Growing Our Regional Food Leadership: A Conversation on Community, Capacity & Funding
Join a welcoming, hybrid gathering to connect with neighbors, learn what the Food Council is building, and get a sneak preview of our upcoming funding + AI capacity-building training series.
Registration
Registration is required. Please register using the Zoom link below (even if you plan to attend at a site location).
Date: April 7th, 2026
Time: 4:00–6:00 p.m.
Format: Hybrid (in-person site locations + Zoom)
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Inclement Weather Plan: If weather makes travel unsafe, the event will shift to 100% virtual via Zoom. Registered participants will receive updates by email.
Choose Your Nearest Site Location
We’re hosting this event in five site locations at the same time, connected by a shared virtual program. The goal is to attend the site nearest you to build relationships locally while still participating in a regional conversation. Due to room capacity limits, each location can host up to 20 people in-person. Let us know if you're bringing a guest with you when you register.
Site Locations
Site Location 1: Morris
Morris Public Library (meeting room)
102 E 6th St Morris, MN 56267
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Site Location 2: Moorhead
Room 8 Family Service Center 715 11th St. N Moorhead, MN 56560
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Site Location 3: Staples
Sourcewell Office
202 12th St NE Staples, MN 56479
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Site Location 4: St. Cloud
Stearns County Service Center
3301 County Road 138 Waite Park 56387
Room 1104C/D
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Site Location 5: Fergus Falls
Dead Lake Room, Otter Tail County Government Services Center 560 West Fir Avenue West Fergus Falls, MN 56537
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Prefer to join virtually? You can attend fully online through Zoom (register above).
About the Event
What is this gathering?
This is a welcoming, community-based conversation for people who care about local food systems, agriculture, economic resilience, and community well-being. It’s designed to help residents and partners:
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Learn what the Food Council does and how community members shape its work
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Connect with others who are working on (or impacted by) food and agriculture issues
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Share what you’re seeing in your community — needs, barriers, and opportunities
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Get a practical sneak preview of how AI tools can support funding identification and grant writing
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Explore ways to get involved as a Food Council member or partner
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No prior experience with AI or grant writing is required.
Who should attend?
​This event is for:
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Farmers, producers, and food businesses
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Nonprofit and community organization staff
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Public health, education, and local government partners
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Economic development and community development professionals
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Residents who care about food access, affordability, and local agriculture
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Anyone curious about funding opportunities and capacity-building tools
Why We're Hosting This
A recruitment + capacity-building preview
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The Food Council is actively welcoming new members and partners. This event is both an introduction and an invitation — a chance to learn, ask questions, and see whether deeper involvement (and upcoming training opportunities) feels like a fit.
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Later this year, the Food Council will offer a capacity-building training series focused on teaching people how to use AI tools for funding identification and grant writing. This event includes a short preview of what that training will look like.
Agenda
What to Expect
4:00–4:15 p.m. — Welcome & Arrival
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Grab something to eat and sign in
4:15–4:40 p.m. — Inside the Food Council
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Why this gathering matters now
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Overview of regional food system priorities (West Central Regional Food Plan + current funding/future assessment)
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What we do
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Current initiatives
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How community voices shape our work
4:40–5:00 p.m. — Sneak Preview: Funding & AI Tools
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Real example of funding identification
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Demonstration of how AI can support grant research and drafting
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What’s coming in the full training series
5:00–5:45 p.m. — Small Group Discussion (Site-Based)
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Quick introductions (name, where you live, what brought you here)
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What funding or capacity challenges are you facing?
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Where do you see opportunity in our region?
5:45–6:00 p.m. — Invitation & Next Steps
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How we’ll use what we heard today (and how we’ll share it back with attendees)
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How to get involved in the Food Council
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Upcoming training series
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Membership pathway (including the member application link)
