Dane County  
Minutes - Final Unless Amended by  
Committee  
Food Council  
Consider:  
Who benefits? Who is burdened?  
Who does not have a voice at the table?  
How can policymakers mitigate unintended consequences?  
Wednesday, September 21, 2022  
5:00 PM  
Virtual Zoom Meeting: See top of agenda for  
instructions on how to join the webinar or call in by  
phone  
A. Call To Order  
Full introductions postponed until technical difficulties are addressed such that other  
members can join. During full introductions, Josie Capps was introduced as a Youth  
Governance Program high school student representative on the Food Council.  
10 -  
Present  
Supervisor MICHELE RITT, Vice Chair SHEENA TESCH, BILL WARNER, MARCIA  
CATON CAMPBELL, DANIEL CORNELIUS, SHIRLEY NENNIG, ABHA THAKKAR,  
Supervisor RICHELLE ANDRAE, Supervisor ERICA JANISCH, and JOSIE CAPPS  
OTHERS PRESENT: Jess Guffey Calkins  
CORNELIUS and JANISCH Join later in meeting  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
7.20.2022 MINUTES FOOD COUNCIL  
2022  
MIN-292  
Attachments: 2022 MIN-292  
A motion was made by TESCH, seconded by CATON CAMPBELL, that the Minutes  
be approved. The motion carried by a voice vote 7-0. YGP vote 1-0  
C. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda  
D. Reports to Committee  
Council Discussion  
- 2023 DCFC Budget – Guffey Calkins  
Looked at draft doc for budget amendment proposal requesting funding for the USDA  
Regional Food Systems Partnership (RFSP) grant. RITT willing to sponsor; Josie may  
help with the process. Include language that this is contingent upon receiving the USDA  
grant. EANR budget meetings are 10/13 and 10/25. If needed, can convene a short  
DCFC meeting in advance of EANR meetings to take an action on the budget  
amendment proposal.  
- Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future - Community of Learning Practice –  
THAKKAR  
Members shared ideas with THAKKAR for preparing a Dane County cultural offering  
presentation.  
CORNELIUS and JANISCH joined during this discussion.  
ANDRAE left the meeting.  
- Meeting Format  
Members had a discussion options and preferences around continuing with a zoom-only  
format, or incorporating hybrid meetings.  
RITT left the meeting.  
Work Group Reports  
- Food Access, Relief & Economic Support  
No report. CATON CAMPBELL will likely need to step off this group  
- Food Plan – CATON CAMPBELL  
Drafting budget amendment. Anticipating USDA release of Regional Food Systems  
Partnership grant in spring. Determine who will be primary applicant.  
THAKKAR left the meeting.  
- Regional Agriculture & Food Sovereignty - TESCH  
Farmland Preservation Task Force has been created through City of Madison. Recent  
discussion of DATCP Safe Wisconsin Produce program. Development plan for Raemisch  
farm was passed. Look at Dane County land available for farming, even if privately sold –  
compile and share this info with growers seeking land. USDA funding for Increasing Land  
Capital and Market Access. Consider drafting a letter to ask for Oct deadline to be  
extended.  
Staff Reports  
- City of Madison – George Reistad  
No report  
- Public Health Madison & Dane County – Nick Heckman  
No report  
- Dane County – Jess Guffey Calkins  
Dane County COVID Food Pantry Aid Assistance – due Sept 30  
Dane County is funding a one-time grant opportunity with a portion of the county’s  
American Rescue Plan allocation. The purpose of this grant funding is to provide support  
to food pantries to allow them to expand the purchase of food to meet increased demand.  
https://providers.dcdhs.com/Partnering-With-Dane/Dane-County-COVID-Food-Pantry-Aid-  
Assistance  
FEED Summit Nov 14-15, 2022, virtual. For startup food business entrepreneurs;  
organized by UW-Madison Extension Community Food Systems Program.  
https://foodsystems.extension.wisc.edu/2022/09/19/2022-feed-summit-be-a-thriving-food-  
entrepreneur/  
Fall 2022 Green Thumb Gardening Series: Planning/Techniques for the Organic  
Vegetable Garden – starting Nov 1.  
Regular Business Reports  
- Community Gardens – CATON CAMPBELL  
Gardens starting to wind down.  
E. Announcements  
CORNELIUS – REAP Food Group Harvest Dinner will be held at Dan’s Farm (Yowela  
Farms) this Saturday, 9/24 (sold out). Check Yowela Farms website for upcoming info  
about a Family Harvest event in mid-October: https://yowelafarms.com/  
Anderson Farm County Park will have a potluck this Sat 9/24, from 11-1.  
F. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
Oct 19 unless needing to meet sooner to take action on the budget amendment.  
G. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law  
H. Adjourn  
A motion was made by CATON CAMPBELL, seconded by TESCH, that the Meeting  
be adjourned. The motion carried unanimously 6-0, YGP vote 1-0  
Minutes Respectfully Submitted by Jess Guffey Calkins; Pending council review.