Dear HHC members and interested parties,
Please take the time to review this information carefully. We have a lot going on right now. Please RSVP and let us know that you approve the minutes, ask any questions, and if you will be attending the meeting. We will be working on the 2012 edition of the Hancock Harvest Council Buy Fresh Buy Local Directory, We still have a few members who have not paid for 2012, if you want to be included in the directory, we need confirmation that you want to continue your membership ASAP. Edna Yeager, our secretary is making some f/u call. January and February meeting minutes are included below. We hope that you will be able to attend our March meeting on Monday, March 5 at 7 pm. The meeting will be held at the Purdue Extension office at 802 N Apple Street in Greenfield. We will have a speaker scheduled for our meeting on Monday. This Old Farm Meats and Processing, farm to market coordinator, Jessica M Smith, will be talking with us. She has also been attending the food hub meetings and is very interested in meeting some of our members. Bring your scales that you use for the market, Richard Simon, the Hancock County weights and measures inspector will be available during the meeting to inspect all scales. The scales do not have to be used in Hancock County for him to complete the inspection. The scale must have a serial number and be used "For Legal Trade." He will not certify any scales that have a label, "Not of Legal Trade" this is a great opportunity to have your scales checked and approved for use.
Food Hub - person has been hired for the feasibility study. Some discussion at the meeting. Edna Yeager and Barb Smith have met and have a budget for approval at Monday's meeting. Agenda for our meeting: - Approve meeting minutes
- Treasurer's report and budget
- Food Hub
- Membership Drive - think about your neighbors, invite them to a meeting to see if they would be interested in marketing directly to the public, not necessarily at a farmers market. We have lots to offer, especially with the food hub.
Barb Smith, BFBL Contact & Editor |
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| February 2012 Meeting Minutes |
Meeting minutes for the Hancock Harvest Council regular meeting held February 6, 2012 at the Extension Office.
Attendance: Bill King, Linda King, Glen Reynold, Randy Caster, Marvin Miller, Jeniece Miller, Earl Smith, Barb Smith, Rex Zenor, Roy Ballard, R.C. McDanel, Edna Yeager.
The meeting was called to order at 7:03pm by Earl Smith.
The January minutes were accepted as presented.
The treasurer and vice-president's names have been added to the bank account. Earl's name has been removed. Steve Hatch still needs to sign his name off the account.
Deposits have been made for membership fees, winter farmers' market fees, and summer farmers' market fees for a current balance of approximately $3,620. The treasurer's report was accepted as presented.
Barb and Edna will meet to establish a budget for 2012. We hope to present it at the next meeting.
We need to form a committee to set a calendar of events. Please notify us as soon as possible if you wish your farm to be included in a tour. We need to establish advertising to promote our events. We could do an all day tour or shorter tours of two hours or so. Purdue Extension could participate with a speaker. We would like to have tours in as many counties as we can this year.
The Horticultural Congress had a good turn-out. HHC had a booth and passed out information, applications and directories. We need to follow-up with people that showed an interest in HHC and people in other areas that wish to start an organization. My Local Indiana was represented at the Horticultural Congress and we were encouraged by their participation.
Advertising options were discussed. We will gather information on Indiana Living Green Magazine and have a report at the next meeting. It is possible to have an ad in the Daily Reporter with members having smaller ads around an HHC advertisement. A bill-board ad is another idea. R.C. McDanel is looking into getting input from various sources about having an advertising sign painted on his barn.
NRCS is still giving grants for high tunnel hoop houses for season extension for specialty crops. Contact your local NRCS office for more details about requirements of size, plastic thickness, etc.
Upcoming extension programs are Raising Poultry for Profit and Pleasure and Cooking up a Food Business in the Home Kitchen. Contact the Extension Office if interested.
The Agritourism Ordinance Meeting was held February 3, 2012. The 9C version will amend to the 9D version. The concerns are public health, safety, and welfare. The ordinance should give people back their rights. The next zoning meeting is March 20, 2012 at 7:00pm.
The next Food Hub meeting is February 10 at 11:45am at the Extension Office.
The next HHC meeting will be March 5, 2012 at 7:00pm in the Extension Office.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:23pm.
Submitted by:
Edna Yeager
Secretary
ednayeager49@yahoo.com
317-339-9788
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| January 2012 Meeting Minutes |
Meeting minutes for the Hancock Harvest Council Annual Meeting held January 5, 2012 at the Fairground office. Attendance: Randy Kemerly, Jeremiah Priest, Rex Zenor, Gary Mithoefer, R.C. McDanel, Bill King, Tom Brendle, Sharon Brendle, Earl Smith, Barb Smith, Roy Ballard, Edna Yeager. The meeting was called to order at 7:00pm by Earl Smith. Earl passed out copies of the HHC By-Laws and information sent to Food Routes Network and Buy Fresh Buy Local. The December minutes were approved as presented. Election ballots were mailed with the slate of officers and yearly invoices. The slate of officers: Earl Smith, President; Rex Zenor, Vice President; Barb Smith, Treasurer; Edna Yeager, Secretary were presented and accepted. The bank account will be changed to allow the Vice President and Treasurer to sign the checks since the President and Treasurer will be in the same household. The treasurer's report was approved. It showed a balance of $2,688.44. Barb bought Quick Books to use in the year ahead to keep accurate records. She will work on a budget to be presented at a future meeting. There was a balance of over $1,500.00 carried over from last year which should allow for more advertising of the Council and their upcoming events. The dues for Buy Fresh Buy Local and Food Routes Network have been paid for the year. Dues being collected for 2012 will allow for advertising by our members. The Hancock Regional Hospital may be interested in sponsoring an ad in the directory. Changes to the By-Laws were discussed. It is possible that the Council could be run by a board since attendance at meetings is low. The decision will be made next month after everyone has had a chance to review the current by-laws. This year's events were discussed. Would we want to do a farm tour of three to four farms on the same day? Would we want to do one farm tour monthly? The end of April is a good time for an event. Would we want to do a wine tasting? Tours in Madison County last year had good attendance. Marlin Plant Kingdom is interested and King's The Flower Pot Greenhouse is interested in tours this year. Fortville has Fortville Dollars which is a coupon the size of a business card worth one dollar that are passed out with a purchase and can be cashed in with other participating businesses. Henry County Chamber of Commerce does something similar. The Horticulture Congress is being held for the next three days, January 17-19, 2012. We will be setting up a table and displaying directories and applications for membership in the Council. The new table cover will be used that was purchased for $113 with Buy Fresh Buy Local and Hancock Harvest Council printed on it. The Indiana Living Green Magazine was discussed again. We are trying to decide if we want to run an ad in the free publication that is displayed at places as Marsh, O'Malia, Whole Foods, and Kroger. Many local businesses are advertising there. We will gather more specific advertising sizes and cost and pursue the idea of swapping our ad for a sponsor on our directories. We will decide at the next meeting about advertising in the magazine. Roy talked about the zoning ordinance. It is in its ninth version and still changing. There will be a public hearing in February and then it will go to the commissioners for them to sign off. This will make, legally, huge difference. It can open up opportunities for lots of people for different types of agribusiness as: (1) people selling their own or their neighbor's product and tours; (2) event fairly large for ninety days out of the year: (3) multi venues without a temporary permit. Educational farm tours are exempt. Roy also told us of the upcoming educational topics of poultry and home based business sponsored by the Extension Office. Information was passed out at the meeting. He also updated us on the progress of the Food Hub. They have received two proposals from two consultants, a letter will be sent out, they will meet with the two consultants and a decision will be made as to who to hire. The feasibility study needs to be finished by June and a business plan needs to be finished by 12-31-12 in accordance with the grant. The next meeting will be held February 6, 2012 at the Extension Office at 7:00pm. The meeting was adjourned at 8:22pm. Submitted by: Edna Yeager Secretary ednayeager49@yahoo.com 317-339-9788 |
Winter Farmer's Market
Smith Family Farms Party Barn 7137 W 675 S, Pendleton |
This market is held on the 2nd Thursday of each month,
November - April
4-7 pm.
Freezer Beef, pasta, chickens, eggs, breads and pesto, cheese, honey, plants, energy drinks, dog treats and much more.
www.smithfamilyfarms.com
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| Benefits of Membership |
 We hope that you find membership with Hancock Harvest Council to be a benefit for you. We have several different memberships available that will be included on your invoice and/or letter inviting you to join. It includes a beginner level for those who are not ready to begin promoting their product. Partial list of membership benefits are listed below: - A listing in our Annual Directory - level of membership determines type of listing.
- Have the opportunity to use the BFBL graphics in their advertising, brochures and web sites. Must be pre-approved, graphics provided upon request. Cannot be used on products.
- Promotion in our newsletter - member profiles, etc.
- Web page on the HHC website - more info at December meeting.
- Access to BFBL merchandise.
- We are currently working on updating our application to make it easier for Restaurants and Farmers markets. Each classification will have a separate application.
Consumer or Associate members are entitled to BFBL merchandise to be determined (we currently have bags and t-shirts). Their membership helps us to continue the mission of providing education and promotion of local foods. Associate memberships are currently $10 per year. Membership dues are payable in January. Invoices below: Producer Membership Letter/Invoice Farmers Market and Restaurant Membership Letter/Invoice New members also need to complete application found on-line or can be e-mailed to you. Current members should send an e-mail with any changes to your information for the directory and web page. If you want featured in a newsletter, please let us know as well. For any questions, please contact Barb Smith thru this e-mail or 765-763-0246.
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In Closing:
Thank you again for your time and support in making our organization successful. I hope you can plan to attend these meetings and take part in the furture of Hancock Harvest Council If you have any questions, please contact us.
Sincerely,
Barbara Smith, Secretary
Hancock Harvest Council |
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| Mission | |
The intent of the Hancock Harvest Council is to further develop opportunities for agricultural producers and potential producers to make available local foods and educational experiences to each other and the community. |
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