“ultivating healthy farms and resilient ommunities”...2 schedule: day 1: wednesday, december 7,...
TRANSCRIPT
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Multi-Session, Multi-Speaker
Virginia Farm-to-Table Conference
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Ricardo Salvador
Director, Union of Concerned Scientists’ Food and Environment Program
Alex Hitt
Owner of Peregrine Farm
Rev. Nancy Yarnell
Executive Director, Urban Recipe
Ellen Kahler
Executive Director, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Chef Michael Twitty
Founder, Afroculinaria
Tony Kleese
Founder/President, Earthwise Organics
Glyen Holmes
Founder, New North Florida Cooperative
For extended bios, please visit http://conference.virginiafarmtotable.org
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With Support from the Following Organizations:
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7th & THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8th, 2016 (PRE-CONFERENCE TOUR, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016 — See page 6)
BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE · PLECKER WORKFORCE CENTER · ONE COLLEGE LANE · WEYERS CAVE, VA 24486
“Cultivating Healthy Farms and Resilient Communities”
The 2016 Virginia Farm to Table Conference will be of interest to producers,
buyers, community and agricultural development officials, policymakers, and
food system stakeholders. The event features a pre-conference tour, along
with diverse presentations from national and state experts and practitioners
on the practical applications of soil and water health; finding leverage and
your niche; local food for all; building a solid business foundation; nutrition
and community health; opportunities for military veteran farmers; food sys-
tem leadership and development; and Collective Impact 101.
Register at http://conference.virginiafarmtotable.org
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SCHEDULE: Day 1: Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Blue Ridge Community College Plecker Workforce Center
8:00 — 8:45am Registration & Refreshments — Provided by Friendly City Food Co-op Room C
8:45 — 9:15am
Opening Remarks & Welcome Rooms A & B
Eric Bendfeldt, Community Viability, Virginia Cooperative Extension
Kathy Holm, Assistant State Conservationist, USDA-NRCS
Dr. Tom Thompson, Associate Dean and Director of International Programs, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
9:15 —10:15am
Speaker Rooms A & B
“Does the “Food System” Really Need Fixing?”
Dr. Ricardo Salvador, Director, Union of Concerned Scientists’ Food and Environment Program
10:15 — 10:45am Refreshment Break — Catered by A Bowl of Good Room C & Foyer
10:45a — 12:00p
Track 1: ROOM A Practical Applications of Soil and Water Health
“Putting Soil Health Management Principles into Practice on a Diversified Small Vege-table Farm ” Alex Hitt of Peregrine Farm. Introduced by Chris Lawrence of USDA-NRCS.
Track 2: ROOM B Finding Leverage and Your Niche: “Experiences from the Field”
Panelists: Jeremy Engh of Lakota Ranch Farm Store, Thora and Ed Pomicter of Teeny Tiny Spice Co., Sarah Cohen of Route 11 Potato Chips, and Dawn Story of Farmstead Ferments and New Moon Naturals. Moderated by Dale Gardner.
Track 3: AUDITORIUM Local Food For All: Improving Connections and Access
Panelists: Rev. Nancy Yarnell of Urban Recipe, Trevor Piersol of Alleghany Mountain Institute Urban Farm at Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind, Glyen Holmes of New North Florida Cooperative, and Elizabeth Borst of Virginia Nutrition Incentive Net-work. Moderated by Kevin Camm of VCE.
Track 4: P122 Building a Crop Budget before Spending Money or Time!
Speaker: Tony Kleese of Earthwise Organics. Moderated by Tom Stanley of VCE.
Track 5: P124 Military Veterans forming the VA Chapter - Farmer/Veteran Coalition
Convened and moderated by John Fant and Jason Foscolo of the Farmer Veteran Coa-lition, in partnership with the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition. (Limited scholarships available for the first 10 registered veterans.)
