From Trudi Jenny

Acting Chair: Food, Faith and Farming Network

To the Editor:

Early this year Tom Nelson stepped down as the Board Chair of the Food, Faith and Farming Network (formerly the Churches’ Center for Land and People). Tom had been on the board since 2006 and served as Chair for the past 15 years. 

The Food, Faith and Farming Network gives voice to the sacred connections between land and people. We foster rural and urban relationships and promote earth stewardship, community, spirituality and economic justice through healthy food and sustainable farming practices. We work towards this goal by collaborating with individuals, organizations and faith communities to

●  Link food, faith and farming through educational, spiritual and community building events 

●  Bring a spiritual perspective to the conversation in addressing food and farming issues

●  Connect consumers and growers, urban and rural, through activities such as Winter Farmers Markets

●  Advocate for a just food system and food security for all

●  Promote a land ethic of stewardship and care for our common home — earth

●  Partner with Harvest of Hope Fund, serving Wisconsin farmers in crisis situations

Since 2018 we have supported farmers and a wide range of community and faith-based organizations working towards these goals through our Listening/Networking sessions and the resultant Seed Money initiative.

Tom has been critical to establishing these goals and programs and was an eloquent and tireless advocate for food security, food justice and sustainability both with the Network as well as in his work as the Rural Life Coordinator for the Catholic Diocese or Madison. He is also an accomplished painter and shares his work in and around his home community in Green County.

His fellow Board members will miss his energy and optimism and wish him well as he takes a well-earned rest from these duties. Those who know Tom and wish to acknowledge his lifetime commitment to this work are invited to send him a note of appreciation c/o FFFN PO Box 203 Monticello, WI 53570.

During the March 17th meeting of the Board we elected new officers and are proud to announce that Trudi Jenny will assume the position of acting Chair and Secretary, Linda Sheridan will serve as Vice Chair and Roger Williams will continue as Treasurer. Within a year we will transition to new leadership with Linda assuming the role of Chair and will name a new Secretary.

We thank you for your support of our efforts.