Minutes 05-10-2022 Budget Public Hearing and Work Session

Browse Search

30 embracing that there is knowledge and wisdom beyond it. She said Commissioner Richards and Commissioner Greene came with her to visit a couple of farms and hopefully can do more of that. She said that they can be doing better by doing a local ag census that is independent of USDA. Chair Price asked how many people are on the entire council. Ashley Heger said sixteen, but five are open seats. She said they are requesting to have stipends to grapple with the issue of free work because they do not want to create a Council that is majority filled with those that have privilege and access. Chair Price clarified that the co-chairs are not elected representatives. Ashley Heger said that is correct. Chair Price said she was skeptical in 2018 but sees that this is getting somewhere now. She said that she can see the need. She said she hopes the pilot works and that Ashley Heger has actually brought the Food Council a long way. She asked about the proposed 5 years for the MOU. She said she hopes it is five years. She said she does not think Ashley will work herself out of this job because the need will be continuous and ever evolving. She said she is thinking about three years instead of five. Commissioner McKee asked if she was advocating for a separate ag center from USDA and Extension. Ashley Heger said she said a separate census. She said that the USDA does one every seven years and that she wants to do one locally. She said they have talked about doing one multiple times but they always come back to the same issue —who do we talk to, what data are we collecting. She said that if that does not change and if they only get input from those already connected then the data will be there but how good will it be. She said that is why they decided to start small and a way directly connected to those on the ground. She said that hopefully this pilot project could lead to a local census. Commissioner Bedford said she loves the idea of a census. She said that she would like more information, or numbers, because she is not clear on what marginalized communities she is talking about. She said more numerics help her. She said that she thinks the Board needs better ways to share information because they are all liaisons to committees, but they do not really share any of that information with the full Board. She asked the Board to think about it because there has to be a better way. Chair Price said they all can give reports at the beginning of meetings, but she understands that is not likely enough. She said even though the Board is looking at what is happening now, the project can also help support new farmers if they know there is a place for them. She said this could encourage new and younger farmers to start. Ashley Heger said it would be a launching pad. Chair Price said that she has talked to some of the new Black farmers, and they are excited to get into Weaver Street but that is not insurance and they would be happy to get more. Ashley Heger said that Fresh Fire works with restaurants, stores, and institutions with buyers spanning from US Foods to Weaver Street. Commissioner Greene said that Breeze Farm moved from the model of accepting brand new farmers, so that left a gap there. She said this highlights the importance of working with a more informal network. Ashley Heger said it will always be "both and." She said she fully hears the criticisms and understands because they really are flying the plane and building it at the same time with this work. She said moving toward equity is challenging. Chair Price said not to think about them as criticisms but rather comments.