NOFA/Massachusetts 2006 Summer Conference Recap

NOFA Summer Conference 2006

A cool breeze swept through the Hampshire College campus Aug. 10-13, fanning the flames of the hundreds of minds on fire during the 32nd Annual NOFA Summer Conference. Hundreds of people learned, danced, shared, ate, camped, drummed, and luxuriously sampled from the weekend’s vast array of activities, laughing and sharing their lives with each other all the way.

The NOFA Summer Conference truly offered something for everybody. Registrations topped 1,000 and people traveled from all over the country to experience one of the most educational and fun-filled conference weekends available for organically minded people.

Children, teens and adults of all ages enjoyed a stellar array of educational opportunities, choosing from amongst 218 workshops during the days, fueling their bodies and minds with delectable organic meals " either in the dining hall or as provided by enthusiastic organic vendors. As usual, the maple ice cream topped with fresh blueberries during Saturday’s Local Meal sold out and food was a major topic of conversation both in and out of the dining hall. While the many conference exhibitors shared their expertise in everything from biodiesel to land trusts, long-time conference goers met new friends and swapped the year’s stories with long-time buddies.

The NOFA Pre-Conference on Food & Farming Education refreshed educators and participants with inspiring stories, exciting discussions and pathways to the future, heading for true change in our food system.

One of NOFA’s Pre-Conference presenters received a special surprise on Friday evening " NOFA VT Agriculture Education Coordinator and VT Feed Coordinator Abbie Nelson was honored as NOFA Person of the Year. Graciously and with tears in her eyes, the extraordinary educator called a "gift from the Goddess" and "school lunch queen" by NOFA VT Executive Director Enid Wonnacott, accepted her green-handled engraved shovel.

"It’s really about relationships and webs, and I love this job because I can web together everyone who cares so much about kids and schools," she said. "It’s fabulous to be part of this organization, so thanks."

Keynote speaker Sister Miriam Therese MacGillis shared thought-provoking ideas about the Earth we share, inspired by the work of Earth Scholars Thomas Berry and Brian Swimme. Interspersed with beautiful poetry, MacGillis talked about the end of an era and the birth of a new, more sustainable and spiritual one.

"We’re living at the end of an age where the tremendous attractiveness and seductiveness of the industrial model of growing food has swept across the planet (and no longer serves us) . . . so to be faithful in the midst of that, we must remain passionate about the future of food, health, farming and the overall call of being on the planet. There is no roadmap, book or guide. We are the generation who has discovered a totally different way of understanding the very nature and makeup and function and activity of the universe itself. Faith takes us beyond observation, beyond the realm of human experience," she said. "In each and every one of us the universe is reflected. Who am I, why am I, where am I. Our identity is shifting in a fundamental way. We’re an expression of the earth itself."

On Saturday evening, conference goers flocked to the Franklin Patterson Main Lecture Hall, which was packed to the hilt for the Saturday night debate, covering a topic that small farmers and those who rely upon them tend to strongly oppose: the National Animal Identification system (NAIS). The debate was a unique gathering of people from far disparate points of view. Mary Zanoni of Farm for Life directly criticized the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture (MDAR) for handing over private farm data to the USDA for a program she said would fail to address disease problems and lacks proper authority. MDAR Commissioner, Douglas Gillespie, who bravely also debated, responded that the state was sharing data with USDA because it is the most "efficient" way to share data. Patty Lovera of Food and Water Watch criticized the NAIS proposal for failing to provide any useful information to consumers nor any meaningful protections. "NAIS fails at disease prevention and only tries to deal with the problem after the fact," she said. Ken Kelly, staff attorney for Center for Science in the public interest argued in support of the general idea of animal tracking but said that USDA’s specific approach was deeply flawed. While it never heated beyond an angry simmer as politeness was maintained by moderator and Hampshire College Farm Manager Leslie Cox, plenty of good ideas were emoted by all sides and everyone went home with a lot to ponder.

Each evening’s entertainment sparkled, from Ben Grosscup’s stellar guitar picking inside the Red Barn Thursday night and the Rhubarb Pie String Band’s Contra Dance inside the Robert Crown Center Friday night, to the storytelling magic of Steve Leicach and the infectious zydeco beat of Cajun Rice Saturday night. Thanks to The People’s Pint Brewpub of Greenfield, those who imbibed enjoyed the light and refreshing flavor of the NOFA Summer Conference Ale, brewed specially by Alden Booth as a NOFA/Mass fund-raiser.

The Saturday Old-Fashioned Country Fair drew large crowds, who converged around the farmers’ market as well as the pie eating contest stage where three heats of pie lovers competed with chopsticks, partners and the "most deliciously enjoyed" raspberry-strawberry experience. Dale Perkins’ Horse Show was a huge hit as always, and the children’s parade was much-loved by all in attendance.

Thought-provoking films, singing and drumming by the campfire, relaxing on the barn deck and swimming were among the additional recreational activities enjoyed by all during this year’s not-soon-forgotten event.

The NOFA Summer Conference Committee has already begun planning next year’s big event, and we’d love you to get involved! The Summer Conference Committee is also always looking for new members and is presently also looking for a publications coordinator. This person, with desktop publishing experience, designs the program book, registration forms, posters and other publications, leading up to the conference. If you are interested in learning more about this position or in joining the Summer Conference committee, please contact Julie Rawson at 978-355-2853 or email Julie@nofam0.org. The first meeting of the year will be October 29, 2006. There are six meetings annually. Members receive free conference registration, two free meals and housing during the conference for the year they serve.

This page was last modified on January 27, 2008 at 11:10:11 AM.