DATCP: Attend the Midwest Value Added Agriculture Conference

Registration Open for Conference January 27 and 28

Contact: Carl Rainey, 608-224-5139

Ashley Huibregtse, 608-224-5002

MADISON – Make your plans today to attend the 13th Midwest Value Added Agriculture Conference on January 27 and 28, 2011 at the Sheraton Hotel in Madison. The goal of this annual event is to share contacts and information about how food is grown, raised, and marketed.

This conference is presented by the River Country Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization bringing people and resources together to conserve our natural resources, promote sustainability and improve quality of life for those living in West Central Wisconsin. The major sponsors for this event are the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

There will be numerous breakout sessions. Presentations by DATCP staff include:

* Farm to School – Producer Toolkit: Teresa Engel, Economic Development Consultant

* Today’s Something Special from Wisconsin™: Lois Federman, Director of SSfW™

* Grants – They do exist, they’re just hard to catch!: Carl Rainey, Economic Development Consultant

* Organic & Value-Added Agriculture: New Opportunities for Vegetable Producers: Laura Paine, Grazing and Organic Agriculture Specialist

On Thursday, the keynote address titled “Ballet in the Pasture” will be given by Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm in Virginia. The 2009 documentary film, FRESH, directed by Ana Sofia Joanes, will be featured during the Thursday evening dinner. On Friday, the conference will welcome Stan Gruszynski of USDA Rural Development as its speaker to give the keynote address, “Managing Resources, Inspiring Change, and Building the Common Wealth.”

The conference tradeshow will host 40 exhibit tables, with exhibitors selling products, providing educational materials, and sharing farm resources. Over 80% of the food for meals and snacks has been sourced from local producers and businesses.

Registration is currently open online at http://www.rivercountryrcd.org/valad.html. Full conference cost is $150. Single day and student rates are available. Tickets to the keynote addresses or the Thursday dinner featuring the FRESH film may be purchased without registration to the full conference.

For more information, please contact Lindsay Raab, Conference Coordinator, at 715-579-5229 or raablk@gmail.com.