You work hard to raise food. Now raise your voice!

Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance is hitting the road to meet with and hear from independent family farmers, ranchers, and others in small-scale agricultural production across the State of Texas.

This campaign, called “Raise Your Voice,” provides opportunities for farmers, beekeepers, and local food producers to tell FARFA about the issues most impacting them. Our goal is to visit as many regions of the state as possible over the coming months.

“With a state this size, we can’t assume the challenges are the same for farmers in every region,” says Executive Director Judith McGeary. Each stop will include a listening session during which she will gather input on policies that are either helping or hindering farmers in running successful businesses. Also on the agenda is an activism training session so that farmers gain skills to have their voices heard at all levels of government.

“The key to FARFA’s success in advocating for small farmers is in grassroots advocacy building,” says McGeary. “In order to shape the policies that impact local food producers, we need all voices to be heard so we can identify concerns and possible solutions.”

FARFA will utilize the information gathered during these sessions to shape FARFA’s work for the 2019 Texas Legislative Session.

Raise Your Voice is supported by grants from Farm Aid and the Clif Bar Family Foundation.

Watch coverage of FARFA’s recent visit to Amarillo!

Central Texas

Waco

Thursday, July 12, 2018, 4-8:30 p.m. | TownPlace Marriott/S. Waco | 5621 Legend Lake Parkway, Waco

For the Waco event, we are joined by Grow North Texas, who will host our Small Farmer Workshop.

Agenda:

4 p.m.-6 p.m. Grow North Texas and FARFA present Cottage Foods and Local Food Regulations. This workshop will cover the Texas Cottage Food Law in detail, for producers who want to make food in their home kitchen (rather than a commercial kitchen). Learn what & where you can sell, as well as get more information about common concerns like advertising, sampling, and insurance. The workshop will also cover state laws on selling eggs, meat, and other products (note that local regulations on these topics may differ). FARFA’s Executive Director also will encourage sharing of any issues participants have regarding regulations that impact their local food production and marketing efforts.

6-6:30 p.m. Meal provided by FARFA & Grow North Texas. Gluten-free and vegetarian options also available.

6:30-8 p.m. Listening session and Cottage Foods Workshop resume.

8-8:30 p.m. Advocacy training session providing you with tools for effective communications with elected officials and for inspiring change.

REGISTER HERE

Caldwell

July 26, 2018, 5-8 p.m. | Caldwell Middle School Cafeteria | 203 N. Gray St., Caldwell

Agenda:

We’ll start with an informational session on Cottage Foods and Local Food Regulations. This workshop will cover the Texas Cottage Food Law in detail, for producers who want to make food in their home kitchen (rather than a commercial kitchen). Learn what & where you can sell, as well as get more information about common concerns like advertising, sampling, and insurance. The workshop will also cover state laws on selling eggs, meat, and other products (note that local regulations on these topics may differ). FARFA’s Executive Director also will encourage sharing of any issues participants have regarding regulations that impact their local food production and marketing efforts.

The evening ends with a brief advocacy training session providing you with tools for effective communications with elected officials and for inspiring change.

REGISTER HERE

COMPLETED STOPS:

South Plains & Coast

Rio Grande Valley

January 24, 2018, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | Valley Nature Center | 301 S. Border Ave., Weslaco

Corpus Christi

January 25, 2018

Local Food Producers Conference | Del Mar Center for Economic Development | 3209 S. Staples, Corpus Christi

Listening Session | Bellino’s Italian Restaurant | 3815 S. Alameda St., Corpus Christi

Northwest/Panhandle

Amarillo

February 28, 2018, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | High Plains Food Bank | 815 Ross St., Amarillo

Lubbock

March 1, 2018, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Farm to Fork Gastro Kitchen | 8310 E. FM 3523, Ransom Canyon

Abilene

March 2, 2018, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | 201 Mesquite Event Center | 201 Mesquite St., Abilene

West Texas & Central Hill Country

Midland-Odessa

March 20, 2018, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | French Press Cafe | 511 N. Grant Ave., Odessa

Lampasas

March 22, 2018, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Bar 17 on the Square | 402 S. Live Oak St., Lampasas

Southeast Texas

Beaumont

April 3, 2018, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | St. Mark’s Episcopal Church/Guild Room | 680 Calder Ave., Beaumont

Wharton

April 4, 2018, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Wharton Civic Center  | 1924 N. Fulton St., Wharton

Hempstead

April 5, 2018, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. | Blackwood Educational Land Institute  | 27144 Rock Island Road, Hempstead

North Central Texas

For the North Central Texas events, we are joined by Grow North Texas, who will host 2-hour workshops on topics of significance to growers and local food producers.

Wichita Falls

May 2, 2018, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Fox Hill Restaurant & Garden | 800 Kemp Blvd., Wichita Falls

Decatur

May 3, 2018, 3 p.m.-8 p.m. | Black Creek Farm | 2324 Old Decatur Road, Decatur

Hillsboro

May 4, 2018, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Hill County College | 112 Lamar Drive, Hillsboro

East Texas

For the North Central Texas events, we are joined by Grow North Texas, who will host 2-hour workshops on topics of significance to growers and local food producers.

Winnsboro

May 15, 2018, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Downtown Train Depot | Broadway St., Winnsboro

Tyler

May 16, 2018, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Foundry Coffee House | 202 S. Broadway, Tyler

Nacogdoches

May 17, 2018, 3 p.m.-8 p.m. | City Hall | 202 E. Pilar St., Nacogdoches

5:30-8 p.m. FARFA’s “Raise Your Voice” listening session and advocacy training.