12:00 — 1:00pm Lunch — Catered by A Bowl of Good Rooms A & B
1:00 — 1:10pm Common Ground: Profiles of Soil Health by AE Media — “Waterpenny Farm”
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SCHEDULE: Day 1 Continued: Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Blue Ridge Community College Plecker Workforce Center
1:10 — 2:15pm
Plenary Panel Rooms A & B
“Perspectives from the Field and Research: Resilience and Innovation from the Soil Up”
Panelists: Alex Hitt of Peregrine Farm, Leo Tammi of Shamoka Run Farm, Lynn Trizna of Rodale Institute and St. Luke’s Hospital, Glyen Holmes of New North Florida Cooperative, and Dr. Marcia DeLonge of the Union of Concerned Scientists. Moderated by Eric Bendfeldt of VCE.
2:15 — 2:45pm Refreshment Break — Catered by A Bowl of Good Room C & Foyer
2:45 — 4:30pm
Track 1: ROOM A: Crop Rotation Is A Cornerstone of Soil Health and Farm Health: Core Concepts and Practical Advice for Making It Happen
Speaker: Alex Hitt of Peregrine Farm. Moderated by Chris Lawrence of USDA-NRCS
Track 2: ROOM B: Making Distribution Work in the Value Chain for Everyone
Panelists: Glyen Holmes of New North Florida Cooperative, Rev. Nancy Yarnell of Urban Recipe, Alan Moore of the Local Food Hub, and_____. Moderated by French Price of VCE.
Track 3: AUDITORIUM: Forging Connections for Nutrition and Community Health
Panelists: Jenna Clarke of Project Grows, Maureen McNamara Best of LEAP, Greg Knight of Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (i), Dr. Andrea Basche of the Union of Concerned Scientists, and Lynn Trizna of Rodale Institute and St. Luke’s Hospital project. Moderated by Kelli Scott of VCE.
Track 4: P 122: Building a Whole Farm Budget for a Solid Business Foundation
Speaker: Tony Kleese of Earthwise Organics. Moderated by Tom Stanley of VCE.
Track 5: P 124: Stakeholder Listening Session for Community, Local, Regional Food Systems Facilitated by Kim Niewolny, Joyce Latimer, and Caitlin Miller of VCE.
4:30 — 6:00pm Refreshments & Networking Opportunities Rooms A, B & C
Enjoy time with the conference exhibitors.
7:00 — 9:00pm Young/Young at Heart and Emerging Farmer Mixer Off Site
(*Please see additional details below)
This FREE Young/Young at Heart and Emerging Farmer event will be held off site at the LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED on Wednesday evening, Dec. 7th. Look forward to friendly conversation, networking, and a
chance to learn more about the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition. Open to individuals look-ing for support in the very beginning or early stages of their farming trajectory, or seasoned producers that
also want to network and mingle. Refreshments will be available from 7-9 PM. Come join the networking fun! Comments? Please contact French Price at (540) 432-6029 ext. 117
LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED!
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SCHEDULE: Day 2: Thursday, December 8, 2016
Blue Ridge Community College Plecker Workforce Center
8:00 — 8:45am Registration and Refreshments — Provided by Friendly City Food Co-op Room C
8:45 — 9:15am Opening Remarks & Welcome Rooms A & B
Mr. Jack Bricker, State Conservationist, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
9:15 — 10:15am
Speaker Rooms A & B
“Re-localizing the Food System for Jobs and Communities”
Ellen Kahler, Executive Director, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund/VT Farm to Plate
10:15 --10:45am Refreshment Break — Catered by A Bowl of Good Room C & Foyer
10:45a—12:00p
Track 1: ROOM A: Reduced Soil Disturbance in Vegetable, Specialty, and Organic Crop Production: Core Principles and Key Examples
Speakers: Dr. Ron Morse, Professor Emeritus, Virginia Tech and Alex Hitt of Peregrine Farm. Moderated by Chris Lawrence of USDA-NRCS Virginia
Track 2: ROOM B: The Just and Cooperative Economy: Models from the Field
Panelists: Glyen Holmes of the New North Florida Cooperative, Rev. Nancy Yarnell of Ur-ban Recipe, Brad Burrow of Artisan’s Hope, Katrina Didot of A Bowl of Good, and Dr. Morris Henderson of 31st Street Baptist Church. Moderated by Steve Cooke of Friendly City Food Cooperative.
