FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 7, 2007

Contact:  Sandy Courtnage

From the Farm Gate to Your Dinner Plate

Join the Montana Farmers Union’s Bus Tour

GREAT FALLS, MT (July 31, 2007) – Montana Farmers Union’s 8^th annual ‘Farm to Table’ consumer awareness tour is scheduled for August 22, 2007.  This year the tour goal is educating consumers about agriculture and tangibly illustrating its many uses.  The tour will showcase Montana’s number one industry for educators, business people, members of the media, and public officials.

The tour begins and ends in Ronan, with participants traveling by bus to all tour stops.  This year’s agenda again includes a stop at a working farm, as well as visits to the Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center, and the Northwest Agricultural Experiment Station in Creston.  Guest speakers will make presentations while traveling between destinations.

A ‘farmer’s share’ lunch will be served at the farm, where participants will learn how much income an agricultural producer receives out of the total cost of the lunch.  Special educational agricultural activity packets will be available for tour participants who work with youth. As in the past, education renewal credits from the Office of Public Instruction will be available for teachers who participate, and curriculum ideas will be a part of the program.

Pre-registration is required with a nominal fee of $10.00 being charged.  To register call the Montana Farmers Union office at 406-452-6406 or 1-800-234-4071.  The Farm to Table Tour is made possible by a grant from the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee and the Montana Farmers Union.

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2007 Farm –to-Table Tour

Flathead Valley

August 22, 2007

Tentative schedule

8:00 AM            Registration

                        Coffee & donuts at Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center, Ronan

Welcome, MFU President Alan Merrill

Cheryl Tuck, Information Specialist, MT Wheat & Barley Committee

8:30                Tour of Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center

-         Skip Cleek, Plant Manager

10:00              Load bus and travel to the Dan & Jan Lake Farm

10:30              Arrive for Farm Tour

NOON             Catered lunch at the farm

                        Keynote speakers:

-         Peggy Springer, Director, MT Agricultural Statistics Service

-         Ron de Yong, Director, MT Department of Agriculture           

1:30 PM            Load bus for ride to Northwestern Agricultural Experiment Station, Creston

                        Bus speakers

-         Sonny Harrell, MFU Education Director, “Farmers Share” presentation

-         Joel Clairmont, Deputy Director, MT Dept. of Agriculture

2:30                Arrive at NW Agricultural Experiment Station, Creston

-         Dr. Bob Stougaard, tour and presentation

4:30                Return trip to Ronan

-         Brian Gion, CEO, MT Cooperative Development Center

-         Paul Hubbard, Community, Food and Agriculture Coalition, Missoula

The Farm to Table Tour is sponsored by Montana Farmers Union and funded through a grant from the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee.