Faces of VICFA
These are some of the folks that are important members to all of us in VICFA.
VICFA has a diverse membership, but we are all united in the same mission: To promote
and preserve unregulated direct farmer-to-consumer trade that fosters availability of locally
grown or home-produced food products.
We hope you enjoy learning about the people who help our mission become reality!
Richard Bean was VICFA's president for several years, and has represented VICFA at
the Acres-USA conference, as well as lobbied at the General Assembly, and many other venues.
Richard has been featured in several news magazines, including an article in The Hook and
in CVILLE Weekly. Richard also wrote an article for the Cooperative Living magazine
advancing the opposition to the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Richard is
a fixture at the Charlottesville Farmers Market, and provides local, organically-grown foods throughout
the central Virginia area. He was our closing speaker for the Fifth Annual Farm Food Voices
2009.
In Memory of Kathryn O. Russell, a dynamic, powerful, resourceful woman who
was fiercely proud, yet exhibited modesty, who was not boastful or bashful, but
who spoke truth to power. Her insatiable search for knowledge was not motivated
by some academic quest, but motivated by necessity-the needs of family, friends
and fellow farmers.
As a VICFA member, her leadership, and her confident and persistent voice as an
advocate for small independent farmers will be heard long after her voice is
silent. She lobbied in the Virginia General Assembly and in Congress on small
farm issues, was instrumental in the establishment of National Independent
Consumers and Farmers Association (NICFA), and united against the National Animal
Identification System (NAIS). She launched the Virginia Dairy Agisters Coalition
and Shareholder Association and was a chapter leader for Weston A. Price
Foundation.
It was Kathryn who emphasized the need to embrace consumers as part of the
mission of Virginia Independent Consumers and Farmers Association (VICFA). She
constantly forged relationships between farmers and consumers. She initiated and
organized the first Virginia Farm Food Voices in 2005, now an annual event that
draws hundreds of consumers, state and national legislators, and the media, all of
whom become more familiar with locally produced food sources.
We all have knowledge and information to share, but it was Kathryn's experience
and wisdom that we sought. Day in and day out, her work as a wife and mother, a
farmer, a teacher, a mentor, a writer, a political activist, and a food community
leader distinguished the life of this independent farmer. Her vitality and voice
has been extinguished all too soon and she leaves us with heavy hearts, but with
resolve to continue our purpose.
Larisa Sparrowhawk was the secretary for VICFA for the several years, and contributed a monthly
column to our newsletter, The VICFA VOICE. Larisa has moved to Oregon to be closer to her family,
and started an Oregon Independent Consumers and Farmers Association. Our loss is their gain. We
will sorely miss Larisa for her enthusiam, her outstanding work at all our VICFA events, and her
unfailing committment to VICFA's mission.