American Family Farmer

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.

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.

Roger Noonan is president of New England Farmers Union, and is an organic farmer in New Boston, NH. Most recently, Roger has been a national leader on food safety and speaks around the country on the Food Safety Modernization Act and other policy issues that affect family farmers.

Roger Noonan is president of New England Farmers Union, and is an organic farmer in New Boston, NH. Most recently, Roger has been a national leader on food safety and speaks around the country on the Food Safety Modernization Act and other policy issues that affect family farmers.

Mark Schatzker, an award-winning writer, radio columnist for the Canadian Broadcast Corporation and frequent contributor to the Globe and Mail, Conde Nast Traveler, and Bloomberg Pursuits, talks about his book "The Dorito Effect: The Surprising New Truth About Food and Flavor and Steak: One Man 19s Search for the World 19s Tastiest Piece of Beef."

Nicolette Hahn Niman is a rancher, attorney, and writer who argues that cattle are not inherently bad for either the Earth or our own nutritional health in her book, "Defending Beef".

Roger Johnson, President of The National Farmers Union since 2009, talks about the disappointing decision of APHIS to allow importation of beef from areas with Foot and Mouth Disease.

Roger Johnson, President of The National Farmers Union since 2009, talks about the disappointing decision of APHIS to allow importation of beef from areas with Foot and Mouth Disease.

Erin Brennerman, a pig farmer from Washington, Iowa, talks about the serious public health threat of antibiotic resistance, and believes it is their responsibility to use antibiotics when needed as part of her farm 19s health program.

Stephanie Mercier, Senior Policy and Advocacy Adviser for the Farm Journal Foundation, talks about the rising problem of Colony Collapse Disorder, and why the declining amount of Bees should be important to family farmers.

Kerissa Chapman, AgVentures Education Coordinator at the International Agri-Center, encourages people to get involved and educated about farming.