High Plains Food Coop Builds Success for 2011
By Donn Teske, OC Advisory Council Member & President, Kansas Farmers Union
Back in 2005, the Kansas Farmers Union collaborated with Ogallala Commons to host a two-day training workshop in Lindsborg Kansas focused on direct-sales of agricultural production. The theme was “Regional Food Systems & Marketing Opportunities” and the workshop looked at the Oklahoma Food Co-op and their success up to that point. A farm couple attending the meeting who I had never met before was Chris & Sherri Schmidt from Oberlin, KS.
From that meeting, efforts were launched to form the High Plains Food Co-op, with the help of many but mostly the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Co-op & Economic Development Center and Ogallala Commons.
I’m proud to say that Kansas Farmers Union and Ogallala Commons are two of the charter members of High Plains Food Co-op (HPFC), which is a group of over 40 niche food producers in NW Kansas, NE Colorado, and SW Nebraska. Chris Schmidt is now the NW Kansas state director for KFU and he is the president of HPFC, and is doing a great job. Their customer base is the Denver, Colorado-Front Range area, and orders for their products are taken online and then delivered by volunteers on scheduled routes to designated delivery points where the customers come and pick up their products. I was shocked last year at the HPFC Annual Meeting when it was reported that their annual sales for 2009 exceeded $29,000! The co-op was hardly off the ground, just in existence since May of 08! I was REALLY shocked at this year’s Annual Meeting, when reported sales for 2010 exceeded $49,000! Trend lines are suggesting that they should double in size again by next year!
Kansas Farmers Union had a very, very small role in the development of this co-op with almost all credit due to the producers themselves (like Chris Schmidt) and organizers like Chris Sramek, and the technical support of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. So please take the opportunity to check out all the products and the ever-expanding producer list at the High Plains Food Coop website (www.highplainsfood.org). Where else would you have a chance to taste Yak meat?
Community Health Spotlight at Southern Plains Conference
By Darryl Birkenfeld, OC Executive Director
By Donn Teske, OC Advisory Council Member & President, Kansas Farmers Union
Back in 2005, the Kansas Farmers Union collaborated with Ogallala Commons to host a two-day training workshop in Lindsborg Kansas focused on direct-sales of agricultural production. The theme was “Regional Food Systems & Marketing Opportunities” and the workshop looked at the Oklahoma Food Co-op and their success up to that point. A farm couple attending the meeting who I had never met before was Chris & Sherri Schmidt from Oberlin, KS.
From that meeting, efforts were launched to form the High Plains Food Co-op, with the help of many but mostly the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Co-op & Economic Development Center and Ogallala Commons.
I’m proud to say that Kansas Farmers Union and Ogallala Commons are two of the charter members of High Plains Food Co-op (HPFC), which is a group of over 40 niche food producers in NW Kansas, NE Colorado, and SW Nebraska. Chris Schmidt is now the NW Kansas state director for KFU and he is the president of HPFC, and is doing a great job. Their customer base is the Denver, Colorado-Front Range area, and orders for their products are taken online and then delivered by volunteers on scheduled routes to designated delivery points where the customers come and pick up their products. I was shocked last year at the HPFC Annual Meeting when it was reported that their annual sales for 2009 exceeded $29,000! The co-op was hardly off the ground, just in existence since May of 08! I was REALLY shocked at this year’s Annual Meeting, when reported sales for 2010 exceeded $49,000! Trend lines are suggesting that they should double in size again by next year!
Kansas Farmers Union had a very, very small role in the development of this co-op with almost all credit due to the producers themselves (like Chris Schmidt) and organizers like Chris Sramek, and the technical support of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. So please take the opportunity to check out all the products and the ever-expanding producer list at the High Plains Food Coop website (www.highplainsfood.org). Where else would you have a chance to taste Yak meat?
Community Health Spotlight at Southern Plains Conference
By Darryl Birkenfeld, OC Executive Director
Living a healthy life doesn’t just depend on individual choices, but also on the health of the community where people live. On February 16, Ogallala Commons and its partners invite the general public to learn more at the 22nd Annual Southern Plains Conference, with its theme, “What Makes Communities Healthy? “ to be held at the Community Hall and Home Mercantile in Nazareth, Texas.
“Community health is multi-faceted…it involves economic, social, mental, physical, environmental, emotional, and spiritual wellness,” notes Darryl Birkenfeld, Director of Ogallala Commons. “Community health is exactly where involved citizens can have a great impact. Participants attending the conference will learn the basic indicators of community health, along with factors that indicate a lack of health. There will also be excellent resources and tools offered for improving community health.”
