Lobby Day Update and Actions!

National Small Farm and Ranch Grassroots Lobby Day and Legislative Reception

Mark your calendars for March 16, 2011 and plan to make your voice heard at the 5th annual National Small Farm and Ranch Grassroots Lobby Day and Legislative Reception (Farm Food Voices 2011) on Capitol Hill.

Join a coalition of organizations, local food advocates, and small family farmers from across the country as we lobby our legislators in support of local food and food sovereignty. This is a terrific opportunity to educate our elected officials on how real food is raised and practical ways people can eat better and support local growers.

Never lobbied? No experience needed. We will host a training call prior to the event. Sign up for alerts at www.NICFA.com.

LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION

A local foods reception will highlight the day. Chefs and caterers from some of the finest restaurants in
our region will serve dishes showcasing the beauty and bounty of America's heritage farmers.

Kennedy Caucus Room, Russell Senate Office Building
12:00-2:00

Emceed by Joel Salatin, the reception will feature a number of distinguished speakers including:
• Jonathan Emord, Esq., Author of The Rise of Tyranny and Global Censorship of Health
Information, has defeated the FDA 6 times in federal court.
• Bryan Voltaggio, chef/owner of acclaimed VOLT restaurant and season six runner-up of the TV
series Top Chef
• Kristin Canty, producer and director of Farmageddon, the movie that depicts dwindling food
sovereignty in America and the extreme measures the state uses to attack farmers growing healthy
food
• Mark Lilly, founder and owner of Farm to Family bus, bringing fresh produce and farm food to people in central Virginia and transforming the American food landscape

GET INVOLVED!

• Contact your Representative and Senators and invite them to the reception. (You will need to obtain the email address of their scheduler and make a formal request through them.  Sample wording below)  Please email us at NICFA@earthlink.net once you have an appointment scheduled.
• Volunteer or donate – Donations and volunteers always welcome! Contact Liz Reitzig 301-807-
5063
• Plan to attend – Sign-up for NICFA Alerts to take part in the lobby day training and take the
message directly to your legislators!
• Spread the word – Blog, tweet, or share details of this event with your social network.
www.NICFA.com

Sample wording to request a meeting:

Dear (name of scheduler),

A group of _______your state here______ constituents would like to meet with Senator/Representative _______ on March 16, 2011 to discuss food and agriculture issues. There will be several _____state____ people present.  This meeting will be in conjunction with Farm Food Voices DC, the National Small Farm and Ranch Grassroots Lobby Day and Legislative Reception hosted by the National Independent Consumers and Farmers Association.  In addition, a number of ____State_____citizens will attend the reception to share a wonderful, local foods feast with our legislators.  We would like to invite Senator/Representative________  to attend the reception in The Kennedy Caucus room in the Senate Russell Building from 12:00-2:00.  If the Senator/Rep cannot attend, we request that his aide show up in his/her stead.

Thank you and I look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Name,
address...