Family Farm Defenders, a national farmer and consumer advocacy group based in Wisconsin, and well known worldwide for espousing the principles of food sovereignty, is proud to announce it is seeking nominations for its 2nd Annual Beginning Farmer Food Sovereignty Prize. The award is named in honor of FFD’s founder and long time activist, John Kinsman.
In Oct. 2010 Family Farm Defenders received the Food Sovereignty Prize from the Community Food Security Coalition at its gathering in New Orleans. Food sovereignty, first articulated by La Via Campesina in 1996, encompasses seven principles: food as a basic right, agrarian reform, protecting natural resources, reorganizing food trade, ending the globalism of hunger, social peace and the democratic control of agricultural policies.
FFD president and organic dairy farmer and forester, John Kinsman, has said that, “The seven principles of food sovereignty are the finest recipe for global food, social and environmental justice that exist today. Food sovereignty can enhance the dignity of every person in the world, and these principles now inspire and guide Family Farm Defenders in all our plans and actions.”
Family Farm Defenders launched the John Kinsman Beginning Farmer Food Sovereignty Prize last year to encourage young farmers to pursue the principles of food sovereignty as they begin their careers in agriculture.
Last year’s winners included Lindsey Morris Carpenter who has run Grassroots Farm, a 40 member Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operation near Monroe, WI since 2007 and Daniel and Hannah Miller who have operated Easy Yoke Farm near Millville MN as a CSA operation since 2010 and also sell at farmers markets, co-ops, and retail markets. Both winners received a cash prize of $2000, plus a fair trade holiday gift basket.
Nominations of beginning farmers are due by Sept. 1st, 2012. Please send name, address, phone, and email of nominees to: FFD, P.O. Box 1772, Madison, WI 53703. Nominations can also be faxed to: 608-260-0900 or sent by email to: [email protected]
Once the farmers have been nominated a FFD member will contact the farmer for supporting information. Selected farmer(s) will be notified in early October and receive their award at a reception and dinner to be held at the the Goodman Center (149 Waubesa St.) in Madison, Wisconsin from 5:30 – 9:00 pm on Sat. Dec. 8th.
Donations are also being solicited to support the prize itself and all donors will be acknowledged in the award program. FFD is a 501 c(3) charitable organizations, so all gifts are tax deductible.
