What: Women, Food, and Farming: A Roundtable Discussion
When: August 13, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Where: Scarritt Bennett campus
Why: Women have a unique and important position in the food and agriculture
system: they own almost half the nation's agricultural land and a
disproportionately high percentage of the nation's small, alternative-crop
farms; they receive the majority of food and nutrition program payments; and
they are the primary shoppers and food preparers for their households. Join
three local and national experts on women, food, and farming as they spark
discussion about women's unique role in the food system, women's role in
promoting community food security, and barriers to and opportunities for
women interested in farming. This discussion is aimed at women in
agriculture and women with an interest in food and agriculture. Women
interested in learning more about becoming farmers are particularly
encouraged to attend.
Who:
Denise O'Brien has been an organic farmer and farm activist for over 30
years. She is the founder of Women, Food, and Agriculture Network, served as
President of the National Family Farm Coalition from 1993-1995, and was the
2006 Democratic candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. Denise is a
national expert on women in agriculture has served as a delegate to the UN
Food and Agriculture Organization's Committee on Agriculture in Rome, Italy.
In 1997 she addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations on behalf
of farmers. She farms in Atlantic, IA.
Tana Comer created Eaton's Creek Organics from the ground up, and is now its
resident farmer, beekeeper and master gardener. Eaton's Creek Organics (ECO)
is a community based operation located in Davidson County, Tennessee on a 12
acre city farm. ECO sells CERTIFIED organic vegetables, herbs and flowers at
the Franklin Farmers' Market, local health food stores, restaurants and
shareholders of our Winter Harvest subscription. Tana is currently the
President of the Franklin Farmers' Market Association and is Secretary of
the Tennessee Organic Growers Association.
Cassi Johnson is the Program Coordinator of the Food Security Partners of
Middle Tennessee, an organization that works to bring people together to
create and sustain a secure and healthy food system for Middle Tennessee,
from production to consumption. Previously she served as Development and
Outreach Director for Women, Food, and Agriculture Network (WFAN) in Iowa.
Through her work with WFAN she developed a beginning farmers' program for
women, engaged women in dialogue about the 2007 Farm Bill, and assisted with
efforts to empower women landowners become involved with conservation
efforts.
Cassi Johnson
Program Coordinator, Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee
Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies
1207 18th Ave South
Nashville, TN 37212
615-322-5638
