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ACGA is Working to Empower Communities Just Like Yours, Everyday!
“I am proud to say that this program creates an environment for economic and social revitalization in rural
America through social change, grassroots empowerment and political advocacy.
As we work together with other farm policy groups, Rural Revitalization develops long term programs of education, community organizing, coalition building, networking, outreach, economic and social justice and cooperation between domestic farm advocates and civil organizations.”
Keith Bolin, President.
Bolin is a conventional and organic farmer and hog producer in Bureau County, IL.
Please follow along as we share examples of leadership, member activity
and ACGA's
Rural Revitalization Program in action…
As we take a look back (see the articles and links pasted below for more information), ACGA leadership was there, at the beginning of an
Illinois community’s journey toward rural revitalization by embracing the fundamentals of a localized food system. In 2006, we joined coalition members, partners, collaborators and consumers from around the state and regional community - rural and urban residents who came together to advocate for family farmers. This community effort and the passing of 2 key pieces of state legislation have recently gathered national attention and paved the way in support of a local food and farm product economy in
Illinois. The Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act and the Farm Fresh Schools Program Act were passed in May 2009.
Follow the links to view the Illinois public acts:
Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act Fresh Farm Schools Program Act
(http://
The act(s) officially recognizes the state’s need and support for job creation, rural revitalization and economic opportunity that will be created by a local food system and an increased community food security. Family farmers can look to local markets and recognize the growing demand for quality local food that can lead to increased land use choices. All community residents and our children will benefit by having easier access to a fresh, healthy and safe local supply of food and that can also provide a better chance to combat the public health concern of obesity. Our rural communities and main streets will benefit from the economic opportunities and new jobs created to support the system. Our urban neighbors will recognize the importance and the need for family farm agriculture and join us to keep farmers on the land – sending a message all across the country that family farmers will continue to address failed ag and trade policies that have contributed to rural decline.
ACGA participates in many progressive and timely initiatives around the country and worldwide. Through the work of our Rural Revitalization Program – community outreach and activities are implemented, milestones are met, and along the way we follow the path to localization. In north central
Illinois, ACGA’s Rural Revitalization Program and our working principles have played a significant role in moving the community along that path and closer to realizing the economic and social benefits of localization – all accomplished through grassroots empowerment, political advocacy and accompanied by social change.
You Can Help Support ACGA's Rural Revitalization and other programs - Donate Here Today!
One
Bureau
Valley community has stepped up to the rural revitalization challenge and developed the first localized Farm to School Program of its kind in
Illinois. The steps we took are outlined below and are followed by supporting recent and historical public articles/links that highlight the journey over a several year period of active community involvement.
Bureau
Valley (
Bureau County,
Illinois)
Farm to School Program
In February/March 2009 and ahead of the legislative curve, the Bureau Valley Community Unit School District #340 (the District is the home of the first school-owned wind turbine in Illinois facilitated by ACGA's local leadership and our Wealth From the Wind Program) created a Fresh Food Ad Hoc Committee (Ad Hoc Committee) to address individual and community food insecurity and child health - targeting the district’s 1100 K-12 students. The Ad Hoc Committee was made up of 29 national, state, county and local community organizations and agencies, members who represent the underserved rural community and its low income residents, parents, farmers, school administrators, faculty, staff and many Rural Revitalization project partners. The purpose and primary objective was to plan and implement a District-wide 2009-2010 Farm to School program that would ensure an increased food security and improve child health by offering and teaching healthy food choices and support an increase in physical activity both inside and outside the classroom.
During planning, the Ad Hoc Committee which included ACGA leadership, invited experts who could provide information on federal, state, local and State Board of Education environmental food safety rules, regulations and policy, feasibility/market and supply barriers, budgetary/cost and operational procedures, as well as geographic preferences for local food procurement. The Ad Hoc Committee further determined the educational objectives of a Farm to School program and planned community outreach activities.
The District entered a pilot program for the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Health Promotion program CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) for students K-8; ratified policy to procure food for hot school lunches from local resources; developed a District-wide Farm to School program and created the Bureau Valley Demonstration Garden Project (Demonstration Garden) and Committee. The Committee would have the authority and autonomy to develop and implement a successful
Demonstration
Garden to meet the needs of the District and community.
The Committee will ensure the production of a percentage of a local supply of fruits and vegetables on 1.5 acres of converted conventional farmland for procurement by the District to fulfill Farm to School program needs and hot school lunches, facilitate programs of education and outreach to individuals, the community, students and educators, new and existing farmers and the newly formed Illinois Community Food Security Coalition (The thirteen member Coalition falls under the ACGA Rural Revitalization Program umbrella and will work to address the broader regional issues of household and community food security, enhancing local food access, food safety and health.).
Read on and “Food for thought”, (by Lindsay Vaughn was recently featured on the front page of the News Tribune) will bring you up to date on the project status.
ACGA related and recent articles and links:
"Food for thought"
“Wanted: Farmers to grow fruit, veggies for 1100 school lunches”
“BHE shows off its new organic gardening project”
(ACGA members and Bureau Valley Demonstration Garden volunteers participating in the vegetable planting during field day at local food supplier Blackhawk College - east campus (BHE) BHE is a technical advisor to the Bureau Valley Demonstration Garden Project.)
