As the growing season winds down, the work of the West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition continues to pick up. As a statewide organization, the Coalition staff are always reminded of West Virginia's beauty and very fortunate to travel the highways and backroads to meet with our food and farm communities. O n Wednesday, October 12th, t he West Virginia Incubator Farm Network (WVIFN) hosted their first farm visit and strategy session at one of several Refresh Appalachia sites in Huntington, WV. Read about the farm visit and strategy session, here

Our Foodshed Development Coordinator hosted a meeting in Nicholas County with producers and allies in the local food system. We are preparing foodshed development projects for the upcoming year and compiling the information we have on the local food system as a whole.

Happy Halloween,

West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition

FOOD AND FARM EVENTS
Visit our events calendar:  http://wvfoodandfarm.org/news-media/events
WVU Extension to Offer Master Gardner Program in Raleigh and Fayette  County , WV October 11th - November 17th, Tuesdays and Thursdays

For more information about the program and to enroll in the classes, contact the Raleigh County Extension Office at (304) 255-9321 or the Fayette County Office at (304) 574-4253.

 George Mason University is hosting the "Agriculture and Beyond" UnConference on
October 29th

"Co-Designing Our Regenerative Future:  Unconference on Agriculture and Beyond" is a one day, open-space conference presented at GMU as an opportunity to address global warming and the climate crisis as well as ways to reduce poverty, improve public health, and increase biodiversity toward a "regenerative future." Register here.
 Carolina Feed Industry Association is hosting an event:  "What does the Food Safety Modernization Act mean for NC Feed Mills?" on  November 10th

Anyone involved in the feed business might find this seminar helpful when it comes to being informed on the changes in Federal Food Safety laws and regulations. Click here to learn more.
5th Annual NIFTI National Field School in Ann Arbor, MI on October 25th - 27th

Join Incubator Farm Program staff from across the country for "workshops, skills-based trainings, and discussions designed to critically examine the Incubator Farm as a model for beginning farmer training, and to grow the professional skills of IFP staff." The field school includes several incubator farm tours on the final day. To learn more and to register, click here.

Sustainable Agriculture Conference in Durham, NC on November 4th - 6th, 2016

Join "over 1,200 beginning and experienced farmers, agripreneurs and ag-tivists, health advocates and gardeners, consumers and homesteaders- and everyone in -between- for workshops, hands-on intensives, farm tours, demonstrations, good food, great conversations and community-building. This is a once-a-year opportunity to celebrate and build a vibrant, sustainable food system." Current livestock and poultry farmers are eligible to apply for a conference scholarship. Info below in "Grant Opportunities". Otherwise, learn more and register here.

Cornell Small Farms Program and the  Northeast  Beginning Farmers Project Online Farming Courses Beginning November 7th

Online farming courses available November 7th to December 15th include: Berry Production, Soil Health, Woodland Shiitake Mushroom Cultivation, Grazing Management, and Effective Marketing for Busy Farmers. Register here.

NESAWG It Takes a Region Conference on November 10th - 12th in Hartford, CT

"NESAWG's annual It Takes a Region   Conference brings together farm and food practitioners across the 12-state Northeast region to learn, debate, collaborate, and innovate ideas and solutions to critical food systems issues." "Tackle the wicked problems in food systems" here.

Ohio and West Virginia Food Hub Network Meeting on Thursday, November 17th at 9:30AM - 3PM

Hear from Ohio State University, Bon Appétit Management, and Farm 2 School about institutional markets in West Virginia and Ohio. Register here.

The How and Why of Local Government Support for Food Systems on 
Tuesday, November 1st from 1:00-2:30 PM Eastern Time

In 2015, a national survey was conducted of local government leaders and their policies, programs, plans and partnerships that support local food. The John Hopkins Center for a Livable Future is sharing the findings of this study in an in-depth, webinar discussion.  Register here.

2016 Women in  Agriculture Conference November 4-5, 2016 in Daniels, WV

Registration is now open! Learn more about the conference and register here.  

National Farmer Veteran Coalition 3rd Annual Conference in East Lansing, Michigan November 30th - December 2nd

"The National Farmer Veteran Coalition will bring more than 500 farmer veterans and supporters to Michigan State University for a conference that will feature workshops on agriculture, business planning, and personal wellness.  Evenings will feature distinguished speakers from the military, government agencies and leaders in the agricultural industry."

5th National Women in Sustainable Agriculture Conference: Building Connections Towards Resiliency in Portland, OR on November 30th - December 2nd

The conference " will bring together farmers, educators, technical assistance providers and activists engaged in healthy food and farming to share educational and organization strategies, build technical and business skills, and address policy issues aimed at expanding the success of women farmers and ranchers." To learn more and to register, click here.

National Farmers Union Free Online Conference for Beginning Farmers & Ranchers on December 5th - 8th, 5-8PM EST

The free, online conference for beginning farmers & ranchers will address the following issues: mentorship, business planning, USDA programs, student loans, land tenure, food safety, women and veterans in farming, conservation, and much more. Register here.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES


Deadline: November 30th


Deadline: Rolling Basis
Deadline: December 15, 2016 @ 5PM
Deadline: December 8, 2016

Deadline: October 31, 2016 for projects < $80,000; Deadline March 31, 2017 for all project sizes


Deadline: November 18, 2016

Online Submission System Opens: October 15, 2016; Deadline: November 29, 2016 @ 11:59PM EST

Deadline: November 30th, 2016
JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS
Potomac Highland Market is Hiring a Part-Time Assistant Manager in Davis, WV


No Deadline
The West Virginia Farmers Market Association is Hiring an Executive Director


Deadline: October 31, 2016

FOOD AND FARM RESOURCES
Visit our free library:  http://wvfoodandfarm.org/resources/
"Foodspan is a free, downloadable high school  curriculum (developed by John Hopkins Center for a Livable Future)  that highlights critical issues in the food system and empowers students to be food citizens. It is aligned to national education standards for science, social studies health, and family and consumer sciences." Click here
for the resource.
FOOD AND FARM POLICY CORNER
State and National Policy Page:  http://wvfoodandfarm.org/initiatives/policy/
NSAC blog post on the New ACEP Rules for Long-Term Conservation of Farmland, Wetlands, and Grasslands. Read the full blog post here.


USDA NIFA Announces Grantees of Food Safety Outreach Program (FSOP). View the announcement here.

Support the WV Food & Farm Coalition!
Your support will further our work to make local food more viable in West Virginia.