Time to register: Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food, Know Your Funding
Karen Lehman
Hi all,
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about USDA programs at an event on September 11 kicked off by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. See the announcement below!
Would you like to learn—or learn more—about USDA programs that support local food system businesses and farmers? The September 11th Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food, Know Your Funding will showcase farmers, organizations and businesses that have utilized or leveraged USDA programs, grants and/or funding. With a keynote by USDA Secretary Vilsack and participation by many Midwest local food leaders, the convening offers an opportunity to find about the wealth and variety of USDA programs that support farmers, businesses, not-for-profit organizations, schools, and others. For more information, please see the agenda below. Register here.
Registration is required and the cost is $18 per person which includes lunch. The event takes place at the Union League Club of Chicago, 65 W. Jackson Blvd, Chicago; from 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Friday, September 11th. Networking will be possible throughout the day. Please note: The Club has a business casual dress code. Information can be found here.
Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food, Know Your Funding
Union League Club of Chicago, Crystal Room, 5th Floor
September 11, 2015
8:00 am – 3:45 pm
Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food, Know Your Funding is a one-day convening hosted by USDA’s Illinois Rural Development & Food & Nutrition Service Midwest, Illinois Farm Bureau & Fresh Taste. This unique convening offers farmers, businesses, organizations, state and federal agencies, institutions and others involved with agriculture an opportunity to learn about USDA agencies, programs, grants and other possibilities.
8:00 – 9:00 am Registration & Networking (Crystal Room Foyer, 5th Floor)
9:00 – 9:30 am USDA Every Day, In Every Way
Opening & Welcome, Colleen Callahan, Director,
USDA Illinois Rural Development
9:30 – 10:00 am USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack
10:30 – 11:30 pm Local Food Funding Panel
· Bruce D. Karmazin, Executive Director, The Lumpkin Family Foundation
· Michael Davidson, Senior Program Officer in Sustainable Communities, The Chicago Community Trust
· A.J. Singletary, Kellogg School of Management, ‘Floating Green Capital’
· Jason Keller, Economic Development Director, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Moderator: Colleen Callahan, USDA, Illinois Rural Development
11:30 – 12:00 pm Local Food Leaders
Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow (video greeting)
Oran Hesterman, President/CEO, Fair Food Network
12:00 – 12:45 pm Lunch
1:00 – 2:15 pm Concept to Reality: USDA Programs In Play—Part I
· Farm to School: Betti Wiggins, Detroit Public Schools; Susan Peterman, Middleton (Wisconsin)
· FINI (Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Program): Dale Hazlewood, Aurora’s Farmers Market (Illinois)
· Local Foods Promotion Program: Dr. Jifunza Wright, Black Oaks Center & Jim Slama, FamilyFarmed
· Farmers Market Promotion Program: Robin Schirmer, Band of Farmers: The Chicagoland CSA Coalition
· Specialty Crop Block Grant: Marji Hess, Manager, Gary Comer Youth Center Garden
Moderator: Alan Shannon, USDA Food & Nutrition Service
2:15 – 2:30 pm Break
2:30 – 3:45 pm Concept to Reality: USDA Programs In Play—Part II
· Value Added Producer Grant Program: Marc Bernard, Rustic Road Farm
· Veterans in Farming: Sara Creech, Blue Yonder Organic Farm
· Beginning Rancher & Farmer Program: Tom Spaulding, Angelic Organics; Rick Weinzierl, University of Illinois and Angela Mason, Chicago Botanic Garden
· Micro-loans: Lori Fink and Tony Schmillen, Farm Loan Managers, Farm Service Agency; Andy Heck, Owner, Small Axe Market Gardens; and, Kimberlee Staley, Owner, Cramer Creek Farms (video)
Moderator: Karen Lehman, Fresh Taste
Alan Shannon, Director
Public Affairs
Food and Nutrition Service, Midwest Region
312-353-1045 / 312-886-6598 (Fax)
Stay Connected with USDA:
