Agenda
Day One
June 22
The Fontaine Hotel
11:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Registration Open at The Fontaine Hotel
12:45 – 4:30 PM
Heins Family Farms Dairy Farm Tour
The Symposium will begin with an optional tour to Heins Family Farms in Higginsville, Missouri. Transportation will be provided to and from The Fontaine Hotel.
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Harvester’s Food Bank Tour
The symposium will launch with an optional tour of Harvesters – The Community Food Network in Kansas City. Transportation by bus will be provided to and from The Fontaine Hotel.
6:00 – 7:30 PM
Welcome Reception at The Fontaine Hotel
Day Two
June 23
DFA HQ
7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Registration Desk Open
7:15 AM – 8:00 AM
Travel from Hotel to DFA Headquarters by Bus
8:00 AM – 8:50 AM
Breakfast at Dairy Farmers of America Headquarters
8:50 AM – 9:15 AM
Symposium Kickoff
9:15 AM – 9:30 AM
Welcome Remarks from Symposium Leadership Team
The leadership team will speak to the importance of getting more fresh dairy into food banks.
9:30 AM – 9:55 AM
Opening Keynote with Chris Cifelli
Chris Cifelli will deliver opening remarks on the importance of fresh dairy to healthy nutrition at all ages.
10:00 AM – 10:25 AM
Dairy is Different
Speakers will introduce the unique nature of dairy as food, exploring both the diverse ownership of the value chain and the challenges of farm-direct sourcing.
10:25 – 10:45 AM
Speed Networking Round 1
Attendees will meet each other and begin forming collaborative partnerships across organizations.
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Break
11:00 AM – 11:15 AM
Feeding America Dairy 101
Members of the Feeding America team will share successful models of dairy sourcing and offer thought starters for the day.
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
USDA Dairy Programming
USDA experts will introduce current programs for delivering dairy including TEFAP, Dairy Donation, and CFAP Farmers to Families Food Box Program. This session will emphasize the importance of taking proactive action in getting dairy to the people who need it most.
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Lunch
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM
Models for Delivering Dairy
Guest speakers will participate in a panel-style discussion that draws on inspiring case studies to discuss potential innovations in dairy delivery that move beyond the “donation-only” model.
1:45 PM – 2:00 PM
Speed Networking Round 2
Attendees will share resources and knowledge with each other to bring more fresh dairy to food banks.
2:00 PM – 2:10 PM
Break
2:10 PM – 2:40 PM
Data-Informed Dairy Project with Kathleen Stress
Kathleen Stress will introduce the Feeding New York State Boundless Collaboration Dairy Research project and discuss how its data-gathering efforts informed a series of projects including establishing PACT units for rural distribution.
2:40 PM – 3:00 PM
Problem-Finding Session
Attendees will work in small groups to identify clear opportunities to problem-solve and increase the volume of fresh dairy at food banks.
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Spark Time
Attendees will work together in teams of 3-5 to identify resources they have or might need to address the problems identified in the Problem-Finding Session.
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Table Reflection Time
Attendees will end day two by finding specific, actionable areas where they can make change after the symposium ends.
4:00 PM – 4:05 PM
Closing Remarks by Symposium Leadership Team
4:05 PM – 5:30 PM
Reception Hosted by DFA
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Return to Hotel by Bus
Day Three
June 24
The Fontaine Hotel
7:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Registration Desk open at The Fontaine Hotel
7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Luggage Storage Available
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Breakfast and Table Networking
8:30 AM – 8:50 AM
Why This Matters
Attendees will have the opportunity to volunteer to share their vision of the importance of getting more fresh dairy into food banks.
8:50 AM – 9:00 AM
One Next Step
Attendees will identify one specific, actionable next step they can commit to that will bring the work of the symposium to life.
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Allies and Partners
Using their “One Next Step” Attendees will mingle to connect with partners and allies pursuing steps that are related to theirs. Based on these connections, attendees form teams and develop an action plan to present in the following session.
9:30 AM – 10:15 AM
Group Presentations
Attendees will share their action plan presentations in their small groups, then vote on one presentation from each group to forward to the full symposium in the following session.
10:15 AM – 10: 30 AM
Break
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM
Action Presentations to Full Symposium
Erika Thiem will moderate presentations from every group, leading discussion of how many different solutions can work together to drive more fresh dairy to food banks.
11:15 AM – 11:30 AM
Commitment Time
Individually, or in the teams from their presentations, attendees finalize an “action plan” identifying next steps they find promising and the specific plans they will commit to.
11:30 AM – 11:40 AM
Wrap-up Remarks
Sam Schwoeppe will deliver Wrap-Up Remarks focusing on future expectations, commitments, and accountability.
11:40 AM – 12:00 PM
Closing Keynote with Erika Thiem
Travel Information
Location
The symposium will take place at The Fontaine (901 W 48th Pl) and at DFA Headquarters (1405 N 98th St, Kansas City, KS 66111).
Lodging
We have a hotel block secured at The Fontaine (901 W. 48th Place, Kansas City, MO 64112). All attendees are responsible for booking their own travel and hotel rooms.
When calling to make your reservation, please mention the Dairy Nourishes America- Feeding America’s Midwest Symposium in order to receive a discounted rate of $169 per night. Please call (816) 753-8800 to make your reservation. You may also book online by clicking here.
Please be sure to reserve your room prior to Wednesday, June 15 in order to receive the discounted rate!
Meals
Breakfast and lunch will be provided on June 23, and breakfast will be provided on June 24 (with a light evening reception on both June 22 and June 23).
Health and Safety Protocols
Important information regarding your time at the symposium
Overview
All attendees must sign the Health & Safety agreement at registration which includes full details about what will be required. There will also be specific emails regarding Health & Safety requirements in advance of the event, which all attendees will need to review in order to stay updated on the latest requirements for attending the event.
In accordance with Feeding America’s COVID-19 Policy:
Vaccinations
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Feeding America encourages all participants to be fully vaccinated (as defined by the Centers for Disease Control) against the COVID-19 virus prior to attending a Feeding America convening; however, admittance to a convening requires either vaccination or testing.
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To prove your vaccination status, you will be required to submit either a copy of your vaccination card, medical record or a state’s vaccination certification. Proof of vaccination includes either a single administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two administrations of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Boosters are encouraged but not required.
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To prove a negative, professionally administered PCR COVID test (not a home test), you will be required to provide a copy of the negative test dated within 72 hours of the start of the convening.
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No participant will be allowed entry to a convening without providing such documentation as instructed in meeting protocols which will be communicated in advance of the meeting. Feeding America, or any third-party administrator, will not maintain a copy of vaccination or testing records past the end of the convening.
Masking
While masking is optional, Feeding America supports participants who choose to wear masks for their personal protection. Feeding America will have masks available at the convenings for the convenience of participants. Should the CDC guidelines change, Feeding America will require all participants to return to wearing masks for the protection of themselves and others. In such cases, participants will be required to wear KN-95 masks, N-95 masks or surgical masks; however, participants may wear cloth masks if they include a nose wire and provide multiple layers of tightly woven, breathable fabric. All masks should be secure around the sides of the face and nose, with no gaps, and be clean and dry. Presenters who are more than six feet away from their audience may remove their masks. Additionally, participants who are actively eating or drinking may remove their masks for that specified period of time.
