Senator Tom Harkin to Address Local
Foods Conference

Iowans Gather to Shape Future of Food in Iowa

Farmers, consumers, educators, public health professionals, and students will
join policy makers in a discussion about the future of Iowa
food and farming.  Iowa Network for Community Agriculture (INCA) will host
the 12th annual local food conference at Marshalltown
Community College this Saturday
February 3. “Breaking New Ground: The Future of Food and Farming”
will begin with a dialogue session exploring how local foods can provide
solutions for childhood health and nutrition, for rural development, for food security,
for all Iowa

Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will participate in the morning dialogue
speaking and answering questions at 10:00  AM.  Brother David Andrews,
Executive Director of the National  Catholic
Rural Life Council will facilitate the dialogue.  Senator Tom Harkin,
Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, will speak and answer questions
during the noon

“The news has been filled with stories of food, food miles, organic agriculture,
and local food.  Iowans are coming together to make these trends powerful
forces for our health, for our communities, for our farms, and for our
tables,” said Matt Russell, Iowa Network for Community Agriculture board
chair.  “This conference is a celebration of the good work being done
all around the state.”

Participants will bring food to share and INCA will provide service and
beverage. This potluck lunch is a tradition of the local food conference and
will showcase some of the best food Iowa
has to offer.

Language translation headsets will be available to allow English and Spanish
speakers alike to share in the conference compliments of the Raices Project, an
initiative of the Northwest Area Foundation.

For more information go to the INCA website at www.growinca.org or contact Matt
Russell: 515-689-8219.  INCA has secured sponsorships for any college or
high school student to attend free of charge.

The conference will be held at Dejarden Hall at Marshalltown
Community College from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Saturday February 3.

Matt Russell
1841 20th PL
Lacona, IA 50139
641-947-4052 Cell: 515-689-8219
mattrussell@iowatelecom.net

farms regardless of
size.
lunch.  Dan
Looker of Successful Farming Magazine will end the day with the closing
keynote.