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2 <br /> <br /> <br />back into agriculture rather than back into the general fund. The Food Council will continue to <br />develop this proposal with a goal of presenting a viable plan to the County Commissioners this <br />winter. Staff will share the draft letter of support. The Food Council would like to get two volunteers <br />from the APB to help with this effort. McPherson volunteered. Members nominated Ranells in his <br />absence. Dawson made suggestions about wording to add to the letter of support. Members voted <br />to provide the letter of support. <br /> <br />c) Approval of proposed meeting calendar for 2019: Staff discussed the proposed calendar for 2019. <br />Members reviewed the dates and approved. Meeting times will continue to be 6:30 for Nov. and <br />January, and 7:30 for the rest. <br /> <br />6. Discussion Items: <br />a) Annual Work Plan for 2018: Staff explained the current draft language. McKnight asked that we <br />add some emphasis on page 4 to address the current crisis of the dairy industry in the county. It <br />was once such a large part of the county’s ag heritage. Right now, you have the infrastructure <br />and knowledge base that can’t be replaced. Once all that is gone, it is hard to replace. Discussion <br />followed. There is the question of are people interested in starting dairy operations anymore? <br />How much dairy is produced here versus consumed? Is it too late to revive dairy here? McKinght <br />will draft up some language. Dawson suggested a sentence to recognize the fairly rapid <br />development of small local market farms in the county, to make the BOCC aware of this trend. <br />As a result, the number of farms is actually growing. Under accomplishments need to note that <br />the APB has a dedicated seat on the Food Council. Send any comments to staff. <br /> <br />7. Informational Items/Future Agenda Items: <br />b) Report from Ag Economic Development Coordinator: Ortosky provided an overview of the <br />upcoming Ag Summit program, being planned by Extension. It will focus this year on markets <br />and expanding them for all types of farmers. Ag Board member input is most welcome anytime <br />during the planning stages, and members are invited to serve on the planning committee. <br />c) Food Council update: One of the big goals is to get a new position approved for a full time staff <br />member to deal with all things food related, to work out of the County Manager’s office. That <br />position will include providing staffing for the Food Council. McKnight commented on the <br />ongoing challenge of how to get local food into the huge local institutions. These are a huge <br />market—universities, schools and detention facilities. One of the key pieces will be promoting <br />the importance of GAP certification for farmers who are not certain that they will benefit. <br />d) APB Breakfast on Nov. 29: Hughes provided an update. Registrations are now coming in fast. It <br />will be held at the Schley Grange Hall. We’ll use a new caterer doing a similar menu. She has <br />gotten more of the small VAD signs to hand out to program participants. <br />e) Service Appreciation Certificates: Staff handed out the appreciation gifts from the BOCC. <br />f) Membership Update: Kim Woods is applying to serve again after taking a year off. <br /> <br />8. Information Sharing: None <br /> <br />9. Adjournment: A. Parker moved to adjourn, seconded by Finley. Meeting adjourned at 7:49 pm.