WORKING TOGETHER
Mission
Open & Local Coalition strengthens the community food systems of the greater Gallatin area by facilitating collaboration to cultivate a vibrant food economy, enhance food security and access to healthful community food, promote conservation of agricultural lands for future generations, and improve farmers’ access to affordable agricultural land.
Network
Open & Local is a cross-sector, grassroots network of professionals and community members. The people involved include farmers, ranchers, chefs, educators, non-profit professionals, food banks, dietitians, grocers, entrepreneurs, writers, researchers, health professionals, gardeners… and you?
Steering Members
Thomas Bass, Livestock Specialist, MSU Extension
Crystal Beckman, Conservation Program Manager, Gallatin Valley Land Trust
Sam Blomquist, Food & Agriculture Program Director, Prospera Business Network
Michal DeChellis, MFEI Program Manager, AERO
Tammy Howard, Agricultural Specialist, NCAT + Nana Louie Farm
Sophie Koopmeiners, Greenhouse Manager, Montana Roots
Julie Kunen, Director of Sustainability, Oatly North America
Amaia Sangroniz, Instructor & Advisor, MSU Sustainable Food Systems
Ali Thornton, Program Manager, Gallatin Valley Food Bank
Cally Ward, Garden Manager, HRDC
In 2023, Open & Local continued to emerge from pandemic disruptions.
Building from 2022 — the launch of our first website, the return of Celebration after 2 years, and new steering members — the Coalition focused on strengthening internal structures and priority activities.
Former Steering Members
Christina Angell, Root Cellar Foods • Nate Brown, Amaltheia Organic Dairy • Peter Brown, Senior Program Officer, AMB West Philanthropies • Dylan Fishmann, former Gallatin Valley young farmer (Foxglove Flower Farm) • Ryan Green, Happy Trash Can Curbside Composting • Alison Harmon, VP for Research and Economic Development, MSU • Marjorie Hennessy, formerly with HRDC • Roth Jordan, Corporate Chef and Partner, Montana Ale Works • Becca Kurnick, Edaphix • Stephanie Laporte Potts, former ED Gallatin Valley Farm to School • Lyra Leigh-Nedbor, Child Nutrition Program Manager, HRDC • Lori Petermann, senior staff, Community Food Coop • Susan Quarles, board member, Community Food Co-op • Jacy Rothschiller, Gallatin Valley Botanical • Phil Sarnoff, former ED, Gallatin Valley Farm to School • Mary Stein, Program Manager, Buffalo Nation Food System Initiative, MSU • Dylan Strike, former Gallatin Valley young farmer (Strike Farms) • Brendan Weiner, Conservation Director, Gallatin Valley Land Trust • Kate Burnaby Wright, ecologist, facilitator, consultant