Senator Tom Harkin to Address Local Foods Conference Iowans Gather to Shape Future of Food in Iowa Farmers, consumers, educators, public health professionals, and students will join policy makers in a discussion about the future of Iowa food and farming. Iowa Network for Community Agriculture (INCA) will host the 12th annual local food conference at Marshalltown Community College this Saturday February 3. "Breaking New Ground: The Future of Food and Farming" will begin with a dialogue session exploring how local foods can provide solutions for childhood health and nutrition, for rural development, for food security, for all Iowa farms regardless of size. Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will participate in the morning dialogue speaking and answering questions at 10:00 AM. Brother David Andrews, Executive Director of the National Catholic Rural Life Council will facilitate the dialogue. Senator Tom Harkin, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, will speak and answer questions during the noon lunch. Dan Looker of Successful Farming Magazine will end the day with the closing keynote. "The news has been filled with stories of food, food miles, organic agriculture, and local food. Iowans are coming together to make these trends powerful forces for our health, for our communities, for our farms, and for our tables," said Matt Russell, Iowa Network for Community Agriculture board chair. "This conference is a celebration of the good work being done all around the state." Participants will bring food to share and INCA will provide service and beverage. This potluck lunch is a tradition of the local food conference and will showcase some of the best food Iowa has to offer. Language translation headsets will be available to allow English and Spanish speakers alike to share in the conference compliments of the Raices Project, an initiative of the Northwest Area Foundation. For more information go to the INCA website at www.growinca.org<http://www.growinca.org/> or contact Matt Russell: 515-689-8219. INCA has secured sponsorships for any college or high school student to attend free of charge. The conference will be held at Dejarden Hall at Marshalltown Community College from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM, Saturday February 3. ### > >Matt Russell >1841 20th PL >Lacona, IA 50139 >641-947-4052 Cell: 515-689-8219 >[log in to unmask] > > > > Iowa Farmers Union PO Box 8988 528 Billy Sunday Rd Ames, IA 50014 800-775-5227 [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> www.iafu.org<http://www.iafu.org/> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/