November 18, 2020 on Zoom
We’ll explore organic milk starting with on-farm requirements & follow it through the value chain to our end users. Our goal is to provide insights & perspectives from those who produce, process, utilize & consume organic milk. Our webinar will allow for questions & answers from our impactful speakers.
VIRTUAL CONFERNCE PRESENTATIONS
Dr. Jennifer Tucker, National Organic Program
The National Organic Program’s mission is to ensure the integrity of USDA organic products. Dairy oversight continues to be a key priority for the program. In this presentation, we will provide updates about Origin of Livestock and Strengthening Organic Enforcement rulemaking, and about our Dairy Compliance program. We’ll also review our high priority goals for the coming year and answer your questions.
National Organic Coalition
Abby Youngblood will inform the audience on the Advocacy and Policy Issues that NOC is currently working on.
Organic Trade Association
Megan DeBates will inform the audience on the Advocacy and Policy issues OTA is currently working on.
Why Consumers Choose Organic and Its Importance to Athletes
Michele Clarke-Mason, Founder of Veracious True Foods will share her experience as the prior Seattle Seahawks Team Nutritionist on why consumers choose organic, educating athletes on the importance of dairy, dairy sensitivities, and milk alternatives. Her information will help us answer some of the questions we are met with as producers.
Animal Rights Activism on your Farm
Sonoma County Assistant Sheriff Naugle and Tawny Tesconi, Executive Director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, will address what to do if activists arrive on your farm and the laws pertaining to it. This is your chance to ask how to handle issues you may face in your area.
Organic Milk in Food Service
Ann Burkhart, Independent Consultant on Organic Milk in Food Service with previous experience as an Ethical Sourcing Manager at Starbucks and the Earthworm Foundation, will share insights company decision making, the growing number of corporate sustainability programs. Where does our organic milk fit in or what challenges we face?
Producer Updates and Accomplishments
Hear from your fellow organic dairy producers about projects and upgrades they have implemented on their operations through grants and funding opportunities within the past year.
PRESENTER BIOS
NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM
NATIONAL ORGANIC COALITION
NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM
DR. JENNIFER TUCKER
Jennifer Tucker, Ph.D., was named Deputy Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program on June 21, 2018. Dr. Tucker served as Associate Deputy Administrator of the National Organic Program from 2011-2018. Before joining USDA, she served as a group facilitator and organization development consultant, working primarily with scientific and technical government and non-profit organizations. She earned a B.A. in Environmental Science from Wesleyan University, an M.S. in Management from Purdue University, and a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Studies from Virginia Tech.
ORGANIC TRADE ASSOCIATION
NATIONAL ORGANIC COALITION
NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM
MEGAN DeBATES
Megan DeBates is the Director of Legislative Affairs and Coalitions for the Organic Trade Association (OTA). In this capacity, she develops and implements policy strategies in the interest of OTA’s mission and its members, and engages Congress, federal and state agencies and other stakeholder groups to further those policy goals. She currently serves as staff for the Trade Association’s recently formed Dairy Council. The OTA Dairy Council brings together farmers, handlers, processors, and manufacturers in order to advance the organic dairy sector. The current membership of the council collectively represents over 90% of the U.S. organic dairy market.
Prior to joining OTA, DeBates served as Senior Legislative Aide to U.S. House of Representatives Congressman Peter A. DeFazio (OR-04). She graduated from the University of Oregon with a dual degree in international studies and environmental studies.
NATIONAL ORGANIC COALITION
NATIONAL ORGANIC COALITION
NATIONAL ORGANIC COALITION
ABBY YOUNGBLOOD
Since 2015, Abby Youngblood has served as the Executive Director at the National Organic Coalition (NOC), an alliance of farmers, ranchers, NGOs, and companies dedicated to protecting organic integrity. Youngblood has been a passionate participant in the organic farming and food justice movement for more than two decades and is a former co-owner and operator of a vegetable farm in upstate New York. She holds a masters degree in public policy and non-profit management from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service, and lives with her husband and two children in Arlington, MA.
INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT
SONOMA COUNTY FARM BUREAU
INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT
ANN BURKHART
Ann Burkhart has worked in sustainable agriculture and social responsibility for the past 20 years. Her grandparents on both sides of the family were dairy farmers so she grew up with a strong connection to farming. Currently Burkhart is living on Whidbey Island, looking for land to develop as a sustainability focused retreat center and occasionally consulting in the sector. Most recently, she was as a Relationship Manager at Earthworm Foundation (formerly known as The Forest Trust). Burkhart worked with member companies (brands) to set policy around sourcing key agricultural commodities, gain traceability in their supply chain, support transformation projects at origin and verify progress against their goals. She also had responsibility for new business development in the United States.
Burkhart formerly worked at Starbucks as a manager on the ethical sourcing team, focused on Starbucks programs for dairy, produce and animal welfare, but also contributed to the manufactured goods, coffee and cocoa programs. Previously she helped build the company’s business ethics and compliance program and worked on the equal opportunity initiatives team. Burkhart has also worked as acting director of Weyerhaeuser’s ethics and compliance program and held management consulting positions with two Internet development firms. As a volunteer, she served on the board of directors for EarthCorps and Global Visionaries. Burkhart received her bachelor’s degree from the Jackson School of International Studies at University of Washington and her master’s degree from the Stern School of Business at New York University.
SONOMA COUNTY SHERIFF
SONOMA COUNTY FARM BUREAU
INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT
ASSISTANT SHERIFF JIM NAUGEL
Jim was born and raised in Petaluma. After graduating from Petaluma High School, Jim attended the University of California at Davis where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Biology and Management. In January of 1998, Jim was hired as a Police Officer for the City of Novato where he worked patrol and was a Defensive Tactics Instructor and SWAT Team member.
In July of 2001, he was hired by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office as a patrol deputy. During his time as a deputy, Jim has worked various assignments at the Sheriff’s Office. Jim worked at the Sonoma Valley Substation, Court Security, participated in a gang enforcement task force, was a Defensive Tactics Instructor, narcotic K9 handler, a Property Crimes Detective, Violent Crimes Detective, and member of the SWAT team.
In October, 2010, Jim was promoted to Sergeant. As a sergeant, Jim has worked at the Russian River Substation, Windsor Police Department, and Internal Affairs. Jim also held assignments as a supervisor for the SWAT Team, Defensive Tactics, Use of Force, and K9 unit.
In September, 2015, Jim was promoted to Lieutenant. As a Lieutenant, Jim worked as a Watch Commander overseeing patrol, Use of Force Instructors, the Special Operations Unit, Community Oriented Policing, and the Guerneville substation. Jim then worked in the Professional Standards Bureau, which included Internal Affairs, use of force training and review, and liaison to the county’s law enforcement auditor.
In July of 2018 Jim was promoted to Captain and commanded the Field Services Division.
In April, 2019 Jim was promoted to Assistant Sheriff where he now oversees the Law Enforcement Division of the Sheriff’s Office. Jim currently serves as an Advisory Board Member for The Salvation Army.
SONOMA COUNTY FARM BUREAU
SONOMA COUNTY FARM BUREAU
SONOMA COUNTY FARM BUREAU
TAWNY TESCONI
Tawny Tesconi joined the Sonoma County Farm Bureau as the Interim Executive Director in 2017. She had a 30 year career in fair management and public service, and in December of 2015, she retired as Director of General Services of Sonoma County to start her fair services company of Tesconi Event And Management Solutions (TEAMS).
Born and raised in Sonoma County, Tawny is a Santa Rosa native with strong ties to the local agriculture industry. As a student, she was an active member in 4-H and FFA, working closely with her parents and siblings on a small family farm in west county where she and her husband live today.
She is a past-president and current member of Petaluma Rotary Club; member of the SRJC Ag Trust Board; and a past member of the Richard and Saralee’s Barn fundraising committee. Tawny is a 1987 graduate of the Western Fairs Association Management Training program, is a past President of WFA and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2012. Tawny also has her CFE from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions and as a BS degree in Managerial Economics from University of California, Davis.
VERACIOUS TRUE FOODS
MICHELE CLARKE-MASON:
The Founder of Veracious True Foods, Ms. Clarke-Mason currently provides Nutritional Therapy services to the Seattle Seawolves Major League Rugby team along with many other private clients. She served as the Nutritional Therapist for the Seattle Seahawks from 2013 to 2019, in addition to consulting for the Texas Rangers Baseball Club in 2015. Ms. Clarke-Mason is committed to uniting nutrition, dining services and athlete education in one complete program, showing people that healthy food is delicious.