Renewing The Countryside Ii

RENEWING THE COUNTRYSIDE STRENGTHENS RURAL AREAS BY CHAMPIONING AND SUPPORTING RURAL COMMUNITIES, FARMERS, ARTISTS, ENTREPRENEURS, EDUCATORS, ACTIVISTS AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE RENEWING THE COUNTRYSIDE THROUGH SUSTAINABLE AND INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES, BUSINESSES, AND PROJECTS.

COMMUNITY AND FARMER DEVELOPMENT"RTC COORDINATES EDUCATIONAL AND NETWORKING ACTIVITIES FOR BEGINNINGFARMERS. WE MANAGE AND GROW THE FARMLAND ACCESS HUB, A MULTI-STATENETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS WORKING COLLABORATIVELY ON FARMLAND ACCESS FORBEGINNING FARMERS AND TRANSITIONS FOR RETIRING FARMERS. WE PROVIDE PUBLIC EDUCATION:THROUGH THE ECOEXPERIENCE EXHIBIT AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR WHERE WE BRING INFORMATION AND EXCITEMENT ABOUT LOCAL FOOD AND FARMING TO THE 250,000 ATTENDEES FROM MN AND BEYOND THAT ATTEND EVERY YEAR. WITH ""COME AND GET IT"", WE ARE ASSISTING 9 MN COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP ON-FARM EVENTS THAT CONNECT FARMERS TO CONSUMERS, AND RETAIL AND INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS. OUR 2023 FARMLAND SUMMIT BROUGHT TOGETHER STAKEHOLDERS TO COORDINATE REGIONAL LAND ACCESS ACTIVITIES. AN EXCITING NEW PROGRAM STARTING IN LATE 2023 WILL PROVIDE GRANTS AND ASSISTANCE TO URBAN FARMERS AND GARDENERS TO FURTHER DEVELOP THEIR OPERATIONS. "

CONSERVATIONRTC ASSISTS UNDERSERVED FARMERS IN CONNECTING WITH USDA PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, SUCH AS LOANS OFFERED BY THE FARM SERVICE AGENCY AND NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE PROGRAMS. WE ALSO PROVIDE COACHING VIA A TEAM OF COMMUNITY CONNECTORS, AS WELL AS SUPPORT, WORKSHOPS, FARM TOURS,AND NETWORKING. WE EMPOWER WOMEN THROUGH THE SOIL SISTERS AND WOMEN IN CONSERVATION PROJECTS, NEWLY EXPANDING INTO MN. WE ARE BRINGING SHARED ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL BENEFITS TO URBAN COMMUNITIES THROUGH MINI FORESTS. THROUGH FARM BUDS WE HELP CONNECT FARMERS WITH LABOR-HEAVY TASKS TO NEARBY VOLUNTEERS LOOKING TO HELP AND CONNECT TO THEIR LOCAL FARMING COMMUNITY.

LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM"WE WORK TO DEVELOP SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT A ROBUST LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM. RTCOFFERS INDIVIDUALIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SMALL AND MID-SIZEDFARMERS AND FOOD BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS WHO ARE INCORPORATINGLOCAL FOODS INTO THEIR MENUS AND ONTO THEIR SHELVES. WE SUPPORT NINEREGIONAL FARMERS MARKETS HUBS, EXPANDING OPERATIONS THROUGH PRODUCTAGGREGATION AND SALES TO INDIVIDUALS CONSUMERS, WHOLESALE ANDINSTITUTIONAL BUYERS. WE ARE A PARTNER IN THE ARTISAN GRAINCOLLABORATIVE, WORKING TO DEVELOP SHORT, VALUES-BASED SUPPLY CHAINS,WITH A GOAL TO INCORPORATE MORE SMALL AND ARTISAN GRAINS IN THE UPPERMIDWEST LANDSCAPE. AS CO-FOUNDER OF THE FEAST! NETWORK, WE COORDINATE THE FEAST! LOCAL FOODS MARKETPLACE IN ROCHESTER, MN; AN ANNUALTRADESHOW CONNECTING FOODMAKERS TO WHOLESALE BUYERS AND PRODUCE ANANNUAL LOCAL FEAST! MAGAZINE. WE WORK WITH FARMERS, PROCESSORS ANDSPECIALTY FOOD MANUFACTURERS TO INCREASE THEIR USE OF LOCAL FARMS ANDBOLSTER THE SUPPLY CHAIN FOR LOCAL FOOD IN OUR REGION. WE ALSO PROVIDETRAINING ON FOOD REGULATIONS THAT IMPACT FARMERS AND FOODMAKERS. ADEDICTATED STAFF TEAM MAKES CONNECTIONS THROUGH FARM TO EARLY CARE ANDFARM TO SCHOOL AND INSTITUTION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING SUPPORTING COMMUNITYGARDENS AND HOME-BASED DAY CARES IN ST PAUL AND OFFERING EDUCATION ANDFUN PROJECTS TO GET CHILDREN EXCITED ABOUT GROWING AND EATING LOCALFRUITS AND VEGETABLES. IN 2023 WE HOSTED AN COTTAGE FOOD VIRTUAL CONFERENCE, CONNECTING PEOPLE TO RESOURCES TO HELP THEM SUCCESSFULLY PRODUCE AND SELL HOME PRODUCED PRODUCTS. "