KRC celebrates board member Karen Willey. Karen Willey is a PhD scientist and 3rd District Douglas County Commissioner who manages a 115 acre farm in eastern Kansas raising grass-fed beef cattle while restoring native pasture. She also has experience in no-till crops, cover crops, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, turkeys and bees. As an entrepreneur, Karen has created and led a variety of successful businesses including an engineering and manufacturing business, Bluestem Machine Works, Inc., with her husband and business partner Scott Eudaly. Recently Karen and friend Brad Bradley have created FarmTender, a land-linking website seeking to connect regenerative farmers with eco-friendly landowners.

The group talked through the basic characteristics of a purchasing cooperative, shared reflections on the group purchasing model and identified individual strengths and common challenges among stores in the room.

With over 90% of the food assistance provided by the government through a variety of nutrition programs, a strong Nutrition Title in the Farm Bill is critical to ensuring that people have enough nutritious food to lead healthy, productive lives.