Sustainable Local Food MovementWho We Are
OUR VISION
Supporting farmers engaged in sustainable farm stewardship and promoting consumer access to raw milk and local food.
MISSION STATEMENT
1. Promoting the Right to Choose
→ for the nation’s family farms to produce and provide foods including those termed value-added, directly to consumers by any legal means.
→ for consumers to obtain the foods they choose for themselves and their families from farmers they know.
2. Producing Educational Materials & Programs
→ for farmers and youth about the economical and nutritional principals of producing high quality foods including teaching effective business or cooperative models and insightful farm stewardship.
→ for consumers about criteria for selecting sources of their food and understanding the practices that maintain foods’ nutritional qualities.
3. Providing Grants
→ for support of other organizations dedicated to activities (public interest litigation and education) consistent with our mission.
→ for support of farmers by providing direct aid to meet the needs created by regulatory interventions through the charitable Compassionate Relief Fund.
ABOUT US
The Farm-to-Consumer Foundation (FTCF) is a 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit Educational Charitable Organization created to expand public awareness about sustainably farmed food, and increase choices and access to local sources for the health of the community through nutrient dense food, economic growth and opportunity for conversation that knits communities together for positive change. The FTCF supports small family farms growing and raising these foods with continuing education on best practices related to soil, forage, food and animal health, advocacy for the direct consumer farmer relationship, and support Public Interest Litigation to protect opportunities to buy from those you trust.
For the past five years, the FTCF has been the leader in educational programs and materials for the production of raw milk to producers and consumers around the country. These activities have helped raw milk consumption safely grow to over 10 million consumers nationwide.
During that time, what we have learned through the assessment of producing a safe quality raw milk product has implications for the whole food chain. True sustainability of our community food security and economic viability starts with the soil. Through years of research in building raw milk safety processes, the principles of such can be used to maximize quality, productivity and safety of all our food sources.
The FTCF will continue to research and promote raw milk safety programs to meet the ever growing demand of new producers and health conscious consumers for access to a safe and quality product. As the FTCF continues to grow in reach and scope of best practices concerning all food production, we welcome your support and welcome you into the larger community conversation of where our food comes from, how it is raised and the changes that can be outlined as we come to the table of what is possible.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tim Wightman, President
Tim Wightman is a founding board member of the Farm-to-Consumer Foundation and has been in and around agriculture all of his life. Tim pioneered CSAs, organic cooperatives, farmers’ markets, local sourced restaurants the Cow-share program and Farm-share program while living in Northern Wisconsin as a partner of Clearview Acres. Tim consults worldwide with dairy farmers on raw milk safety and direct marketing. A former consultant for Midwestern Bio-Ag and Advancing Eco-Agriculture where the focus is on balanced mineralization to increase soil fertility, herd health, nutrient density in food and forage and economic viability of farms that practice the principles of biological agriculture. Tim is an instructor in Cow-Share College & Goat-Share University and the author of the “Raw Milk Handbook” and “From Grass to the Glass – Chore Time” DVD instructs farmers in raw milk production. Tim is often speaking at conferences, symposiums and on farm workshops on the best practices of raw milk production, local economic renewal and the future of agriculture.
Pete Kennedy, Vice President
Pete Kennedy is an attorney in Sarasota, Florida who works on dairy issues for the Weston A. Price Foundation, particularly, the right of farmers to distribute raw milk and raw milk products direct to consumers. He has represented or assisted in the representation of dairy farmers facing possible state enforcement action in Florida, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. Pete is currently working with others to challenge the federal ban on the interstate shipment of raw milk for human consumption. He is an instructor in Cow-Share College & Goat-Share University.
Jim Roberts, Treasurer
Jim Roberts is a Systems Engineer at Hewlett-Packard with a Masters of Science degree from Purdue University in Computer Science. For several years, Jim and his wife led the Dayton, Ohio chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF). He taught science labs in college, undergraduate computer classes at Purdue, and sign language for interpreters and sign choirs in church. His hobby has been photography since high school and was the primary photographer in numerous annuals.
When he first encountered the impact of raw milk on individual health, he was determined to ensure it could be shared on DVD. Since then he has made over 700 educational DVDs and the profits have supported the legal defense of raw milk farmer’s. After encountering all the negative press on raw milk, he developed TheOtherRawMilk.com website to clarify the difference between the raw milk developed expressly for human consumption and the raw milk that is selected for industry-supported research.
Sharon Wilson, Secretary
Sharon is a raw milk advocate, educator and a raw milk producer. Drinking raw goats’ milk from her own goat, she became an advocate for it after seeing its’ benefits to her and her family. As an active member of the Raw Milk Association of Colorado (RMAC), she spent her time educating consumers about raw milk and its’ benefits. When the cow/goat share law in Colorado was passed in 2005, she started her raw milk dairy to provide other families with access to raw goat milk.
Sharon provided her customers with raw goat milk and farm fresh eggs, along with poultry and cows raised on the farm to provide real food for her family and her customers. As a member of RMAC, She has helped create test standards for goats along with product standards and recommended process standards. She has been serving as a board member of RMAC for the last three years.
