious task assigned with attention to detail, to operate with ethics and strength, serving and working with others to bring success.
Jasmine Griffin
S.N.U.A.A.P. | Program Manager
Jasmine is a long-time member of Zion United Methodist Church, with her first job having been in the Zion Daycare Center in 2005. The position she held at that time opened her eyes to the joys of working with children. This passion for serving children and youth led her to serve as the Leader of Children’s Ministries at Zion. In addition to the time she spends serving the community through Zion, since 2019, she has served as Director of a non-profit organization that aims to combat homelessness and food insecurity in the Las Vegas Valley.
She is excited to continue working with the community and expanding the reach that Zion United Methodist Church and The Zion Urban Farm have. The Southern Nevada Urban Agriculture Assistance Program will help us to support urban farming and strengthen the local food system by connecting local urban farmers, with or without experience, to program opportunities within the USDA. Her passion for community-driven service and her experience serving the community are a welcome addition to our SNUAAP team.
Johnnie Ray Hampton
S.N.U.A.A.P. | Program Associate
I was at Zion as a Community Service worker. In 1996, I was hired there for a part-time job, which became full-time, and I am still working at Zion in 2025. It has helped me to achieve a place in the community.
I have never tried to promote myself or my work. I am just trying to connect with others. I have given my life to the Lord.
I work in the garden at Zion because I have an interest in working with Mother Earth, and I have a sense of achievement in planting and working with kids, training them in how to cultivate the dirt, pull up water lines, plant, and harvest. have come to the garden on Sundays after church to work with the kids from Desert Spring UMC, and it was beautiful.
The Lord planted seeds, and we're planting seeds.
This is my journey as far as today.
