Thanks for Celebrating 10 Years of Serving Family Farms at the MIFFS 10th Anniversary Benefit Reception on September 18, 2008!

September 23, 2008: Michigan Food & Farming Systems - MIFFS thanks you for celebrating its 10th Anniversary Benefit Reception. Read about the event...

Please consider supporting MIFFS future programs and sustainability with a membership or a tax-deductible donation. Your support makes MIFFS programs for family farmers, sustainable agriculture and local food possible. Join or Donate Now...

What:
A benefit reception to celebrate and reflect upon the past decade of efforts and successes, MIFFS is hosting this event on the fourth annual “Buy Fresh, Buy Local – Select Michigan Day” to honor our members, sponsors, partners and supporters.

When:
September 18, 2008, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Where:
The Michigan Historical Museum
702 West Kalamazoo
Lansing, MI 48915

Who:
Everyone who supports Michigan agriculture, family farms, local food or sustainable agriculture was invited attend, and around 70 members, partners, funders and supporters took part in the celebration.
Our speakers were Oran Hesterman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Food Foundation in Ann Arbor and long-time friend and supporter of MIFFS, and John Fisk, Executive Director of the Wallace Center at Winrock Interational and MIFFS founding member will also speak, along with Howard Straub, MIFFS Council President, and Elaine Brown, MIFFS Executive Director.

How much:
Tickets were $100 per person, and all proceeds went toward building MIFFS’ programs and future sustainability. Ticket costs were 80% tax-deductible.

Sponsors for this event included:

• Meijer
• Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee
• Greenstone Farm Credit Services
• Morse Marketing Connections
• Wallace Center at Winrock International
• Michigan State University (MSU) Product Center
• Morton’s Fine Catering
• Blackstar Farms
• Michigan Brewing Company
• MSU Extension
• Frank Fear
• Doug Buhler
• Chris Dorman

About MIFFS...
Founded in 1998, MIFFS is a statewide membership organization (501c3) whose purpose is to promote diverse efforts that foster and sustain food and farming systems that improve Michigan’s economy, environment and social well-being.  MIFFS focuses its programs around assisting family farmers to develop entrepreneurial business, marketing, production and management skills to sustain their farming operations; growing market opportunities by linking consumers, communities and farmers; supporting agricultural stewardship and sustainable production; and informing and influencing public policy and institutional decisions that impact family farms.

Some of MIFFS’ projects and success include:

• Promoting the Multicultural Farmers Program, which has reached nearly 300 limited resource farmers, helping 60% of them to improve their farming operation, economic viability and resource connections.
• Developing the Michigan Farmers Market Association, with 148 members, which helps farmers markets thrive as marketplaces for local food and farm products.
• Initiating two kitchen incubators in Hart and Bad Axe, which have helped nearly 60 agripreneurs develop new products.
• Coordinating the Hoophouse Program to extend Michigan’s growing season with Michigan State University (MSU).
• Establishing the Food & Agri Innovation Center, which grew into the MSU Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources and has served 1,400 customers and aided 89 new ventures.
• Co-hosting the “Buy Fresh, Buy Local - Select Michigan Day” farmers markets, which bring 50 vendors and thousands of attendees to the Capitol lawn to purchase Michigan products.
• Coordinating the Meet the Buyers event, where 60 Michigan growers met with buyers to initiate new values-based supply chains.
• Facilitating discussions about state policy and informing legislative decisions on family farms, sustainable agriculture and local food.
• Sponsoring conferences, workshops and seminars that have served more than 4,000 participants over the past ten years.