Thursday, February 12th, 2015

The Fox Hill Club, Longmont

6pm – Cocktails

7pm – Dinner

Guest Speaker:  Paul Danish

FAIR’s 2015 Guest Speaker is Paul Danish, former Boulder City Mayor and Boulder County Commissioner.  Paul has, as an editorialist in the Boulder Weekly, been very supportive of farming in Boulder County, on private lands and on county open space.  As Commissioner, he was supportive of all approved farming methodologies that reflect sustainability and best practices.   He has written several editorials for the Boulder Weekly in support of contemporary farming practices, over the past few years.

Please join us for this exciting and fun evening!

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Buffet dinner (indicate your preference) will include a choice of:

[    ]     meat option

[    ]     vegetarian option 

The cost per person is $35.      A full no-host cash bar is available.

Name________________________________________

Number of persons in your party__________

Contact email__________________________________

Phone_______________________________

RSVP to FAIR’s new Executive Director Rich Koopmann (rwkoopmann@gmail.com) by February 1, 2015. 

[    ]  My organization would like to co-sponsor the dinner with a contribution of $___________.

Payment:  Please mail your check for $35 made payable to FAIR, c/o Paul Schlagel, 1260 County Road 20 ½ , Longmont CO 80504.  Or, you may bring your check to the dinner on February 12.  FAIR accepts cash or checks.

The Farmers Alliance for Integrated Resources (FAIR) has hired Rich Koopmann, former Resource Planning Manager with the Boulder County Parks and Open Space Department, as its new Executive Director.  Koopmann replaces Jane Uitti, who is retiring after three years with the organization to pursue other interests.

Koopmann retired last year from Boulder County Parks and Open Space after 35 years with the Department, where he was involved with purchases of land under the county’s open space program, management of open space properties, and environmental resources in the county’s Comprehensive Plan.   He is a leader of the Fairview Crops and Livestock   4-H Club, exposing children to farming and ranching education through the club and at the County Fair.   He has been President of the Goodhue Ditch and Reservoir Company and has been active on a number of other ditch and irrigation companies and has a wide knowledge of local and state water issues.  He served as President of the Boulder County Parks and Open Space Foundation from 2005 – 2013.  He is a member of the Trust for Public Lands, the Nature Conservancy, National Audobon Society, National Wildlife Federation, and National Parks & Conservation Association.

Amon the awards Koopmann has received are FAIR’s “Friend of Agriculture Award” in 2014, the Blue Grama Award from the Colorado Open Space Alliance, and from the Boulder Heritage Roundtable.

Koopmann will start his new position at the beginning of 2015.

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For more information, contact FAIR President Dan Lisco at (303) 717-1401.

The Farmers Alliance for Integrated Resources (FAIR) has made a fourth annual donation to a local emergency assistance organization in Boulder County.    On 12/1, FAIR donated $1000 to Emergency Family Assistance Assoc. (EFAA), which provides food, shelter, and basic necessities to low-income  individuals and families, seniors, and persons with disabilities.

In previous years, FAIR has donated several tons of food to the OUR Center in Longmont.

FAIR members represent a wide variety of farming and ranching operations in Boulder County.  The organization has sponsored and participated in farm tours, water tours, and the Boulder County Fair, with the goal of educating the public about responsible and sustainable farming in Boulder County, and coexistence among all types of farming operations.    FAIR’s member farmers contribute substantially to the local economy through crops and livestock feed that return as local bread, sugar, soy products, beer, livestock, and dairy products.

EFAA distributes over 12,000 pounds of food to 300-350 households weekly.  Current needs include:  Nonperishable canned protein items (includes meals, peanut butter, tuna, refried beans, chili), perishable fresh foods and dairy, canned fruit, baby food and breakfast cereal, baking mixes and condiments, toilet paper and diapers.    Currently EFAA is collecting holiday and winter items including coats, hats and gloves for children, and toys for middle-school age boys.

FAIR president and local farmer Dan Lisco said the organization, which represents the voice of local farmers in Boulder County, is proud to continue its tradition of assisting nonprofit organizations in Boulder County that help people meet basic needs.

For more information, contact Dan Lisco at (303) 717-1401, or Jane Uitti at (303) 818-8722

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Photo attached:  Local farmers join EFAA staff in the food pantry, at EFAA’s Boulder office.

From left to right:  Scott Schlagel, Liz Rowland, Ashley Rumble, and Chad Musick

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