“Looking Locally”
(Bureau Valley - the District, policy ratification and the Illinois Department of Public Health/Health Promotion's CATCH pilot program.)
“Feeding the Children of Bureau Valley”
(Entered the Illinois Department of Public Health/Health Promotion's CATCH pilot program. ACGA and the community led the way!)
More articles and links:
ACGA leadership joined the Chicago-based
Illinois Local Food and Farms Coalition in 2006, to work for local food legislation and to engage the local rural community that resulted in the first” local food public law” in the country. You, too can help support ACGA programs of education and outreach - find out how! Articles and links below are in chronological order beginning in 2007 and are highlights of our community’s journey and participation through to the present day.
The Illinois Food, Farms and Jobs Act 2007
(The first local food bill became law in 2007.)
“Keeping the Food Dollar at Home”
"Powering the Future: Food, Fuels, & Family Farmers"
(ACGA overview only/archive January 2008)
“Bureau County Residents are on Local and Organic Food/Farm Task Force”
Illinois Local Food and Farms Coalition
(AgriEnergy Newsletter/Local Foods page 6)
“ACGA Announces New Executive Director”
ACGA Opens Midwest Field Office in Cornbelt
(Bureau County, IL resident, Horwitz is a rural community activist)
“Better by Far”
(A Bureau County Four Farm Tour – ACGA contributor/tour focused on family farmers and the economic benefits of local food and livestock. Metioned in the article is Julie Burba, an active ACGA associate member and volunteer.)
“Seven Wonders Ride – Fenomenal Friday”
(ACGA serving up some local hospitality with an emphasis on local food, local energy and local economies to Chicago Tribune columnsit, John Mullin and PR exec, Rick Murray and their spouses, Kathleen and Lea during their 500 mile "sustainability" bike tour through Illinois.)
“Declaration for Healthy Food and Agriculture”
(esteemed farmer and ACGA President, Keith Bolin assists in Declaration planning and authoring the draft - attends Slow Food Nation, San Franciso, CA. ACGA signed on to the Declaration in August 2008.)
“American Profile – Hometown Hero”
(A recent recap of Bolin and
Bureau
Valley
Community
Unit
School District #340 and the Wealth From the Wind Program - school-owned wind turbine story.)
“Growing Vibrant Farmers Markets”
(This event is just one example of how ACGA works through its community and others to support farm direct sales and help family farmers find alternative markets.
ACGA planned and co-sponsored this event drawing advocates, market managers and family farmers from around the state.)
“Food, Conservation, Energy & Trade 2009”
(ACGA 22nd Annual Convention archive, you can actually listen!)
“2009 Farmers Market Conference”
(ACGA planned and sponsored these events throughout the state in conjunction with several farm policy groups, civic organizations, educators, state agencies and the Illinois Department of Ag.)
“Making the path from farm to market a little bit shorter”
(ACGA President Keith Bolin and two other Bureau County farmers are on the governor's Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force.
In March 2009 the task force released the
Local Food, Farms and Jobs: Growing the Illinois Economy Report
“Sustaining the debate”
(Comments on sustainability and a review of the panel discussion that included local foods at Princeton, IL library.)
"Farmers promote sustainable agriculture"
(ACGA sponsor of University of Illinois Extension/Illinois Sustainable Ag Tour at two farms in Sheffield, Bureau County Illinois)
ACGA FOOD SYSTEM POLICY STATEMENT
The ACGA as well as consumers, laborers, and environmentalists, are increasingly concerned about the future of our food production and marketing system as a whole and demand change. Consumers of this nation are standing up and asking hard questions about the safety, reliability and healthfulness of our food supply. Laborers involved in our food production system in many cases have not been treated fairly as well. The unrealistic and special interest driven agricultural and food policies of our recent era, have forced a bitter harvest on family farmers and rural communities while leaving consumers with questions about the food they buy for their families.
These same failing policies have also threatened our environment in many ways. Sportsmen and environmentalists are increasingly concerned about the loss of wildlife and fisheries habitat in our food producing regions due to fencerow-to-fencerow production, degraded waterways, and unregulated de-forestation that may be contributing to global warming.
We believe that it is quite possible to have fairly priced commodities from family farmers and safe, reasonably priced food in our supermarkets. We need to encourage food that promotes healthy families, and reduces demand on our healthcare system as well.
Labeling
ACGA supports the labeling of genetically modified livestock for human consumption and labeling of cloned meats, eggs or milk from cloned livestock as well. The use of carbon monoxide on meat products should be labeled. The purpose is to inform the public for their continued informed choice in food purchases.
In addition, we must balance a healthy food system with the increasing demand for agriculture to contribute to renewable energy. ACGA will cooperate with all stakeholders in our food system to advance positive change.
From the ACGA archives visit these sites.
“Global Family Farm Agriculture and the World's Food System” (by John Dittrich – ACGA Senior Policy Analyst Emeritus)
“ACGA Food Policy Statement”
(by Keith Dittrich, then ACGA President and current Chairman of the Board of Directors)
“Rethinking US Agricultural Policy – Changing Course to Secure Farmers Livelihoods Worldwide”
(Groundbreaking white-paper by Dr. Daryll Ray, Director of the Agricultural Policy Analysis Center (APAC), the University of Tennessee in cooperation with ACGA.) Available in English, Spanish and French.
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