Invitation: Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food, Know Your Future
Karen Lehman
You’re invited to join representatives from local, state and federal government, business, academia, farmers and not-for-profit organizations at a one-day Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food, Know your Future convening on July 14, 2016 in Chicago. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from organizations, businesses, farms, agencies and institutions about beginning farming, specialty crop block grants, food waste opportunities and approaches, farmers markets and other USDA programs. This year’s convening looks forward, focusing on new approaches, the role of and opportunities for millennials in the food space, and nutrition.
This is our fifth event with previous events keynoted by former USDA Deputy Secretaries Merrigan and Harden and last year by USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. This year we will once again offer an exciting line-up of leaders and successful models that represent many aspects of local food systems.
The event will take place at the University Club of Chicago, 76 East Monroe Street, Chicago, IL from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Networking will be possible throughout the day.
REGISTRATION: Registration is required and the cost is $25 per person which includes lunch. Register HERE. On-site registration will not be available and all registrations must be completed by 3:30 PM, July 11. Seating capacity is limited. If you unable to register online or have registration questions, please contact Charlene Blary, Administrative Assistant, Illinois Farm Bureau, at CBl...@ilfb.org or telephone her at (309) 557-3619 before the registration deadline.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Call the University Club at 312-726-2840 and ask for Room Reservations (and mention that you are with the USDA group). There are also many hotels within walking distance of the convening site.
The convening is hosted by USDA’s Illinois Rural Development and the Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) Midwest Region, Illinois Farm Bureau & Fresh Taste
Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food, Know Your Future
University Club of Chicago
July 14th, 2016
8:00 am – 3:45 pm
Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food, Know Your Future 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 programs, grants and more. This year’s convening will focus on healthy food choices, millennials’ influence on the new food and agriculture economy, food waste, and specialty crop block grants.
8:30 – 9:00 am Registration & Networking (coffee & tea available)
Illinois Farm Bureau
9:00 – 10:15 am Welcome and Introduction
Colleen Callahan, Director, USDA Illinois Rural Development
David Erickson, Vice President, Illinois Farm Bureau
The Future of Good Nutrition
Sam Kass, White House chef & NBC News Senior Food Analyst (invited)
10:15 – 10:30 am Networking Break
10:30 – 11:45 am Millennials: New & Future Farmers Discussion
· Darius Jones, Garfield Park Produce, Beginning Farmer Graduate
· Amy Randazzo, Angelic Organics Learning Center & Upper Midwest CRAFT Farmer Alliance Farmer of the Year 2016
· Rosario Maldonado & Fernando Orozco, Creciendo Farms, Windy City Harvest Beginning Farmer Graduate
· Jen Miller, Sandhill Family Farms
Moderator: Karen Lehman, Fresh Taste
Please join us in Tweeting about your experience at this year’s event by using #KYF16.
11:45 am – 12:00 pm The Future of the Farm Bill
Video Greeting from Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow
12:00 – 12:50 pm Lunch
1:00 – 2:15 pm New Technologies Discussion
· Irv Cernauskas, Irv & Shelly’s Fresh Pick, Small Business Innovation Research Grant
· Lydia Mills, Program Manager, Farm to School Network, Specialty Crop Block Grant
· Kevin Daughtery, Educator Director, Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom, Specialty Crop Block Grant
· Brad Uken, Steering Committee, Chanute Fields, Rural Business Development Grant
· Connie Spreen, Executive Director, Experimental Station, SNAP & Farmers Markets
Moderator: Cynthia Haskins, Illinois Farm Bureau
2:15 – 2:30 pm Break
2:30 – 3:30 pm The Future of Food Waste Discussion
· Julie Schilf, US EPA Region 5
· Loyola University
· Gary Cuneen, Founder & Executive Director, Seven Generations Ahead
· Megan Klein, Farmed Here
Moderator: Alan Shannon, USDA Food & Nutrition Service
3:30 Closing
Note: I check email twice per day at 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. CT. If you need me to respond to something immediately, please feel free to call. Thanks for helping me give you my best thinking.
|
|
|
