The Food and Farm Movement

Workshop Session I: 9:15-10:30 a.m.

Understanding and Overcoming the Rural-Urban Divide:  Opportunities for the Local Foods Movement to Lead the Way

Anthony Flaccavento, Rural Urban Bridge Initiative

Local food markets have helped revitalize downtowns and reconnect producers with consumers in many communities, yet the divide between city and country, between “Red” and “Blue,” has expanded and intensified. The Rural Urban Bridge Initiative (RUBI) works to understand the divide and create opportunities to reverse it. Explore how farmers and food system advocates can use their experience to help meet this challenge.

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Workshop Session II: 10:45 a.m.-Noon

Beginning Farmer Tax Credit

Lauren Hirtle, OEFFA, Sarah Huffman, Ohio Department of Agriculture

The new Ohio Beginning Farmer Tax Credit program is an exciting opportunity to encourage farmland transfers to beginning farmers. Explore how it works, how it can benefit your farm business, and how it connects beginning farmers with more affordable land. Also learn about the grassroots efforts that lead to the passing of the bill to create the program in Ohio.

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Workshop Session III: 1:30-2:45 p.m. 

Leveling the Playing Field through Crop Insurance Reform

Billy Hackett, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Dig into crop insurance–this “farm safety net” program–and how it has become a primary driver of industrial agriculture. Then, discuss structural reform opportunities to shift the concentration of resources in the farm bill.

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Workshop Session IV: 3-4:15 p.m

A New Farm Bill: Where We’re at and Where We’re Going

Jesse Womack, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Congress has been working to reauthorize the farm bill, the single largest piece of agricultural legislation in the U.S. Get an up-to-date breakdown of what’s in the current bill, where it is on its path to passage, what you can do to help shape it, and how to prepare for the changes it brings to USDA programs.

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Workshop Session V: 10:45-Noon

Bridging Perspectives

Nicole Wolcott, OEFFA

Through group discussions and activities, learn how we can bridge perspectives and backgrounds to build movements. OEFFA’s narrative is our goal—to have a sustainable and resilient food system. By practicing positive conversations and working across differences, we can help folks see the value in working together to achieve that goal.

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Workshop Session VI: 1:30-2:45 p.m.

A Seat at OEFFA’s Table: Policy Agenda for Urban and BIPOC Communities

Amanda Hernandez, Leonard Hubert, L Hubert and Associates, Bill Miller, Ohio Farmers Union, Celeste Treece, AgNoire Urban Farming Association

Can predominantly white organizations genuinely support and advocate for issues in an industry that has historically discriminated against farmers of color? How can organizations like OEFFA improve their engagement with farmers of color? What are the benefits to urban farmers and food producers of color? This will be an open and frank discussion on coalition building, racial equity, and inclusion in public policy advocacy.

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Workshop Session VII: 3-4:15 p.m.

Shifting the Narrative: How to Apply OEFFA’s Policy Narrative and Cultivate Community

Lauren Hirtle and Milo Petruziello, OEFFA

OEFFA’s policy narrative, a series of statements of belief, drive their advocacy work. Dive into these narrative shifts and learn the tools to best utilize the OEFFA narrative. Along with your own stories, shift the dominant narrative around agriculture and cultivate community through compassionate and deep discussions around food and farm policy.

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