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Agriculture Director, Franci Havemeister
Alaskan, YES - Bureaucrat, NO
We had only the beginning of what I believe will be an opportunity for a strong and successful working collaboration that will result in a much healthier Alaska food, beverage and bio products industry.
Franci told me that she will begin her tenure visiting the division's clients around the State of Alaska, getting to know them, their challenges and opportunities. She is especially anxious to hear directly from those around the State that have often gone without a champion.
While she was raised in Anchorage and then Palmer and has raised her own family in the Matanuska Valley, she has not previously worked for the State of Alaska and never had eyes on the position of Director of the Division of Agriculture or any other political or administrative role in government. So why Franci to lead the division?
Franci was fascinated with farms and particularly milk cows as a young person. After moving to the valley with her folks, she was immersed in a community filled with many farm families. Not surprisingly her fascination with cows and farms eventually introduced her to her future husband, the son of dairy farmers. Franci has seen, first hand, the challenges that Alaska dairy farmers experienced and wanted a change - a good and positive change. One where farmers not only made a descent living, but were respected for their hard work, knowledge and contribution to the social and economic fabric of Alaska.
You may remember the rally in June, a few days after Global Food Alaska, staged at the Havemeister Dairy Farm in Palmer where community came together to show their support for the farms after Matanuska Maid announced its closure. Franci was fully mobilized and was appointed to the new Agricultural Board. One of their new functions would be to identify a new Director and she was encouraged to apply for the position.
As she confidently states, "I have no preconceived ideas on specifically what the division should or should not do, but I do know I have to listen carefully and put our resources where we can see a return to sustainable and healthy businesses, growth and pride." She is believable in her charge to do well and that the reason is not self-serving, but serving of Alaskans agricultural well-being.
From our last issue of Collaborative INSIGHTS 8/1/07. The Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, State of Alaska announced Franci Havemeister as the new director of the state Division of Agriculture. Congratulations to Ms. Havemeister! The complete release: http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/ag/index.htm
[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]
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Alaska Sidestripe Shrimp
Fishermens Express
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Food & Related Events
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Global food and related tradeshows, conferences and events that encourage learning, access and business connections.
Anchorage Summers Farmers Market
Saturday's - All Summer
9am-2pm - 15th Avenue and Cordova Street
Anchorage, Alaska
Mat-Su/Alaska Farm Bureau
August 16, 2007
Palmer, Alaska
Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Alaska Roundtable Program
World Class Strategic Sourcing
August 20, 2007
BP Energy Center, Anchorage
Renewable Energy Fair
Chena Hot Springs
September 18th, 2007
Value Added Seafood 2007
October 1-2, 2007
London, England
Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Conference
October 9-12
Welches, Oregon
CO2-Emissions and the Environmental Debate
October 17th-19th
Barcelona, Spain
ANUGA
October 13-16, 2007
Cologne, Germany
Worldwide Food Expo
October 24-27, 2007
Chicago, Illinois
Secrets of The Chef
November 4, 6-10pm
Anchorage, Alaska
China Fisheries and Seafood Expo 2007
November 6-8, 2007
Dalian World Expo Center
Supply Chain Summit 2007
November 6, 2007
London, England
Busan International Seafood & Fisheries Expo
November 15-18, 2007
Busan, South Korea
Alaska Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
November 17, 2007
Anchorage, Alaska
Fancy Food Show
January 13-15
San Diego, California
Natural Products Expo West
March 13-16, 2008
Anaheim, California
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Alaska Grizzly Cam
McNeil River Falls, Alaska
Courtesy Pratt Museum, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, National Park Service, RealNetworks Inc. and SeeMore Wildlife Systems.
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