January 2023 Newsletter

Extended version | Published January 12, 2023

We are wishing everyone a gentle entry into the new year!

  • We are excited to introduce our new Leadership Team members! Learn more about them here.

    Re-introducing the returning Leadership Team members:

    Finally, a huge thank you to Sara Miller (Northeast Oregon Economic Development District) and Greg Holmes (1000 Friends of Oregon) for their service to the network and on the leadership team since 2016!

    Folks, let them know your appreciation by reaching out!

    We often don’t know what exchanges and interactions were the most meaningful and memorable for each other if we don’t share them with each other.

    On a broader note, I encourage you to ask someone you appreciate if you can give them affirmations, and then affirm away! We could all use a bit of external encouragement in the depths of winter.

  • It’s hard finding the right tools and most effective ways of communicating with a network that balances everyone’s different needs. We’ve tested a few different things over the past year and I imagine we will continue to refine all these tools. Thank you for your patience and feedback through the process.

    Here’s where we are at now:

    • OCFSN manages email lists for each working group using Google Groups

    • Old Google Groups associated with ocfsn.info@gmail.com are being retired and new ones have been added under info@ocfsn.org. Old content still exists and can be retrieved but no new posts are allowed.

    • Anyone (you don’t have to be a formal network member organization) can request to join the Google Groups relevant to them by emailing googlegroup+subscribe@ocfsn.org. (for example, community+subscribe@ocfsn.org)

    • New Google Groups:

    • Regularly scheduled Working Group meetings will not require a formal registration, the relevant google group will automatically be invited to each calendar event. Help us get an attendee headcount by RSVP-ing accordingly.

    • Join our monthly newsletter mailing list! Sign up in the footer of our website.

    • View the Oregon Food Systems Event calendar to see all OCFSN and member organization hosted events.

  • We’re keeping it simple! This 2023 renewal form will take less than five minutes to complete! Please complete by January 31, 2023 if you are an existing member.

    Why is updating your information so important?

    • We want you to get all the information you need! Our goal is to keep lines of communication, connection, and opportunities as open as possible. With a staff of two, it often isn’t realistic for us to be able to track down every bounced back email or unresponsive vote. We need your help too!

    • One of the time drains for our network coordinator this past year (hi, it me) was trying to hold as true to quorum in passing votes for new leadership team members or member organizations. Quorum means 66% say “yes”. This meant extending votes or sending 3-4 rounds of reminders.

    • For transparency, as of 4/21/2022, we received formal membership renewals from 32 organizations, this number under-represents the number of consistently engaged organizations. For comparison, folks representing over 75 organizations participated in OCFSN hosted events in 2022. Sometimes staying on top of emails is hard. Making sure we have the right contact info for your organization’s voting rep makes our Network Coordinator’s life a lot easier (That’s me), it allows me to make sure the right information gets to the right person.

    • The Leadership Team (LT) and staff agreed that if a 2023 LT 66% of the 32 organizations voted AND if there were no concerns raised by any voters, we would approve all 5 individuals to serve on the LT in 2023. And that we would share out the context on how we made the decision and once again encourage folks to renew and update their membership info for 2023 and likely change our voting processes in the future.

    • We have received votes from 25 member organizations (including you all):

      • 22 voted “yes” - Shoshoni

      • 21 voted “yes” - Rhianna

      • 24 voted “yes” - Lindsay

      • 24 voted “yes” - Christina

      • 21 voted “yes” - Alison

  • Register for in-person events on our Events page.

    Farming for the Future Working Group Convening | Salem, February 2-3 | Registration

    • Do you work with diverse, small to mid-sized farmers to create a more just and resilient food system? Do you worry about climate change impacts on our food system and want to do something about it? Do you want to see alternatives to the industrialization and consolidation of agriculture and farmland? Do you want to see a more just and equitable food systems movement? Do you want to build your network of passionate food systems professionals?

    • If any of these questions resonate with you, please join us for the 2023 OCFSN Farming for the Future Working Group in-person convening in Salem on February 2-3!

    • Registration is open! Please register today so we can plan for delicious food and comfortable lodging needs. Contact Andrew (Working Group Coordinator) if you have any questions.

    • Here is a preview of what we have planned:

      • We are meeting at the new Chemeketa Community College Agriculture Complex in Salem.

      • Thursday the 2nd will focus on working group visioning and subgroup project planning. In the afternoon we will tour the Marion Polk Food Share Youth Farm

      • Friday morning we will tour Anahuac Farm and close out Friday with a fun optional activity (Folks can then just come for one day if needed)

      • For those interested we are also planning legislator meetings on food system priorities (event is during the 2023 leg. session)

      • The event will be catered and we will have dinner together in Salem on Thursday night

      • Lodging will be either at shared AirBnBs in Salem or the Holiday Inn & Suites depending on your preference and need.

      • See the registration form for more details. We have funding to support your travel and lodging if that cost is a barrier to attending. Please reach out if you have questions or ideas for making this a fun and productive gathering! See you there.

