American Family Farmer

Renee Randall visited with us last year. She is a woman farmer (farmess is not a word). The earliest agriculturalists were women, and even now, in many parts of the world, women are the ones who plant, tend and harvest.She started out studying nutrition, and 1974, with three children in tow and help from her friends, she moved from the heart of Chicago and became Farmer Renee, farming organically for the past 41 years.Willow Ridge Organic Farm sits on top of a ridge, a thousand feet above sea level where the air is clean and the view is awe inspiring. It's just a stone's throw away from the Kickapoo and Wisconsin Rivers at Wauzeka in Southwestern Wisconsin, in the heart of Wisconsin's Driftless Region.

Lindsey Lusher Shute is Executive Director of the National Young Farmers Coalition. She is a leading advocate for independent and sustainable farms. As a young farmer herself, she is acutely aware of the challenges that young and beginning farmers face. With a background in organizing and state policy, Lindsey co-founded NYFC. In its first five years, NYFC has engaged tens of thousands of farmers in policy action; galvanized the land trust community around farmland affordability; and organized 28 rural chapters. Lindsey regularly keynotes at farmer conferences and is quoted by national news outlets as an expert on the structural issues facing family farms. NYFC is a platform for young, progressive farmers to have a meaningful influence on the structural obstacles in the way of their success. NYFC represents, mobilizes, and engages young farmers to ensure their success. They support practices and policies that will sustain young, independent and prosperous farmers now and in the future.

Terry Spence is the second-generation owner and operator of the 400 acre family farm where he was born, raised, and then raised his own family. Since its inception, this northeast Missouri farm has been involved in poultry, swine, sheep, cattle, and dairy cow operations. These days, Terry and his family concentrate solely on beef cattle, a cow- calf operation. For the past 20 years, Terry has dedicated his free time to issues of importance to all family farmers. At the local level, Terry co-founded two grass roots organizations of which he is currently president, Family Farms for the Future (FFFF) and Citizens Legal Environmental Action Network (CLEAN).

Daniel Teague is a farmer and works in Agribusiness Management with the Mississippi Association of Cooperatives. THE MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF COOPERATIVES is a non-profit agency that provides support for cooperative businesses, family farmers, and rural people, which enables them to improve their lives and communities; and to maintain and support training and educational programs to enhance the quality of life for rural residents.Building from a tradition, steeped in the Civil Rights Movement, MAC provides technical assistance and advocates for the needs of its members in the areas of cooperative development and networking, sustainable production, marketing and community food security.

Marty Mesha is Executive Director of Florida Organic Growers. Florida Organic GRowers is a nonprofit corporation that was established in farmhouse kitchens and barns in1987. FOG operates two programs: Education & Outreach and Quality Certification Services.The Organic Food Production Act of 1990 required that the USDA develop national standards for organic products, and FOG was heavily involved in the development of the regulations governing organics. FOG is also active in developing and implementing Farm Bill programs.

Ellen Moyer is a writer, speaker, engineer, and environmental advocate whose mission is to help restore the environment and promote a healthier way for us to inhabit the Earth. Moyer is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post and has authored two books. Her third, currently in progress, describes how our current environmental, health, and economic crises provide a grand opportunity for humans to evolve to the next level. Of the DARK Act, she says, 1cThe government 19s decision-making about GMOs has huge ramifications for our health, the environment, and our democracy. The U.S. government has refused to call for GMO labeling, unlike 64 other countries - including China - and is now considering overturning hard-won state laws that require GMO labeling. People deserve to know what is in their food. 1d

Betty Grotophorst grew up on her family's 212 acre, multi - generational family farm in Honey Creek, Sauk County WI. Now retired, she's active on the Green County board, South West Badger RC&D as treasurer, and Badger Kennel club. She lives in the country, grows and preserves most of her food , enjoys experimenting growing heirloom flowers and vegetables in her garden. GREEN COUNTY DEFENDING OUR FARMLAND is a CAFO, which stands for Concentrated Animal Feeding. They are defending clean water, clean air, healthy soils and community for sustainable agriculture. They either depend on farming for a livelihood or support it directly and locally in action and word. They believe all people elected and appointed to public office must place people and their health over money.

Kristina Ralph and her husband Robert started Lazy Daze Acres CSA in 2015. She was brought up on the farmstead and is a fifth generation farmer. Robert was completely green to farming, but passionate about learning more about the farming lifestyle. They raise over 40 different varities of USDA certified organic vegetables, including heirlooms and herbs. They also raise organic beef.

Chandler Goule began his career with NFU in November 2009 as the vice president of government relations. The World Trade Organization (WTO) has delivered a major setback to American consumers and producers earlier this year when it ruled against the U.S. Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) law, which requires muscle cuts of meat, and some fruits and vegetables, to be labeled with the country 19s name where it was produced. The good news is that the U.S. can both maintain the integrity of this label and at the same time comply with our WTO obligations with one quick fix. That fix 13 voluntary COOL - has already been introduced in the U.S. Senate.

