Keynote Speaker: David Bauermeister

Food and Farming -- Connecting Urban and Rural Communities

We are thrilled to present David Bauermeister to give our keynote address. As Executive Director of the Northwest Agriculture Business Center, David assists farmers in converting commodity production into value-added products and assisting in the process of Bringing the Farm to Market. He will be giving a presentation on Saturday evening and leading the discussion on Sunday about ways to unite rural and urban communities through food.

Conference Call: Richard McCarthy

Richard McCarthy, Executive Director of Slow Food USA, will be joining us via conference call, and we couldn't be more excited. He has served as founding President for the Farmers Market Coalition, Executive Director of Market Umbrella, and played a key role in restarting the local agricultural economy after Hurricane Katrina. In 2004 Richard earned the title of "Public Health Champion" by Tulane University School of Public Health, and in 2012 was hailed as "Hero of the New South" by Southern Living Magazine. He will give us the national perspective on the current and future state of Slow Food.

Roundtable Discussions and Reports: Gerry Warren

Gerry Warren, who founded the Slow Food Seattle Chapter in 1997, now serves as the Slow Food Regional Governor of Washington and Alaska. In 2017 he was presented with the prestigious Slow Food SnailBlazer Award for his work in Biodiversity and for submitting the Makah Ozette Potato into the Ark of Taste. Gerry will report on the Ark of Taste/Presidia, lead the group discussions, and introduce new concepts and upcoming opportunities for your Chapter.

Presentation: Innovation and Sustainability of Carnation Farms

• Jeff Gottlieb, CEO
• Rosy Smit, Director of Farm Based Education
• Linda Cloes, Wedding and Event Coordinator

Exciting things are happening at Carnation Farms! The farm recently opened its doors for special events and classes to an eagerly awaiting public. A few of the incredible, upcoming programs include: apprenticeships for future farmers; a work program for high school students; and a Farm Store with a Cafe, which will sell produce, meat and eggs from their farm as well as neighboring farms. Jeff, Rosy and Linda will give a brief history of the 818-acre property and guide us through their sustainable practices, innovative programs, and vision for the future of farming.

Slow Beer Tasting: Fair Isle Brewery

Fair Isle Brewery produces farmhouse and wild beers such as tart saisons and American wilds ales. Before the Industrial Revolution, beer was naturally fermented with wild yeasts and bacteria, which create flavors unique to its time and place. Fair Isle follows that tradition. We are psyched that Andrew Pogue and Geoffrey Barker, founders of Fair Isle Brewery, will host a delicious, informative Slow beer tasting.

Eats and Drinks:

All the food, wine and beer are included in the ticket price. Meals will feature local fare, including organic, pasture-raised eggs and organic produce grown right on the Farm, and will be prepared under the direction of Carnation Farms' new culinary director, Caprial Pence!

Agenda: Saturday, April 14

• 12:00pm - Meet and Greet
• 12:15 - Lunch by Carnation Farms Culinary Team
• 1:00 - "Tell Us About Your Chapter" presented by Representatives from each Chapter / Moderated by Loretta Seppanen
• 3:00 - Presentation by Rosy Smit, Jeff Gottlieb, and Caprial Pence: The History, Innovation and Sustainability of Carnation Farms
• 3:45 - Coffee Break
• 4:00 - Conference Call with Richard McCarthy: State of Affairs Now and in the Future
• Report by Gerry Warren: Slow Food Nations; Chapter Manifestos/Autonomy/Inclusiveness
• 6:00 - Buffet Dinner by Carnation Farms Culinary Team; Wine donated by Gerry Warren, Slow Food Regional Governor
• Keynote Address, David Bauermeister: Food and Farming - Connecting Urban and Rural Communities
• 8:00 - Adjourn

Agenda: Sunday, April 15

• 8:30am - Continental Breakfast by Carnation Farms Culinary Team
• 9:00 - Roundtable Discussion with David Bauermeister: What Can We do with Food to Promote Solidarity?
• 10:00 - Presentation by Gerry Warren: Ark of Taste/Presidia
• 10:45 - Coffee Break
• 11:00 - Movie: Cultivating Kids / Introduction by Jenanne Murphy
• 11:30 - Slow Food Opportunities: Chef's Alliance, Slow Fish/Meat/Beer
• 12:30pm - Lunch by Carnation Farms Culinary Team and Slow Beer Tasting with Andrew Pogue of Fair Isle Brewery
• 1:30 - Group Discussion: Regional Chapter Innovation and Direction: Where Do We Go From Here?
• 3:00 - Adjourn