July 2023 Newsletter
July 2023 Newsletter
Read on for July happenings from the Wyoming Food Coalition. -Speaker Series July 27th. -Strategic Planning sessions finishing up this week! -Have You Seen Our YouTube Library? -WyoGives Fundraiser summary. -We're Hiring! -New WFC Website. -Upcoming Events Statewide.
Mission: To strengthen local food systems by connecting stakeholders and amplifying their voices so that Wyoming producers, consumers, and environments thrive. Vision: We envision sustainable local food economies in Wyoming that are diverse, thriving, and equitable. Values: Equity & Inclusivity · Shared Leadership with Accountability & Transparency Environmental Sustainability · Economic Opportunity · Indigenous Sovereignty Dignity & Respect · Action We’re continuing to grow and expand into our mission and values, discussing what projects to focus on and how to most effectively make a difference. If you’re interested in participating in these discussions, supporting us, and helping us achieve our vision, please join us as a member, if you aren’t already.
Ruminations from the Director
Can you believe we are half-way through July already? I can't! This is a busy time of year for producers, and consumers of local food. There is lots to be done for folks who want to get the most out of our short, but fruitful growing season. The variety of the seasonal bounty in our state, and the amazing folks who are willing to put in the work to make the most of it, never cease to amaze me. As members of the Food Coalition, it is good to remind ourselves as we rub elbows with other local-food enthusiasts, that we should take every opportunity we get to share what the Food Coalition has to offer- with other passionate folks around us. We are moving towards the end of our strategic planning for the next couple of years and a prominent theme is that we need more involvement in order to thrive as an organization. So get out there, do what you do best, and throw in a couple of plugs for the Food Coalition while you are at it! Invite a Farmer's Market vendor or shopper to a Working Group meeting, share one of our past speaker series on our YouTube channel with someone you know, forward this newsletter to someone else who loves food (who doesn't love food???) And, as we move forward and reach out to new folks, I just want to reiterate that the Wyoming Food Coalition is here to serve. If you have suggestions about how we can better serve you and others, please speak up! Reply to this email or send a message to info@wyfoodcoaltion.org. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of connecting stakeholders and amplifying their voices so that Wyoming producers, consumers, and environments thrive. Thanks -BJ Edwards
July Speaker Series: Garden Insect Management
Thank you to Scott Schell with UW Extension, who will be presenting on garden insects this month! Register for the live webinar. Did You Know? We have an extensive library of agriculture related topics covered in our past speaker sessions on YouTube, check out entire recording playlist.
Strategic Planning Sessions Finish Up This Week! It has been a long, but worthwhile, project getting our Strategic Plan set for the next few years. The Board has one session left, this Thursday, and then we can move forward with more direction and unified goals. If you have a chance, say Thank You to our Board Members and our Facilitator- Carrie Bennett for the time and commitment they have invested in this integral process.
Thank You for Your Support During WyoGives this year!
Thank you for your support through WyoGives last Wednesday! Special thanks to our donors: Carrie Bennett Sadie Clarendon Cambron Deatherage Christopher Edwards Kristen Ellifritz Sandra Hranchak Maureen Johnson LeRoy Jons Elisabeth Lewis Jamie Monachino Kathleen Moore Chuck Porter Corinna Schade Michael Selmer Patrick Sweeney Sheryl VanPelt Victoria Woods Thanks for prioritizing our work by making a donation through WyoGives. Your donation was matched 100% by the Hughes Charitable Foundation, so we will be able to go twice as far with the funds you gave. We raised $2700 total! This will help move all of our initiatives forward by funding our hired Executive Director position in 2024. We will be in touch to get a good mailing address to send out local food photo calendars for 2024. Thank you for your enthusiasm and your vision for a brighter future, centered around local food in Wyoming. #WYFoodMatters
We will be Hiring our newest VISTA Position Soon- Please spread the word!
