2008 Organic Farming Conference La Crosse
CD $5.00
MP3 $1.25
Panel: James Frantzen, Heidi Kraiss, Elizabeth Martens
The Next Generation of Organic Farmers and Researchers
We all know the average age of farmers is increasing, but organic agriculture shows a proportionally stronger influx of young farmers. Who are these young farmers and what does organic agriculture look like from their view? What are their visions for the future of farming? What role will today’s research have regarding tomorrow’s food systems? Join us for a panel of young farmers and researchers as they discuss their experiences and hopes for the future. Elizabeth Martens, Lakeview Pastures, NY, is a fifteen year old who is active in FFA and for three years has managed her own heifers and cows on the family farm. Heidi Kraiss is a PhD candidate at the University of Madison whose research focuses on weed control. James Frantzen grew up on an organic hog farm in Iowa and is currently the Pork Pool Coordinator for Organic Prairie/CROPP Cooperative.
Melinda Hemmelgarn
The Illusion of Choice: Finding Good Food, Food Truth, and Justice for All
The World Health Organization reports that “the single most important factor in disease prevention may be healthy diet.” But what is a “healthy diet” exactly? A holistic definition of “good food” extends far beyond calories and nutrients. However, our built environment, food and agriculture policies, and media “diets” largely determine our food choices. For too many, true food choice is shrinking while our national waistlines continue to expand. Melinda Hemmelgarn, a card-carrying “Food Sleuth,” investigates the elements of toxic versus healing environments, and provides empowering strategies for eating “eco-logically” through critical thinking and advocacy. When we become food and media literate, we’re able to make food choices to protect public health, natural resources and democracy.
Andrew Kimbrell
Fatal Harvest: The Tragedy of Industrial Agriculture
We find ourselves in the midst of an historic battle between two very different visions for the future of food in the 21st century. The decades-long domination of the industrial model of food production is now being challenged by a strong grassroots movement in favor of organic, ecological, and humane food. Faced with the mounting and irrefutable evidence of the dire consequences of their agricultural system, the corporate purveyors of industrial food have recently come up with new strategies to try to blunt, and ultimately defeat, the growing opposition movement. Center for Food Safety founder and executive director Andrew Kimbrell will address this new agrarian consciousness which seeks to reestablish our relationship with nature, the farmer, and the land.
Keynote Speaker Joel Salatin
Farmer, author, and sustainability advocate Joel Salatin raises beef, poultry, rabbits, and pork at Polyface Farm in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. He is widely known for his innovative “beyond organic” farming techniques — in particular, his development of natural, self-sufficient methods of multi-species pasture management. But perhaps even more than that, he’s known for his outspokenness and his tireless support for local food networks.
Keynote: Marketing Locally Grown:Direct Marketing in the Supermarket
Diana Endicott - Learn how to establish one-on-one customer marketing in the supermarket and discover innovative marketing tools including database mining, point-of-purchase materials, store plan-o-gram, temporary price reductions, advertising, establishing a CSA program in the supermarket, and more. Find out how to sell your local foods to the store customers and how to sell the store management on your local foods. Create meaningful, effective, and enduring marketing strategies and discuss how local farm families pay for all this marketing.