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MIFFS Elects 2008 Council Members

March 11 , 2008 – Celebrating its 10-year anniversary and looking forward to another year of growth, Michigan Food & Farming Systems – MIFFS is proud to announce with its newly elected 2008 Council Members.

MIFFS welcomes Keith Creagh of Williamston, Tom Kalchik of Lansing, Doug Kirkpatrick of Herron, Lori Phalen of Hastings, Ron Steiner of Hart, Nicolas Welty of Northport, and Dan Wyant of East Lansing to the 2008 MIFFS Council.

These Council members were elected at the MIFFS Annual Meeting on March 4 and will join Joe Colyn of Battle Creek, Joanetta Greer-O’Bryant of Bangor, Lucy Hartlove of Lansing, and Howard Straub of St. Johns as the guiding core of MIFFS.

“We have a great council this year from all walks of agriculture, and we’re looking forward to using their diverse talents and expertise to grow MIFFS even further,” said Elaine Brown, MIFFS Executive Director.

As MIFFS celebrates 10 years of service to Michigan’s family farms, it continues to grow, expand its reach to more farmers and develop more strategies to add value and sustainability to Michigan’s agriculture community.  MIFFS is working, too, to bring agriculture into urban communities and make fresh local food accessible to everyone, bridging the gap between farm and fork as people grow more and more interested in where their food comes from.

With such a diverse group of council members bringing together their passions and experience from all over Michigan, this council has everything it needs to accomplish MIFFS’ goals and fulfill its mission of improving Michigan’s economy, environment and community well-being.  Marketing products and ideas, managing farms and foundations, growing crops and entrepreneurs, and promoting sustainable and local food systems are only a glimpse of what this council has to offer.  You can read about the council members in their biographies. Read more...

MIFFS would also like to thank Michael DiRamio, Cindy Dutcher, John Malcomnson and Susan Smalley for their dedicated service to the MIFFS Council in previous years.

Learn more about MIFFS at www.miffs.org or by contacting us at (517) 432-0712 or miffs@msu.edu. 

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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 economic, ecological and social well-being.  MIFFS has been effective at establishing successful partnerships among producers, markets and institutions that have created more profitable, environmentally friendly food systems in Michigan.    

The organization’s vision is based on the premise that agricultural productivity, environmental stewardship and profitability reinforce each other for the benefit of Michigan’s rural and urban communities.  To learn more, please visit www.miffs.org or call (517) 432-0712.