We will be looking to fill our newest VISTA Position soon. We do not have official dates yet, but should have those secured in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, we are looking for interested individuals who would like to assist the WY Food Coalition in the following capacity. Position Description: Goal of the Overall VISTA Project: To promote, support and expand the production, access and consumption of fresh, local food in Wyoming with an emphasis on people living in poverty, vulnerable populations and the geographically isolated. Objective of the Assignment: Work with the Executive Director to implement the Wyoming Food Coalition’s strategic plan and support ongoing activities and projects that align with the Coalition’s mission, vision and values. Objectives and activities will include (but are not limited to): 1) Create a public database of local food and food security resources 2) Facilitate intra-coalition communications 3) Lead public communications and outreach 4) Membership recruitment 5) Help plan annual coalition conference In addition to objectives listed above, VISTA Volunteer will work with Executive Director to identify additional projects that encourage and facilitate the equitable access of fresh, local food to all Wyoming residents regardless of socioeconomic status. All work done by VISTA Volunteer will increase the capacity of the Wyoming Food Coalition to function as a statewide resource for food system stakeholders in order to alleviate poverty, and increase access to healthy food for Wyoming citizens. View the full position description here.
Have You Seen Our New Website Yet? Check it out at www.wyfoodcoalition.org and let us know what you think!
Upcoming Events Statewide
Pawnee Buttes Seed 2023 Grass Tour August 17th-18th, 2023 This year's grass tour will be supported by CO-SRM, Colorado Open Lands, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, CSU Extension Office, Colorado Watershed Assembly, West Greeley conservation District and the Roberts Ranch. Pawnee Buttes Seed has been working hard to plan a beneficial and educational tour for all of you this year! August 17th, we will focus on Small Acreage Management. Looking at various properties north of Greeley, CO. Including Pawnee Buttes Seed Owner Don Hijars 27-acre horse property , where will discuss the various management approaches, he uses to get the maximum potential out of his property. August 18th, we will be visiting the Roberts Ranch in Livermore, CO. Taking a look at the history of the ranch, grazing management, weed management, wildlife management and an interesting drought resiliency project. Register HERE.
Stay in-the-Know about Ag-Related Events in WY: Join the Ag Dispatch Newsletter
Dr. Caitlin Youngquist, out of Worland WY has transitioned from UW Extension to Farming, Composting, and some Consultation work. Her Bighorn Basin Ag Dispatch Newsletter proved an invaluable resource to many during her time with UW Extension. Lucky for us, Caitlin is continuing her newsletter on a broader scale. It is now encompassing Ag Events in Wyoming and the surrounding areas! You can sign up to receive her newsletter, and stay up-to-date on Agricultural Events in Wyoming and beyond HERE.
4th Annual Rendezvous City Beef Roundup - August 26, 2023 Featuring the beef of Wyoming and across America! The Rendezvous City Beef Roundup is designed to bring beef producers and consumers together to celebrate beef, to educate the public on the benefits and sustainability of beef production, and to showcase the exceptional flavor of beef. A ticketed VIP steak tasting dinner will ultimately crown a producer with “Best Beef in Wyoming” and an open division featuring producers from across the U.S. will declare a “Best Beef in the West” winner determined by a Celebrity Judge panel. This one-of-a-kind event is hosted to help build awareness and access for consumers to local beef, and to create new markets for producers. Not only do they offer educational classes to consumers in the subjects of economic impact and environmental benefits, but they will also teach preparation in pairing and other pertinent topics. The Roundup will provide education to producers on the newest industry practices and technology to improve their direct-to-consumer beef businesses. Learn more about the event here. Enter your beef here.
Come out for some old fashioned fun at the Sheepherders Rendezvous August 26-28th at the town park in Glenrock, Wyoming. For more information contact Rita at 307-262-0513 or check out the event website HERE.
Sustainable Agriculture R&E- SAREC Field Day
Lingle – The University of Wyoming (UW) hosted an open house and field day at the James C. Hageman Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center (SAREC) near Lingle on Aug. 9th. The event, free to the public, featured field tours and presentations by UW researchers.
Upcoming Coalition Meetings
Check out our upcoming meeting schedule on our Public Google Calendar HERE.
Do you know someone who might benefit from WY Food Coalition Resources and Happenings? Please forward this email to them and encourage them to Join the Coalition. It’s free! You can sign up and get more info about our 7 working groups here. Subscribe to our monthly email newsletter here.