Chris Prchal owns Trogg's Hollow Family Farm, located in Elgin, and Poplar Grove IL. Their mission is to provide people from the Chicago and Rockford area who want to know their farmer and be part of a farm family/community and are searching for natural and chemical-free food with naturally grown and raised, quality food and the opportunity to participate in a welcoming farm environment.

Renee Randall is a woman farmer. The earliest agriculturalists were women, and even now, in many parts of the world, women are the ones who plant, tend and harvest.She started out studying nutrition, and 1974, with three children in tow and help from her friends, she moved from the heart of Chicago and became Farmer Renee, farming organically for the past 41 years. Her children grew up on the farm and worked alongside her. They farmed with horses, plowed, made hay, milked cows, and then, when She began growing veggies in 1988, were there by her side again. Now, it's her visiting grandchildren that ride the transplanter, dig fingerling potatoes and eat cherry tomatoes off the vine. Her website is www.willowridgeorganicfarm.com

Beth Osmond and and her husband Jody are a second career family, that left the Chicago consultant world following the bursting of the 1ctech bubble 1d in the early 2000s.They created Illinoi 19s first meat CSA serving the Chicago area. They are activist farmers who speak out about policy issues and they have been involved in advocacy work. They helped form the Board of Farmers Chicagoland CSA Coalition. Jody & Beth are both experienced teachers and speakers, as well as very involved in a variety of food and farm related organizations.

Wes King has worked on sustainability and food policy issues for the past 8 years. He staffs NSAC 19s Marketing, Food Systems and Rural Development Committee. He spent the past 6 years at NSAC member organization, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, working on food access, farmers markets and working-lands conservation policy; and leading efforts to create a more risk and scale appropriate regulatory environment for farms and local food businesses. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is an alliance of grassroots organizations that advocates for federal policy reform to advance the sustainability of agriculture, food systems, natural resources, and rural communities.

Joel Salatin is a third generation full-time family farmer in Virginia 19s Shenandoah Valley. The farm services more than 5,000 families, 10 retail outlets, and 50 restaurants through on-farm sales and metropolitan buying clubs with salad bar beef, pastured poultry, eggmobile eggs, pigaerator pork, forage-based rabbits, pastured turkey and forestry products using relationship marketing.He holds a BA degree in English and writes extensively in magazines such as STOCKMAN GRASS FARMER, ACRES USA, and FOODSHED. The Polyface Farm has been featured in SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, GOURMET and countless other radio, television and print media.

Kendra Kimbirauskas is CEO of the Socially Responsible Agriculture Project. SRAP empowers rural communities to protect themselves from the devastating health, environmental, and economic impacts of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) or 1cfactory farms. 1d SRAP supports sustainable family farming 14not animal factories, which destroy family farms and rural communities. We help concerned citizens fight industrialized agriculture, and we provide proven tools and strategies for developing ecologically sound, economically viable, humane alternatives.

Jim Kleinschmit is a Senior Adviser on Climate and Energy for the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, an international non-profit, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A main focus of his work has been the Rural Climate Network, which brings together national leaders, organizations and companies around rural climate education and solutions.

Tom Spaulding is the founding executive director of Angelic Organics Learning Center. He is inspired by farms as dynamic places of cultural, ecological, and economic revitalization. At the Learning Center, Tom focuses on strategic planning, building partnerships, and managing the staff, team and facilities. He keeps his hands in the dirt and his spirit renewed by managing the AOLC livestock and assisting with the fertility program at Angelic Organics farm.

BILL NIMAN is pioneering rancher in the good meat movement. He has been called 1cThe Guru of Happy Cows, 1d by the Los Angeles Times, 1cThe Master of Meat, 1d by Wine Spectator magazine, 1cThe Steve Jobs of Meat, 1d by Men 19s Journal, and 1cFood Artisan of the Year, 1d by Bon Appetit magazine. He and his wife argue that dispersed, grass-fed, small-scale farms can and should become the basis for American food production, replacing the factory farms that harm animals and the environment.

BILL NIMAN is pioneering rancher in the good meat movement. He has been called 1cThe Guru of Happy Cows, 1d by the Los Angeles Times, 1cThe Master of Meat, 1d by Wine Spectator magazine, 1cThe Steve Jobs of Meat, 1d by Men 19s Journal, and 1cFood Artisan of the Year, 1d by Bon Appetit magazine. He and his wife argue that dispersed, grass-fed, small-scale farms can and should become the basis for American food production, replacing the factory farms that harm animals and the environment.

Phil Lempert is an expert analyst on consumer behavior, marketing trends, new products and the changing retail landscape. He has identified and explained impending trends to consumers and some of the most prestigious companies worldwide. Here, he talks about Smarter Shopping, Better Eating, Healthier Living.