INVITE: Collaborating for regional food systems

Join us Thursday, February 20, 9:30-noon in LaCrosse. The event will bring together businesses working on distribution and logistics for local and regional foods.

UW-Extension will host the event at their office, 212 6th Street North, Suite 2200, La Crosse. Several organizations are co-hosting the event in advance of the 2025 Marbleseed Organic Farming Conference.

RSVP appreciated but not required: email mmmille6ATwisc.edu

Starting at 10am, we will hear lightening talks from:

  • Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative on distribution
  • Wisconsin Food Systems on data management
  • UW Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems on collaborative logistics
  • DATCP on Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure grants
  • Great Lakes Midwest Food Business Center on progress
  • Great Lakes Common Market on the Chicago scene
  • Great Lakes Intertribal Food Coalition on collaboration

We will pass a hot mic around for YOU to share your projects and your interest in collaboration, too.

Watch this space for more information and updates.

Co-hosts include Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative, Wisconsin Food Systems, UW-LaCrosse Extension, UW-Madison Division of Extension Community Food Systems, and UW-CIAS. If you are interested in co-hosting, contact us at WFS.

Confirmed Participants as of 2/19/2025

  1. Josh Bryson, The Good Acre
  2. Stephanie Spehar, University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh
  3. Andrea Noll, University of Wisconsin
  4. Alpa Goswami , Marbleseed
  5. Marcus Grignon, Food Systems Development, Department of Agriculture and Food Systems, Menominee Nation
  6. Maisah Kahn, Regenerative Agriculture Association
  7. Sara Ecker, Ecker’s Apples
  8. Kara Black, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin
  9. Stephanie Dodge, Intertribal Food Systems Coordinator, Menominee Tribal Department of Agriculture and Food Systems
  10. Hinu Smith, Director, Department of Agriculture, Ho Chunk Nation
  11. Gary Besaw, Director, Department of Agriculture and Food Systems, Menominee Nation
  12. Will Hughes, consultant
  13. Marlie Wilson, USDA-AMS, RFSI program
  14. Jennifer Falck, Food Business Development Coordinator, Department of Agriculture and Food Systems, Menominee Nation
  15. Keitra Olson, WEDC
  16. Danielle Endvick, Wisconsin Farmers Union
  17. Rue Genger, UW Horticulture
  18. James Pyecroft, UWEX Community Food Systems
  19. Sara Tedeschi, Crawford County Extension
  20. Bradley Bolling, NSF Engines project, UW-Madison
  21. Bernard Lager III, Arise Nutrition
  22. Jan Joannides, Renewing the Countryside
  23. Andrew Adamski, Full Circle Farm
  24. Josh Engle, Driftless Organics
  25. Tyler Dvorak, Fifth Season
  26. Sarah Larson, Great Lakes Midwest Food Business Center
  27. Rufus Haucke, Keewaydin Farms
  28. Halee, Meadowlark Mill
  29. Phil Jahnke Sauer, Iowa RC&D
  30. Teresa Wiemerslage, Iowa Extension
  31. Beth Heller, WELLO
  32. Juli McGuire, Blue Roof Orchard
  33. Sheri Scott, Driftless Berry Growers
  34. Karin, Driftless Berry Growers
  35. Alondra Cano, Hungry Turtle Farm
  36. Ann Vang, Central Rivers Farmshed
  37. Kattia Jimenez, Pura Vida Organic Farm, LLC
  38. Christy McKenzie, Pastures and Plenty
  39. Joleen Baker, Coop Partners Warehouse
  40. Kat Becker, Cattail Organics
  41. Tracy Vinz, Olden Produce
  42. Tara Roberts-Turner, Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative
  43. Eliana Pinella, Common Market Great Lakes
  44. Peter Krause, Iowa Food Hub
  45. Bob Wills, Cedar Grove Cheese
  46. Noah Bloedorn, REAP
  47. Aidan Coffin Ness, REAP
  48. Rose Santa Gonsáles, NSF ICICLE
  49. Grace Puc, DATCP RFSI
  50. Allison Lindsey, DATCP Farm-to-School
  51. April Yancer, Farm to School and Institution Program Specialist
  52. Katie Kratch, DATCP Local Food Purchasing Assistance
  53. Sarah Lloyd, Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative
  54. Rebecca Kemble, Wisconsin Food Systems, Inc.
  55. Cathryn Herlihey, UWEX-Community Food Systems
  56. Lindsey Day Farnsworth, UWEX-Community Food Systems
  57. Regina Hirsch, UW-CIAS
  58. Michelle Miller, UW-CIAS

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