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Panel: Elizabeth Martens, Heidi Kraiss, James Franzen - 7:00 pm, Thursday, Feb 21
Who are 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 – 10:30am, Friday, February 22
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? An 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 – 10:30am, Saturday, February 23
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.
The 19th Annual Organic Farming Conference
February 21-23, 2008
La Crosse Center, La Crosse, WI
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