Ohio Grown: Local Food Creating Local Opportunities

INVITE: Ohio Grown: Local Food Creating Local Opportunities

You are invited! Ohio Grown: Local Food Creating Local Opportunities With Keynote Speaker Kathleen Merrigan, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Come learn about changing policies to support local food economies, local food financing, scaling up, and more. Thursday, August 9, 2012 9:00am - 5:00pm Registration begins at 8:30am The Ohio State University Fawcett Center 2400 Olentangy River Rd. Columbus, Ohio Please register for the event by contacting Ohio State University Extension at (614) 292-7875 or grevents@cfaes.osu.edu This event is free and open to the public Locally-sourced lunch will be available for $15/person Space available for materials or display of your organization; please request in your RSVP. Space is limited. First Come, First Served. Tentative Agenda Time Session 8:30-9:00am Registration 9:00-9:15am Welcome and Opening Remarks 9:15-10:00am Keynote Speaker: Kathleen Merrigan, USDA Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Increasing Access to Locally Grown and Healthy Food 10:00-11:00am Why Local? The Potential of a Local Food Economy—How does local food fit into the future of Ohio’s economy? Can local food create jobs and opportunities for rural and urban Americans alike? What will it take to make sustainable agriculture a viable career and profitable business opportunity for Ohio farmers? 11:00-11:15am Networking/Break 11:15-12:15pm Good Food Financing—Whether a farm business, a grain mill, a food hub, or a school, the future of local food must be rooted in sound economics and viable business models. Finance experts and practitioners will share their wisdom. 12:15-1:15pm Working Lunch provided by Ohio State University Extension Ohio grown to the extent possible. 1:15-1:30pm Networking/Break 1:30-2:30pm Making the Local Food Connection—This panel will feature individuals from Ohio and beyond who are involved in institutional purchasing and others who will explain how they are tackling the challenges associated with the aggregation, distribution, and infrastructure of local food. 2:30-2:45pm Networking/Break 2:45-3:45pm Changing Policy To Support Local Food Economies—From local zoning and regional planning to federal food and agriculture laws, policy can help or hinder continued growth of a local food economy. A few of Ohio’s leaders will discuss their efforts to change policy to support local food economies. 3:45-4:45pm Building on Best Practices & Looking Forward—Ohioans who are making local work will share lessons learned, best practices, and lead a discussion on what it will take to grow Ohio’s local food economy in the years to come.