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MIFFS Annual Harvest Celebration was a Success, Thanks to all of our Sponsors, Donors, Supporters and Attendees!

November 9 , 2009 - Another successful year for Michigan’s local farms and farmers was celebrated at the second Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS) Annual Harvest Celebration: A Local Food Dinner and Benefit Auction on Thursday, October 29, 2009 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Woldumar Nature Center’s R.E. Olds Anderson Rotary Barn in Lansing. 

The event brought together more than 80 of MIFFS’ partners, sponsors, members and supporters to reflect back on all of the hard work that had been undertaken during the year and to spend time visiting and networking with others involved in local food and sustainable agriculture. All enjoyed some of the finest local food available, prepared by Morton’s Fine Catering with all Michigan-grown products, including pastured chicken raised by the Springport FFA and apples from the orchard of Dave Wyrick, the state executive secretary of the Michigan FFA.

A new feature of this year’s event was the introduction of a silent auction, which featured 29 items donated by local businesses in order to help raise funds for future MIFFS programs as well as generate some added excitement at the event, all in the name of helping Michigan’s local farmers.

“This Harvest Celebration was a great opportunity to connect with others passionate about what we’re doing and also to recognize those people who have made strides in sticking closely to the ideals that MIFFS strives to foster and make a reality for our food system,” said Elaine Brown, MIFFS Executive Director.

Special “Farmers of the Year”, “Business of the Year”, and “Legislator of the Year” awards were given out to businesses and individuals who have done just that this year. “Farmers of the Year” were Howard and Mary Jo Straub of Triple H Farms in St. Johns, whose family of farmers and seasonal, grass-based dairy exemplify what it means to be a sustainable and viable family farm.  The “Business of the Year” award went to Sysco-Grand Rapids, who has substantially increased its purchasing of local Michigan produce over the past two years and has supported MIFFS programs, like the annual “Meet the Buyer events” and Good Agricultural and Good Handling Practices workshops.  The “Legislator of the Year” was Representative Goeff Hansen of House District 100, who has been a champion of family farms and local food, introducing and supporting the “Buy Local - Select Michigan Day” House Resolution for several years and supporting other agricultural events and endeavors.

Event attendees shared a spirit of hope and renewed energy for the coming year. Many people brought new ideas to the tables and shared them with others interested in maintaining Michigan’s proud agricultural heritage for years to come, and the night’s hope was that this celebration helped make those connections that will benefit real change.

A special thanks go out to the event’s sponsors: Sysco-Grand Rapids; the Michigan State University (MSU) Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources; the W. K. Kellogg Chair in Agricultural, Food and Community Ethics; Eden Foods; Originz, LLC; Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council; Frank and Kathy Fear; Morton’s Fine Catering; the Kent Beverage Council; the C.S Mott Chair for Sustainable Agriculture; Mike Kovacic; Dave Wyrick; the Silent Auction donors; the farmers who grew the food for the meal; and everyone who attended and supported MIFFS and the future of Michigan agriculture.

Tickets for the event were $50 per person, and $20 of that price is tax-deductible.

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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.