Track 3: AUDITORIUM: Reducing Food Waste: Embracing Ugly Produce
Panelists: Representatives of DC Central Kitchen, Hungry Harvest, Capitol Area Food Bank, and Misfit Juicery. Moderated by Eric Bendfeldt of VCE.
Track 4: P122: Building a Crop Budget before Spending Money or Time!
Speaker/Instructor: Tony Kleese of Earthwise Organics. Moderated by Tom Stanley of VCE.
Track 5: Houff G186: Guiding Local Food Systems Level Change
(For those interested in state– or county-wide food system change initiatives)
Speaker: Ellen Kahler, Executive Director, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund/VT Farm to Plate. Moderated by Christy Gabbard, Director, Virginia Food System Council/Chesapeake Foodshed Network.
12:00 —1:15pm
Lunch — Catered by A Bowl of Good Rooms A & B
Rev. Nancy Yarnell of Urban Recipe – “Building a Network of Friends and Neighbors”
**(Food System Funders meeting with Ellen Kahler – By invitation only)** Room P124
1:15 —1:30pm 2016 Carl Luebben Soil Health & Water Quality Award Rooms A & B
Sponsored by Houff’s Feed & Fertilizer
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SCHEDULE: Day 2 Continued: Thursday, December 8, 2016
Blue Ridge Community College Plecker Workforce Center
1:30 — 2:30pm
Plenary Speaker Rooms A & B
“Historical Food Pathways: Reconnecting Communities to Food, Culture, and Cooking”
Chef Michael Twitty of Afroculinaria and The Cooking Gene
2:30 — 2:45pm Refreshment Break — Catered by A Bowl of Good Room C & Foyer
2:45 — 4:30pm
Track 1: ROOM A: Reduced Soil Disturbance in Vegetable, Specialty, and Organic Crop Production: Virginia Case Studies, Farmer Panel, and Q&A Session with Experts
Case Study 1: David Sours, Public House Produce, Page County, VA
Case Study 2: Jim Hankins, Fauquier Education Farm, Warrenton, VA
Case Study 3: Beth Sastre-Flores/Chris Lawrence, Potomac Vegetable Farm, Loudoun
Case Study 4: Tim Ohlwiler, VCE Fauquier and Jessi Cushman of Evergreen Acres
Open Discussion with Panelists/Audience/Experts, including Dr. Ron Morse and Alex Hitt. Moderated by Chris Lawrence of USDA-NRCS
Track 2: ROOM B: Finding Leverage and Your Niche: Experiences from the Field
Panelists: Glyen Holmes of the New North Florida Cooperative, Wendy Wenger Hochstetler of Wenger Grapes, Christie Huger of Mountain View Farm Products, and Gary Lantz of Canon Hill Farm. Moderated by Matt Lohr of FCV Knowledge Center
Track 3: AUDITORIUM: Reconnecting Communities to Food and Culture
Panelists: Chef Michael Twitty of Afroculinaria, John Garber of Red Front Supermarket, Regina Schweitzer of Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community and the Farm at Willow Run, Andrew Wingfield of George Mason University and the Virginia Sustainable Food Coalition, and Lynn Trizna of Rodale Institute and St. Luke’s Hospital project. Moderated by Allison Spain of the Virginia Food System Council.
