MSU Montana Made Local Food Fair

Editor’s Note: On February 8, 2010, local producers, ranchers, vendors and food-related organizations convened at the MSU Sub Ballroom for the Montana Made Local Food Fair, an event celebrating and promoting local and sustainable food systems. The Co-op was on hand, along with numerous local vendors, sampling an array of delicious local products.

Andy Rahn, Co-op Board Director, attended the social hour and discussion following the Fair, detailing his experience below:

USDA Deputy Secretary Dr. Kathleen Merrigan was scheduled to speak at this event, however, did not make it due to nasty weather on the East Coast. However, the crowd chose to stick around for a social hour that happened instead, and was A-list all the way.

There were leaders in Montana agriculture and the local food movement, and these folks took advantage of the opportunity to network and swap ideas. Examples included: staff from the Montana Department of Agriculture; members of the Montana Food System Council; Senator Tester’s Ag liaison; members of the MSU Department of Agriculture (including the new Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems Program); Alternative Energy Recourses Organization (AERO) staff and Board members past and present; local growers and activists from across the state; and of course a few Bozeman Co-op Board members.

The Local Food Fair has come a long way in four years, and is now apparently a première event for those interested in Montana local foods. It was even rumored that the Montana Farm Bureau, a very mainstream agricultural organization, was in attendance.

This signals that no longer is the local food movement considered outside of the mainstream agricultural community. But rather, local food appears to be making a stake in the organizations and government departments where it belongs. Great job MSU Local Food Fair!