PASA 2017 ANNUAL REPORT JULY 1, 2016 JUNE 30, 2017 PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE ADDRESS 104 NORTH ST P.O. BOX 419 MILLHEIM, PA 16854 CONTACTS : P : 814.349.9856 F : 814.349.9840 W : PASAFARMING.ORG SOCIAL MEDIA: FB.COM/PASAFARMING TWITTER.COM/PASAFARMING INSTAGR.AM/PASAFARMING PAGE: 1 2017 ANNUAL REPORT | 07.01.2016 - 06.30.2017 PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PAGE: 2 , “PROMOTING DIRECTOR S LETTER PROFITABLE FARMS OURTHAT PRODUCE HEALTHY FOOD FOR ALL PEOPLE What a year of transformation! As staff initiatives, welcome an even broader and board, we continue to be awed by base of the agricultural community MISSIONWHILE RESPECTING the support PASA has received through to our renowned conferences, and the process of financial, organizational to be nourished and enriched by the and programming rejuvenation. relationships we have with each other. THE NATURAL Time and time again, I have been We would not be where we are without approached by lifetime, current and you! prospective members expressing ENVIRONMENT” their renewed commitment to this I would like to take this opportunity to community and energy for our future. thank PASA’s prior executive director, Brian Snyder, for his vision with the In this report, you will see that our SOIL Institute, now the core of our OVERSIGHT & GOVERNANCE organization is unwavering in its programming; Ted LeBow, interim THE PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION FOR SUSTAINABLE commitment to providing research and executive director, for his dogged AGRICULTURE IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT, MEMBERSHIP- education grounded in the evidence- determination to protect our financial BASED ORGANIZATION INCORPORATED IN THE based knowledge of our farmers, in future; my team, the best and brightest COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA SINCE 1992. THE ORGANIZATION IS FUNDED BY A DIVERSE ARRAY OF order to create a more economically around; and, each and every one SOURCES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, MEMBERSHIP just, environmentally regenerative and of you who have reached out to me DUES, INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS, GRANTS FUNDED community focused food system. And, to encourage, lament, rejoice and THROUGH BOTH THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR, AND given the generosity of our farmers, criticize. Taking time to make this FEES PAID BY MEMBERS AND OTHERS WHO ATTEND A farmers who share their knowledge organization be all it can is our highest VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. and strategies freely, we know we order responsibility. I think of this PASA IS GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMPRISED are the type of organization that is opportunity as a true calling; no one // PASAFARMING.ORG // OF 15 REGULAR DIRECTORS WHO ARE ELECTED BY ITS well-positioned to be facing both the of us is irreplaceable and, yet, each of MEMBERS AND UP TO 3 AT-LARGE DIRECTORS WHO ARE challenges and potential that awaits us is vital to accomplishing the work APPOINTED BECAUSE OF THEIR SPECIAL EXPERTISE those of us trying our best to farm like ahead of us. I’m truly humbled to be on OR CONSTITUENT REPRESENTATION. THE BOARD SETS the future matters. this journey with you. ANNUAL STRATEGIC GOALS, REGULARLY ENGAGING IN PASA EVALUATION OF PROGRESS TOWARD THESE GOALS. THE BOARD MEETS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS AND As you will see reflected in this I’d love to hear from you! MAINTAINS AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE THAT MEETS PENNSYLVANIA report, the PASA community is MONTHLY. THE BYLAWS OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE thriving! In no small part due to REVIEWED REGULARLY TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH BEST PRACTICES OF NONPROFIT GOVERNANCE. THE MOST our committed membership and RECENT VERSION WAS PASSED BY BOTH THE BOARD AND ASSOCIATION FOR 2017 supporters, phenomenal staff, and MEMBERSHIP IN 2012. a righted financial path set about ANNUAL MEETINGS ARE HELD ON A REGIONAL BASIS. by a terrific board, our future looks MEMBERS ARE APPRISED AT THE MEETINGS ON THE bright. We’ll continue to build our Hannah Smith-Brubaker PROGRESS OF PASA’S PROGRAMMING OBJECTIVES SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND FINANCIAL STATUS. INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL apprenticeship programs, to expand AUDITS BY CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMS ARE our on-farm research and education CONDUCTED ANNUALLY. ON THE COVER PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE SUSTAINABLE FOR ASSOCIATION PENNSYLVANIA PHOTOGRAPH BY CHERYL BURNS /CAPITAL RC&D. TOM ULRICH GRAZES BEEF ON HIS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PA FARM PAGE: 3 2017 ANNUAL REPORT | 07.01.2016 - 06.30.2017 PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PAGE: 4 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE 26TH ANNUAL FARMING FOR THE BUILDING FUTURE CONFERENCE COMMUNITY CURRENT MEMBERS The SOIL Institute is PASA’s comprehensive initiative to advance PASA’s membership truly stretches AND SUPORTERS the art and science of sustainable from farm to fork. If you are passionate THE SOIL about building a more sustainable farming. After launching this food system, the PASA community is project at our 2016 Farming for the an invaluable source of knowledge and Future Conference, we’ve already support. 