Slide 1

Cultivating Farmer
Voices

Beth Osmund


Slide 2

Overview
 Introduction
 My Story
 Developing Leadership
 Q&A


Slide 3


Slide 4


Slide 5


Slide 6

A Change
of
Direction


Slide 7

2002 – Launched
Cedar Valley
Sustainable

2003- First
season of veggie
CSA

2004 – Attendees
at Upper Midwest
CSA Conference


Slide 8

2007 – SARE
Farmer Rancher
Grant

2008 - National
Resources
Conservation
Service Farm
Tour

2008 – Midwest
Organic
Conference
Presentation


Slide 9

Farmer Faculty
 Michael Fields
Agricultural Institute
 CRAFT Farm
Beginnings


Slide 10

Conference
Presentations
 Midwest Organic

 Great Lakes CSA
conference
 National Women in
Agriculture
 MOSES


Slide 11

Professional
Organizations
 Slow Food
 Terra Madre Delegate
 SF Chicago Board
 NUSOS Keynote

 Farmer’s Market
Committees
 Presentations to many
community organizations
 Serve on USDA panels


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Slide 13

Seed
 Invite people in!
 Create learning opportunities for public
speaking/public writing.
 In house training
 Online resources


Slide 14

Cultivate
 Create a Speaker’s Bureau
 Host Community Education events with
multiple farms
 Train / Coach /Support


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 Connect with local organizations:
 4H/Schools
 Chamber of Commerce
 Garden Clubs

 Tap local experience rather than ‘experts
from out of town’
 Value their time!


Slide 16

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?


Slide 17

 A wider network means more resources.


Slide 18

 A wider network means more resources.

 A public presence means more people
know about my farm.


Slide 19

 A wider network means more resources.

 A public presence means more people
know about my farm.
 I can help advance my point of view in the
ongoing conversation about food and
farming.


Slide 20

 A wider network means more resources.

 A public presence means more people
know about my farm.
 I can help advance my point of view in the
ongoing conversation about food and
farming.
 I’ve gotten to go to some terrific places and
meet many amazing people!


Slide 21


Slide 22

Questions &
Comments