Wow what an event! We were so humbled and honored to share a special evening with some of our favorite people; farmers, gardeners, chefs, community organizers, and all of our supporters, members, friends and volunteers. It’s always hard deciding only two people to receive recognition, when there are so many amazing people in this community that step up every day to make our food system work better. This year we focused on farmers, the very people that provide the sustenance we need each day.
Thank you so much to Chef Ashely Rella for curating and executing a scrumptious local meal! Deep gratitude for our volunteers that made the event happen from start to finish helping set up, cook, serve, clean dishes and clean up the event hall. Thank you so very much to these lovely folks: Dina, Jesse, James, Emily, Galen, Lauren, Richard, Krin, Shani and Franklin. Special shout out to Fred Kemp Photography for capturing our evening!
Our local business sponsors were critical to helping make this event a success. We appreciate their efforts to re-invest in the community through charitable donations to organizations like ours.
Without further ado, here are the awardees for the 2019 Local Food Awards!
The Anderson Family
Initially we reached out to Alvin Butler, and he insisted that instead of just honoring him alone, we recognize the multigenerational Anderson family’s farming legacy. Kenny Camp and Alvin accepted the award on behalf of their family. They are cousins sharing the same grandfather, Oliver Anderson.
Shortly before the end of the Civil War, when their great-great-grandfather was freed from slavery, the family remained in the local area, purchasing land that has now been in the family for 4 generations. The Anderson family owned about 100 acres, working for themselves and other local large, white landowners.
Kenny raises organic crops on some of the same farmland, while Alvin raises cattle in Micanopy in addition to being a professional business and athletic counselor. Alvin and Kenny are the only local members of the family who still actively engage in the farming business. Alvin received a Best Management Practices Award from the Suwannee River Water Management District in 2010 for his cattle management practices. “Raising cattle today has provided some real respect for the hard work done by the family in the past and for those folks who value the simple lifestyle.”
Both are concerned about the future of their family’s land and legacy. In 1920 Black farmers made up 14% of all farmers in America, and owned 16 million acres of farmland. Today Black farmers make up less than 1% of U.S. farmers. “I don’t know what’s going to become of the farm. I guess it’s something that I can’t really worry about because I don’t have control over that.”
Cody Galligan
Cody grew up in the suburbs of South Florida, where mangoes and coconuts grew on every corner but farms did not exist. After moving to Gainesville to attend massage school, Cody discovered farming as a career by volunteering and then working with Pat and Susan Ross at Sandhill Farm. During his time managing Sandhill Farm, Cody was fortunate to find land that was affordable and close to town, making the leap into starting his own farm (and also having another child simultaneously).
Nurtured by Cody’s passion for building soil and growing sustainably, Siembra Farm has now been growing for 8 years. He continues to experiment with new crops and techniques to reduce the impact of farming on the Earth. Siembra Farm employs 6 full time farmers and sells at 3 weekly markets as well as to local restaurants.
Cody has managed to engage the local community more than other farms and farmers we’ve seen, with plentiful volunteer days, harvest parties, farm tours, and get this….speed weeding parties! Cody started an incredible garden at Williams Elementary School and leads a weekly garden club for 15 students. His farm neighbor and friend Jordan Brown says, “When we moved to Gainesville, Cody was one of the biggest helps I had. We dug ditches together, I stole his tools, and he was always there to encourage and help me. Farming can be depressing sometimes, and knowing that someone else is there for you who truly understands is huge. It has been a blessing to have such a close friend and neighbor farming right next door.”
