1. Cultivating Farmer Voices Beth Osmund

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

6. A Change of Direction

7. 2002 – Launched Cedar Valley Sustainable 2003- First season of veggie CSA 2004 – Attendees at Upper Midwest CSA Conference

8. 2007 – SARE Farmer Rancher Grant 2008 - National Resources Conservation Service Farm Tour 2008 – Midwest Organic Conference Presentation

9. Farmer Faculty Farmer Faculty  Michael Fields Agricultural Institute  CRAFT Farm Beginnings

10. Conference Presentations  Midwest Organic  Great Lakes CSA conference  National Women in Agriculture  MOSES

11. Professional Organizations 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

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

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

15.  Connect with local organizations:  4H/Schools  Chamber of Commerce  Garden Clubs  Tap local experience rather than ‘experts from out of town’  Value their time!

16. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

17.  A wider network means more resources.

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

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.

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!

22. Questions & Comments