The conference begins at 8:15am with opening remarks, and historical presentation about health on the Southern Plains by Michael Harter entitled, “A Salubrious Country.” Elaine Sullivan, an educator and counselor from Dallas, TX will offer a keynote address entitled “Understanding and Appreciating the Development of Wellness.” At 9:15am, a 5-member panel will illustrate the basic aspects of community health in their presentation, “What Makes Communities Healthy?”
After a morning break for refreshment and viewing exhibit booths, conference participants will be assigned to teams of five members, and given a walking and interviewing task. The assignments will be conducted in the village of Nazareth, to help participants learn through making observations about community health and discussing assets and challenges in their own communities. After a delicious lunch, Fr. Ken Keller, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church, will speak on “Dealing with Unhealth: the Flipside of Striving for Health” In addition, there will be two presentation on resources for building healthy communities, and a closing presentation entitled, “The Promise of Health: Action Steps” moderated by Tabitha King, a Texas Tech University student and a Rural & Community Health intern for Ogallala Commons.
Those who wish to attend the Feb. 16th conference can register online or by mail (a $40 Early Bird Discount is available until Jan. 28th). It is also possible to register at the door for $50 per person. To see a complete brochure and to register online, visit: http://www.ogallalacommons.org/southernplainsconference.html
Sponsors for the 22nd Annual Southern Plains Conference are Ogallala Commons, the F. Marie Hall Institute for Rural and Community Health at Texas Tech University, Castro County HealthCare, Swisher Memorial Hospital, and Texas Farmers Union. For more information, contact Darryl Birkenfeld, Director, Ogallala Commons, at 806-945-2255 (darrylb@amaonline.com)
OC Stewarding Natural Resources - Teaching about Playas
By Julie Hodges, MS
Playa Festivals and Conservation Education Days would not be possible without the amazing folks who give their time and energy to making memorable presentations during these events. Recently Ogallala Commons hosted a luncheon to thank these talented and dedicated folks for all that they do. Also, OC Intern Sarah Le has produced a video about Playa Festivals. It is available to watch on our Playa Festival Blog (http://playafestival.blogspot.com) or on You Tube!
Below is a brief description of all of the folks who help make Playa Festivals possible.
DAVID HAUKOS, Ph.D.
David Haukos, Ph.D is a professor at Texas Tech University and a biologist for US Fish & Wildlife. At each Playa Festival Dr. Haukos presents two learning modules. The first is "Playa Overview" where Festival participants learn what playas are, what they do, and why they are important from this leading expert. Dr. Haukos also teaches "Playa Plants," a natural fit for the co-author of "Common Flora of the Playa Lakes." Dave will be relocating to Manhattan, KS in February, but will continue to assist where possible in OC events.
GAIL BARNES & JASPER THE BARN OWL
Gail Barnes is the Educator for the South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and Nightwings, two nonprofits in Lubbock, Texas dedicated to rehabilitation of injured, orphaned, or ill wildlife. Gail is state and federally permitted to do programs with educational animals (wildlife that could not be released back into the wild). She is usually the highlight of Playa Festivals delighting the children with Jasper the Barn Owl, and several other raptors that travel with her.
JIM STEIERT
To delight Playa Festival participants with duck calls and pseudo thunderstorms is author and waterfowler, Jim Stiert. Jim's presentation, titled "Playa Buffers & Waterfowl" illustrates challenges faced by playa wetlands and the ducks and geese that depend on playas for habitat.
DARRYL BIRKENFELD, Ph.D
Not only is he Executive Director of Ogallala Commons! Darryl Birkenfeld teaches students about an array of subjects, including soils, macro invertebrates, and amphibians. His presentations are filled with stories about his personal experiences on playas. Dr. Birkenfeld also assists in leading the field trip to a playa on Day 1 of each Playa Festival.
JULIE HODGES, MS
Julie Hodges is the Education Coordinator for Ogallala Commons. She teaches Bird Identification and Nature Journaling at Playa Festivals, as well as serving as a guide at each Playa field trip.
USDA-NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE Personnel
At each Playa Festival a representative from the county NRCS office assists in teaching and scouting out field trip locations. This is an important and vital role for Playa Festivals.
From left to right, Jim Steiert, Darryl Birkenfeld, Gail Barnes, Julie Hodges, Dave Haukos
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