Red River Food Summit is May 11 in Pampa

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The Red River Headwaters Local Food Summit will be held on Thursday, May 11 in Pampa at the Pampa EDC Building Meeting Room at 200 Ballard Street. in downtown Pampa from

9:30 a.m.-3:45pm.

The Summit, presented by Ogallala Commons, the Amarillo Area Foundation, and the Tecovas Foundation, will cover topics including “Getting started in Food Production/Crafting” and “Marketing Local Food to Customers” in the morning sessions. After a catered lunch, the afternoon segment will feature sessions on “Local Meat Production/Processing & Marketing”, plus presentations on “Growing/Marketing Fruits and Vegetables” and “Getting Youth Involved in Local Food Systems.”

The event will conclude with an overview of “New Initiatives for the Red River Headwaters Foodshed.”

Registration for the Summit is $35 per person. Anyone interested can see an agenda and

register online by using the link: http://bit.ly/3KkEpQs or payment may be made by check payable to Ogallala Commons and mailed to: P.O. Box 346, Nazareth, TX 79063 by May 4.

For questions or additional information, contact Blaze Diamond

(blaze@ogallalacommons.org or 806-553-0956)

Ogallala Commons, a nonprofit education and leadership organization

(www.ogallalacommons.org), invites local food producers/crafters, educators, and the interested

public to attend.

“Foodsheds and watersheds mirror a similar footprint: food grows where water flows. Exchanges of locally grown food help to trigger a more resilient economy, while creating shared stewardship of natural resources and a step towards community empowerment. At this gathering, we will hear the voices and stories of those who provide us with nutrient-dense, fresh food, while stewarding lands in the eastern half of the Texas Panhandle—places drained by the Red River headwaters. Join with us for the day, to share peer-to-peer learning opportunities, to build knowledge and inspire new coalitions among agricultural producers and consumers—so that we can become stronger and more hopeful as we move into the new growing season. Attendees will hear the voices and stories of those who provide us with nutrient-dense, fresh food, while stewarding lands in the eastern half of the Texas Panhandle—places drained by the Red River headwaters. We invite anyone interested to join with us for the day, to share peer-to-peer learning opportunities, to build knowledge and inspire new coalitions among agricultural producers and consumers—so that we can become stronger and more hopeful as we move into the new growing season,” said Darryl Birkenfeld of Nazareth, deputy director of Ogallala Commons.  Doors will open at 9 a.m. for registration and refreshments followed by a welcome and call to action at 9:30. At 10:00 a.m. “Getting Started in Food Production” will be covered by Markus Schick, Schick’s Strawberry Patch, Amarillo, Bonnie Allen, The Egg Shop, Panhandle and Rev. Beverly Couzzourt, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Amarillo, followed by a 10:45 break.

At 11 a.m. “Marketing Local Food to Customers” will be the topic for Natalie Knutson, Pampa Farmers Market, Blair & Blanca Schaer, Schaer Farms, Jericho, and Veronica & Ethan Weinheimer, Granview Granary, Groom.

Lunch will be catered by Natalie Knutson at 11:50 a.m.  Local Meat Production/Processing/Marketing will be the topic for Trent Cadra, Texas Beef Grass to Grill, LLC, Wheeler, and Josh Cook, Plant Manager, Clint & Sons Processing, White Deer, at 12:30 p.m.

At 1:20 p.m. Growing/Marketing Fruits & Vegetables will be addressed by Tim Gee, Gee Family Farms, Amarillo, and Tony & Ryan Frogge, Bear Creek Farms, LLC, Pampa.

Following a break, at 2:20 p.m. Getting Youth Involved in Local Food Systems is the subject for Kristen Moudy, Wheeler County EDC, Wheeler, and Wendy Hazzard, Wheeler County AgriLife Extension Service.

At 3 p.m. New Initiatives for Red River Headwaters Foodshed will be discussed by Brady Clark, Square Mile Development, Amarillo, and Darryl Birkenfeld, Ph.D., Deputy Director, Ogallala Commons, Nazareth,  Wrap-up and adjournment will follow.

Ogallala Commons is a 501c3 nonprofit education and leadership organization that reinvigorates commonwealth to build vibrant Great Plains communities. OC also conducts My Foodshed.org to educate and raise awareness about rebuilding food systems across the Southern Great Plains.