6,468s rter had a big impact connecting po up S d farmers to each other, providing o INSTITUTE o F training for beginning farmers, and & % g A 8 1 documenting the on-the-ground s IMPACTS AT A GLANCE l C impacts of sustainable agriculture. a u n 5 r o r i e s PASA Members and Their 2 n s t e Roles in Food and Farming, as f % F o % Sampled at the 2017 a r r P Farming for the Future Conference. m 7 d e o r 1 s Sustainable Ag Leadership Awardees o F & John & Todd Hopkins of Forks Farm PEOPLE g A (pictured left) and Sustainable Ag % 3 s r 1 ATTENDED Business Leader Simon Huntley of e m r a F Small Farm Central (pictured right) 779 FARMS g n i r i CONTRIBUTED p s are accompanied by PASA executive A FIELD DAY AND EVENT director Hannah Smith-Brubaker and PRESENTERS board chair Scott Case. EVENTS38 54TO IN PENNSYLVANIA CONFERENCE SPEAKERS Out of State COUNTIES RESEARCH 22% 20 PROJECTS APPRENTICESHIP GRAZING DAIRY ENROLLED IN GRAZIERS MASTER // PASAFARMING.ORG // 3 APPRENTICESHIP GRAZING DAIRY ENROLLED IN APPRENTICES North Central Eastern 17% Western 30% 16% South Central 15% PASA MEMBERSHIP BY REGION PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE SUSTAINABLE FOR ASSOCIATION PENNSYLVANIA PAGE: 5 2017 ANNUAL REPORT | 07.01.2016 - 06.30.2017 PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PAGE: 6 Farmer-to-Farmer Exchange Events Across Pennsylvania FARMING FOR THE FUTURE CONFERENCE Our annual conference brings together a diverse crowd of farmers, agricultural professionals, and sustainability supporters. The dynamic educational programs span four days of workshops, OF OUR ATTENDEES discussions, and full-day intensive seminars, while the friendly atmosphere encourages networking and peer mentoring. In Febuary, 1,482 people attended from 23 states and 3 U.S. territories. 56%ARE CURRENT FARMERS OF OUR ATTENDEES ARE CURRENT52% FARMERS AND ARE ASPIRING 13%FARMERS PEOPLE FIELD DAYS AND PENNSYLVANIA OP ATTENDED OTHER EVENTS IN COUNTIES 38 20 ATTENDEES REPORTED AN THE 779 SOIL INSTITUTE AVERAGE FARMER-TO-FARMER EXCHANGE SAID THEY WERE CONSIDERING There is no manual for sustainable farming. Farming methods that support families, build community, and care for the land can only be learned through IMPLEMENTING hands-on practice and the thoughtful mentoring of peer farmers. Our Farmer- 42%INCREASE IN KNOWLEDGE A NEW PRACTICE to-Farmer exchange events bring together farmers from a range of scales, ON TOPICS RANGING // PASAFARMING.ORG // backgrounds, and experience levels to share best practices and sound-out FROM MANAGED GRAZING, IN THEIR FARM new ideas. They are also a great opportunity for professionals and supporters OR BUSINESS to connect with farmers and build a deeper understanding of food and farming. COOPERATIVE MARKETING, 75% PASA event at Quiet Creek Herb Farm. TO GETTING INVOLVED IN ATTENDEES REPORTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AN AVERAGE OF INCREASE IN KNOWLEDGE ON TOPICS RANGING FROM COVER 48%CROPPING, TO HIGH TUNNEL “Our farm has been coming to this event year after year, and it is always DESIGN, TO FOOD SAFETY Mark Lopez of Wholesome Dairy Farms talks about looked forward to. It is an incredible way to not only learn new things, PLANNING. cow health. but get together with the surrounding farming community. Bringing this community together on a yearly basis to share information is wonderful, PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE SUSTAINABLE FOR ASSOCIATION PENNSYLVANIA and I hope it continues long into the future.”- Evaluation Comment PAGE: 7 2017 ANNUAL REPORT | 07.01.2016 - 06.30.2017 PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PAGE: 8 DGA Master Grazier Farms in Pennsylvania and New Jersey THE SOIL INSTITUTE FARMER TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT For thousands of years, apprenticeship has been an effective pathway to learn a skilled profession. PASA is helping to prepare a new generation of farmers through formal apprenticeships that combine paid, on-the-job training with a curriculum of technical coursework. These programs can be a win-win across generations: apprentices get a rigorous preparation for all aspects of farm management or ownership, while experienced “master” farmers gain access to a pool of committed employees and potential farm managers. Working together, apprentices and masters will ensure the growth of sustainable agriculture. DIVERSIFIED VEGETABLE APPRENTICESHIP ON-THE-JOB HOURS Many PASA vegetable farmers have built informal internship programs that teach valuable skills to beginning farmers, but most of these farms lack the time or resources to offer 3,700 structured training. We are proud to be working with farmers across Pennsylvania to build a MASTER GRAZERS formal, “earn-as-you-learn” apprenticeship program for diversified vegetable farming. In the model of a formal apprenticeship, this program will combine on-the-job training with technical DAIRY GRAZING APPRENTICESHIP9 coursework, and benefit both aspiring farmers and established farmers52 looking for skilled employees. Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA) is a nationwide program for sustainable, grass-based dairy farming, with 130 masters and 40 active apprentices nationwide.