January 4, 2023

Happy New Year! I hope 2023 finds you well and excited to begin a new year of cultivating local food for Southwest Iowans and beyond.

We continuously update the SWIFFI Local Food Guide. If you are featured in the Local Food Guide, please check your listing to make sure that the information online is accurate and up to date. For corrections or additions, or if you are not listed and want to be, or know of someone producing local foods that is not listed, please contact: Jamie Fowler at jamie.fowler@goldenhillsrcd.org.  

We've added an interactive spread sheet, searchable by product to the Local Food Guide. Please check your listing on the spreadsheet and make sure that all the items your farm has to offer are listed. Check your listing here.

Upcoming Golden Hills/SWIFFI News & Events

Red Oak Farmers Market is looking for a Market Manager.

Contact Maggie McQuown at (214) 394-4445 or mmcquown@visibleEDGE.com for details.

Cass County Extension, the Cass County Local Food Policy Council and Golden Hills RC&D will be hosting an informational meeting to discuss the changing laws for home baking and cottage foods. Food safety expert, Kurt Rueber, of the Food Bureau housed under the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, will lead the discussion.  

This will be a great opportunity to address any lingering questions you may have on this subject. 

Anyone who is currently preparing, or is interested in preparing, foods that fall under the cottage law is urged to attend. The event will be held at the Cass County Community Center, 805 W 10th St., Atlantic on Saturday, February 4.  1-4pm Bring your questions. Event is free of charge.

We are currently planning additional farmer meetups and field days for 2022 and 2023. If you are interested in hosting or have suggestions for topics, presenters, or locations, please complete this form. 

If you have any events or news you'd like included in upcoming SWIFFI updates, please email me. You can also follow the

SWIFFI Facebook page for updates.

• Practical Farmers of Iowa’s annual conference, On Common Ground, will be held January 21-22, 2023, in Ames. Preregistration ends January 12th, so register now to save on registration costs. This annual conference has been a keystone event for sharing knowledge, building connections and celebrating agriculture in Iowa. There will be 60-plus sessions on a wide variety of agricultural topics, more than 70 exhibitors, locally sourced meals and a spirit of curiosity and community. Don’t miss this event. 

• The Annual Southwest Iowa Seed Swap is January 28th from 11-2pm. The swap is hosted by Sycamore Ridge Small Farm, and will be held at River Market 190, 2025 190th Street, Clarinda. Call or text Sycamore Ridge at (712) 309-1113 with questions. Admission is free, bring seeds to swap.

• The OGRAIN Winter Conference will be held January 27-28th at the UW-Madison campus. The 7th annual conference will continue to connect organic grain growers with new research and the organic grain community of the upper Midwest. Follow the link to sign up. Early bird registration open until January 6th.

• The 2023 “Our Roots Run Deep” Young Farmer Conference will be held January 27-28th at the Iowa Events Center, Des Moines. The conference will give attendees the opportunity to learn about cutting-edge technologies, new ag opportunities, sustainability practices and financial management techniques to help grow and succeed on their farm. To register contact your county farm bureau no later than January 13th. 

• Montgomery County Extension is hosting a Calving Clinic featuring hands-on and classroom sessions to help people prepare for the upcoming calving season. RSVP by Monday, January 30th at (712) 623-2592. Registration is limited. $25/person. Event will take place at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, White Fair Building from 4-8pm.

• The Farm Transitions Conference will take place in Ames February 9-10th. Learn about opportunities, pitfalls to avoid, and tools required for a successful farm transition. Register now. 

• 25th Annual Iowa Farmers Market Association Workshop will take place on Saturday, February 11th from 8-4:30 at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. Cost is $70 through January 24th and $80 after that. Follow the link for more info.

• Annie’s Project is an agricultural business education program that empowers farm women who want to be even more knowledgeable about their agricultural enterprises. This program is offered in Atlantic, at the Cass County Community Center and Harlan at the Shelby County Extension Office. Both programs take place weekly on Thursdays from February 23rd-March 30th. Course participants will learn effective strategies to make good decisions in the five key risk management areas of: financial, human resources, legal, marketing, and production. Annie’s Project creates a comfortable and supportive learning environment focused on the best farm business management practices. Visit links for more info and to register.

• The Iowa Specialty Producers Conference takes place February 22-23rd in Ankeny. The conference is an educational event for Midwest specialty crop producers to gather, network and grow knowledge and experience. All producers, large or small, who are growing fruits, and vegetables or specialty crops for sale are welcome to join. Cost is $220 for full conference and $150 for single day registration. Visit the link provided for the more information. 

• Iowa Meat Processor and Locker Resource Library is active and serves as a central location for training, grant programs and other industry resources available through the state of Iowa. Visit the Resource Library to learn more about work-based education and job training programs.

• PennState Extension is offering a Meat Goat Production and Management Home Study Course. Study material for this course is available both online and through regular mail. For more information follow the link provided. Lessons mailed out on February 1.

Funding Opportunities

• Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) awards competitive grants of up to $3,000 to working, independent farmers located in the US who raise beef cattle, bison, broiler chickens, dairy cows, ducks, geese, goats, laying hens, pigs, sheep and/or turkeys. They are currently accepting applications through January 10. Visit the FACT website for all the details.
• The National Young Farmers Coalition is partnering with Chipotle to offer $5,000 grants to 75 young farmers and ranchers to support them in building careers in agriculture. Applications are open until 2pm Central time on January 13, 2023. Click here to apply.

Contact: Jamie Fowler | Golden Hills RC&D | jamie.fowler@goldenhillsrcd.org