Track 4: P122: Building a Whole Farm Budget for a Solid Business Foundation
Speaker/Instructor: Tony Kleese of Earthwise Organics. Moderated by Tom Stanley of VCE
Track 5: Houff G186: Food System Change: Maintaining Momentum and Measuring Progress
(For those interested in state– or county-wide food system change initiatives.)
Speaker: Ellen Kahler, Executive Director, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund/VT Farm to Plate. Moderated by Christy Gabbard, Director, VFSC/Chesapeake Foodshed Network.
4:30pm Wrap-Up, Evaluations, and Adjournment
Additional Conference Notes:
Sign up for the pre-conference tour of farms and food businesses in the Greater Augusta County Area
Enjoy an networking with producers at the Young/Young at Heart and Emerging Farmer Mixer
Celebrate locally-grown foods during the Buy Fresh Buy Local producer/buyer networking time
Donate a canned or dried goods to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
Be inspired and motivated to take your farm and food business to the next level!
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Special thanks to the people & organizations who made this possible:
Eric Bendfeldt, VCE, Conference Co-Chair Kathy Holm, USDA-NRCS, Conference Co-Chair
French Price, VCE — Farm-to-Table Coordination Kim Niewolny, VT/VCE/VBFRC
Steve Cooke, Friendly City Food Co-op Tracey Coltrain, Central Shenandoah PDC
Allison Spain, VA Food System Council Christy Gabbard, Chesapeake Foodshed Network
Theresa Nartea, Virginia State University/VCE Eric Walter, Black Bear Composting
Dale Gardner, NFWF Farm-to-Table Project Robin Jones, VA Division of Energy
Barbara Bowen, USDA-NRCS Chris Lawrence, USDA-NRCS, Soil Health Coordination
Kenner Love, VCE — Rappahannock County Dave Robishaw, VDACS — Marketing
Leanne Dubois Harrow, VDACS Virginia Grown Caitlin Miller, VCE— Prince Edward County
Kevin Camm, VCE — Lynchburg Spencer Eavers, BRCC Plecker Workforce Center
Spencer Neale, VA Farm Bureau Debbie Glenn, BRCC Plecker Workforce Center
Chris Cook, Virginia FAIRS Kyley Clevenger, Farm Credit of the Virginias
Betty Hoge, Central Virginia SBDC Allyssa Mark, VT/VBFRC
Conference Address: Blue Ridge Community College Plecker Workforce Center, One College Lane, Weyers Cave, VA 24486
Questions? Call Eric Bendfeldt or French Price at (540) 432-6029 ext. 106 or 117
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activi-
ty, please contact Eric Bendfeldt, VCE Northern District Office, at 540-432-6029 Ext. 106 during business hours of 8 a.m. and 5
p.m. to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event. *TDD number is (800) 828-1120.
Find us online!
http://conference.virginiafarmtotable.org
http://buylocalshenvalley.org
Times Tour Stops as of October 15, 2016
9:30-10:00 Meet and registration at BRCC Plecker Center
10:00 Leave BRCC for Cool Breeze Farm
10:10 Cool Breeze Farm: 297 Salem Church Rd. Mount Sidney, VA 24467
11:30 Lunch: Farm Fresh Fixins food truck
12:20 Leave Cool Breeze Farm for AMI Urban Farm at VSDB
12:45 Allegheny Mountain Institute Urban Farm at Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind: 113
New Hope Rd., Staunton, VA 24401
2:20 Leave VSDB for Sunrise Farms, Inc.
2:45 Sunrise Farms, Inc.: 2177 Tinkling Spring Road, Stuarts Draft, VA 24477
4:15-4:30 Leave for BRCC Plecker Center
5:00 Return to Blue Ridge Community College
Pre-Conference Tour Schedule for Tuesday, December 6, 2016:
Register for the Pre-Conference Tour at http://conference.virginiafarmtotable.org
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Map of BRCC Plecker Workforce Center and Houff Student Center
INTERIOR FLOOR PLAN FOR BRCC PLECKER WORKFORCE CENTER