  • Add these to your calendar by visiting the Oregon Food Systems Calendar

    • January 17 | 3:00 - 4:00 pm: BIPOC Only Equity Assessment Info Session; not recorded

    • January 18 | 1:30 - 2:30 pm: Farm and Land Viability Subgroup Quarterly Meeting

    • January 24 | 1:00 - 2:30 pm: Food Hub Working Group Monthly Meeting

    • February 1 | 3:30 - 4:30 pm: Open Equity Assessment Info Session (record & open survey)

    • February 8 | 1:00 - 2:30 pm: CFS at the Legislature Policy Forum

    • February 10 | 10:00 - noon: Veggie Rx Mini-Convening

    • February 16 | 10:00 - 11:30 am: Beginner Farmer & Rancher Subgroup Quarterly Meeting

    • February 17 | 10:00 - 11:00 am: Equity Assessment Discussion Space

    • February 28 | 1:00 - 2:30 pm : Food Hub Working Group Monthly Meeting

  • It has been a busy month for the two policy working groups. The 2023 legislative session is right around the corner and the first batch of bills is expected to be released around the time this newsletter is published.

    • As in previous years, we will continue to use the bill matrix and the bills to watch documents to track the legislative priorities of OCFSN members. If you or your organization has a bill, budget, or administrative action of interest please let us know. You can add it to the bill matrix yourself or send the details to Policy Intern Erik at policy@ocfsn.org.

    • We are hosting a policy forum on February 8th from 1:00 to 2:30 pm. This will be a panel style presentation of bills and legislative priorities by a few of our members.

    The Public Policy Skills and Engagement Opportunities working group will begin its regular meetings in February and continue to meet every other month. At our February meeting, we will discuss creating a policy statement for OCFSN and possibly invite an outside speaker to speak on their experience with the Farm Bill.

  • Grants

    Visit our Grants page to learn more about the below:

    • Wildhorse Foundation grant deadlines are Jan. 1, Apr. 1, Jul. 1, Oct. 1. They fund projects in a variety of areas in Union and Wallowa counties, and with Tribal entities. Click here for more information.

    • Oregon Community Foundation's Community Grant Program addresses community needs and fosters civic leadership and engagement. Learn more here.

    • Northwest Farm Credit Services' Rural Community Grant Program funds projects such as building or improving facilities; purchasing equipment to facilitate a program; and funding capital improvements. Grants are reviewed monthly. Learn more here.

    • The Reser Family Foundation's rolling deadlines are Feb. 1 and Aug. 1. The foundation's focus areas are education, health, arts and environment. Learn more here.

    • Oregon Arts Commission's Career Opportunity Grants have rolling deadlines of Mar. 10, 2022 and Sept. Learn more here.

    • Agricultural producers and small businesses may apply to the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to install renewable energy systems or improve efficiency. Deadlines: Mar. 31, 2023. Loan applications accepted year-round. USDA will host an informational webinar for applicants and stakeholders on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, from 3:00 - 4:30pm Eastern Time.

    • USDA NIFA Small Business Innovation Research encourages projects dealing with agriculturally related manufacturing and alternative and renewable energy technologies to explore all SBIR topic areas. Click here for more information.

    • USDA microloans help beginning or underserved farmers with operating costs.

    • The Ford Family Foundation offers a number of grants to rural Oregon.

    • The Leo Adler Foundation supports projects in Baker County.

    Jobs

    Visit our Jobs page to learn more about each of the below:

    • Farm Educators at Zenger Farm

    • Farm to School Education Coordinator at Food Roots Farm to School Program. Farm Educators at Zenger Farm. Final deadline to apply January 11th, 2023.

    • Co-Executive Director of Operations at A Greater Applegate.

    • Rogue Valley Chapter Coordinator at Rogue Farm Corps. Apply by January 22, 2023.

    Volunteer

    Visit our Volunteer page to learn more about each of the below:

    • NEOEDD has some open positions on our board of directors.

    Internships/Fellowships

    Visit our Internships page to learn more about each of the below:

    • Apply by January 17 to be a Summer Honors Interns w/ CAFS

    • Apply by January 18 for the Spring 2023 Ears in the Field Audio Fellowship with Food Culture Collective.

    • Apply by January 18 at 5pm PST for the Farmlink FIELD Fellowship.

    • Apply by March 1, 2023 for the E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program. The program brings faculty and staff from Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Hispanic-Serving School Districts to Washington, D.C.

    Events & Workshops

    Find more info on the Oregon Food Systems Events calendar.

    • Jan 12, 26 & Feb 9: Ending Hunger Power Nights with Oregon Food Bank. Learn about anti-hunger legislative priorities in the 2023 Legislative session. Register here.

    • WSU Extension will offer Cultivating Success: Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Business Planning to help new and current farmers gain skills in business planning, risk management, and direct marketing. The 12-week course is offered online.

    • February 11 and 25: Rogue Farm Corp’s Changing Hands Workshops registration is open tomorrow. Join us for our Changing Hands Workshops! Feb 11 in Bend, and Feb 25 in Salem. Scholarship available by need.

    • RVFSN: Anti-Racist and Decolonial Agriculture 4-Part Speaker Series.

      • January 26: “Reindigenizing and Rematriating with the Land" with Fox Del Mar of NativeWomanshare

      • February 2 : “Decolonizing Agriculture by Building Culture” with Dan Wahpepah

      • February 9: TBD with Unete Oregon, a movement of farm workers and immigrants

      • February 16: “Good Fire: Tribal First Foods and Indigenous Fire Science” with Joe Scott

    • March 16: RVFSN Food Solutions Summit

    • March 17-20: Back to the Root is a PNW regional conference led by and for African and Black- identified farmers, ranchers, urban growers & gardeners, food producers, entrepreneurs, educators, and advocates.