In 2010, she became an instructor for the Cow-Share College & Goat Share University. She has spent her time educating producers wanting to learn about how to produce clean, safe raw milk. She consults with others wanting to learn more about goats and raw milk production for the last seven years.
Sharon moved in the fall of 2012 to an 11 acre farm in Texas where she is currently producing raw milk and raising goats with her family.
Peggy Beals
Peggy is a community activist, educator, and author. She has worked with grassroots organizations in Childbirth Education, Homeopathy, and local township politics on land development and open government issues. She is the volunteer Administrator of the MI Fresh Milk Council. From her desire to see small family farms thriving in every community, she networks for cow-share dairies, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA’s) and access to other local food. And, during the past ten years, has developed teaching materials and presented classes and hands-on workshops in the preparation of traditional foods. She authored and published the widely used Safe Handling – Consumers’ Guide to Preserving the Quality of Fresh, Unprocessed Whole Milk.
Peggy and her husband Ted have been consumer participants in the Michigan Fresh Unprocessed Whole Milk Workgroup since it began in 2006.
Ted Beals
Ted Beals is a Pathologist, Health Educator and Administrator. He is the retired National Director of Pathology & Laboratory Services, Dept. of Veterans Affairs. He has retired from his practice in the Veterans Health Administration and faculty of the University of Michigan Medical School. Since retirement he continues his years of biomedical research, now focusing on dairy safety and foodborne illnesses. He is an international consultant and educator on the medical aspects of agricultural product safety
He is a lifelong advocate for organic principles, sustainable and local agriculture and the nutritional and medical values of nutrient-dense foods. Ted is active in promoting the rights of farmers to provide and consumers to obtain milk and other locally-produced fresh unprocessed foods.
Ted lives with his wife Peggy on 40 acres in rural Michigan.
Rebecca Brown
Rebecca Brown grew up on a diverse small family farm and has been involved with farming ever since. She graduated with honors from Union College in 2001 with a degree Environmental Studies and Natural Resource Management.
After college Rebecca managed and taught at The FARM Institute, spent a year in New Zealand where she worked on dairy farms and received her first training in biological farming from the consulting company Probitas. She managed an organic, pasture-based direct marketing livestock farm in Rappahannock County, Virginia for three years where she received The VA Grazer of the Year Award.
Rebecca has worked with Midwestern Bio-Ag and Otter Creek Organic Dairy Farm in WI to assist owner, Gary Zimmer with training farmers and consultants in biological farming practices, began her own biological farming consulting business based in Lancaster PA, and held the position of farm manager back in her hometown of Edgartown MA managing a grass-based organic raw milk dairy for 18 months.
Rebecca gives presentations on a wide variety of farm related topics, has been internationally published in several farming journals.
Because of her passion for human health, her knowledge of the importance of nutrient-dense foods, Rebecca is now a Wellness Coach in addition to her many talents.
Sarah Donovan
Sarah is a federal lobbyist in the Government Affairs practice of a large, international law firm where she advises clients on legislative and regulatory matters. She has worked for former Members of Congress from both parties and chambers and maintains a strong network on Capitol Hill and the Administration.
Sarah is a long-time raw milk consumer who at one time owned a share in a dairy cow on a Maryland farm. When the state outlawed cow shares, she and others formed a private club to engage in direct trade with a Pennsylvania Amish farmer. Recently that farm, Rainbow Acres, was forced to shut down due to a federal injunction sought and won by the Food and Drug Administration.
Sarah was featured in the critically acclaimed documentary, Farmageddon – The Unseen War on American Family Farms, and appeared as a guest on Elliot in the Morning, a morning radio talk show simulcast in several major media markets in the Mid-Atlantic region. She is a member of a buying club dedicated to sourcing food from traditional, grass-based family farms, and is committed consumer of, and advocate for, farm-fresh food.
Joe Scrimger
Joe grew up on a 250 acre dairy farm in Lapeer County, Michigan, and he presently manages 120 acres organically, raising corn, hay, wheat, soybeans, spelt and sunflowers on shares with a neighbor. He has farmed organically since 1975. In 2002 he received the “Life Time Achievement” Award and in 2006 he received the “Public Service” Award from Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA). Since 1980 he has owned and operated Bio-Systems, a soil testing and consulting business that serves the Great Lakes Area with biological technology and marketing services, along with Life Time Foods, a natural foods store. Joe has attended and instructed numerous programs on organic and biological farming in the U.S. and Canada. Scrimger Farm is currently certified by OCIA (Organic Crop Improvement Association) which Joe is a member of; he is also Chairman of MTO (Michigan Thumb Organics) a regional marketing organization.
Leslie Johnson, General Counsel
Leslie S. Johnson became the Farm-to-Consumer Foundation’s General Counsel in January 2012.
Leslie graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1993 and obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Capital University Law School in 1997.
Leslie is experienced in the operation and structure of both non-profit and for-profit organizations, entity selection analysis, business planning, corporate matters, corporate governance and compliance matters, directors, board committee charters, internal controls, disclosure and document retention policies, executive compensation arrangements, buy-sell and close corporation agreements, confidentiality and noncompetition agreements as well as merger and acquisition transactions, including diligence, structure, negotiation and documentation.