Local Love!

The first in our series of writings from market vendors!! We are a large part of your local fabric in Champaign County. We are passionate about what we do, how we live, our food philosophies, our dedication to the local struggle, the local food movement.

This morning, we welcome Brandi, of Women That Farm! They first applied to our market, back in August, and Charlene, Mark, and I were finally able to catch up with them, in November, at The Clark County Food Summit. They are a perfect example, as are all of our vendors, of the local producer struggle…and joy! Right now, they have select cuts of meat on the market, and will be expanding to offer assorted cuts of chicken, goat, and lamb, in the spring!!

Here we go…as we begin our ride through the exploration of what it means to be a local producer…

What it means to be a local producer: I am proud to be a local producer because I have gained the knowledge about cattle/livestock starting as a young kid growing up on a dairy farm. You learn from a very young age what it takes to make a farm operate, the financial side was learned after college, and boy oh boy there should be an award for the cash flow game for young producers You learn that vacations only come every once in a great while because you have clocked into a 24 hour/365 days a year job, you just never knew it!! And you will never truly clock out! The love, time and money you put into your stock only a farmer will ever understand, no matter how you try and put it into simple terms. No matter what people say our animals receive the best care around, our calves normally get better treatment than we provide for ourselves! But as local producers we all need to realize the need for EDUCATION. We have people, even in our rural communities, who do not understand what we do and how we do it. Lets not even get into what it takes (time and money investment) for us to do what we do. As a local producer we not only give our livestock the best of everything, but that also includes a humane end of life, lets face it this is where a lot of scrutiny comes into play. But not all animals will make it, no one has a zero death loss, but I guarantee we give them even the best at the end of life. Local doesn’t always mean more expensive, local means come and see where your product is produced :-)

What it means to be part of a local movement- To be part of a local movement is important because if we don’t let consumers know we are here they will continue to purchase from a chain and never know there is another option and normally a higher quality option closer to home. Not only another option but an option where we can explain what or what does NOT go into the finished product! There again to be part of a local movement=education!!!!!

What makes me passionate about our part in the local game- The number one reason I am passionate about our part in the local game is the simple fact that I have two young girls, and three young nieces. I never want them to grow up not learning what I grew up learning. Hard work never killed anyone, early mornings didn’t either, birthday’s and Christmas will be in the house after chores and what you learn now you will carry with you forever. Going off to college in Toledo and rooming with girls who didn’t know what corn and beans looked like in the field, to not really knowing where milk came from made me realize I grew up pretty privileged even though I didn’t have the newest car, best clothes, a pocket full of cash and someone paying for my college.

Having a part in the local food movement is important because we are not only proud of our end product, but how we get there and how we are raising our families!!!

Brandi Anderson- Women That Farm Quality Meats

“Opportunity is missed by most people

because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."