A night of education and inspiration (and a lot of pizza)
65 owners joined River Market’s staff and directors for the co-op’s 2023 Annual Meeting. Hosted by Lift Bridge Brewing Stillwater and catered by Victoriano’s Pizza, owners were treated to a night of updates on the co-op, results of this year’s edition of the board election, and a round table discussion from the coop’s 2023 grant recipients!
As owners walked in to the meeting, they were greeted with a slideshow of our visits to the 3 local farms that were awarded grant funding. The crisp Autumn air complemented the selection of beers from our gracious hosts at Lift Bridge .The warm communal seating in the brewery gave everyone a sense of togetherness and synergy for what portended to be an Annual Meeting of great significance. Mead Stone, Treasurer of the Board and former River Market GM, was first to speak with updates on the coop’s financial standing and complimentary words on the performance of the GM and staff. He was followed by GM Sara Morrison, who demonstrated for all in attendance how each dollar is spent and amortized in the coop’s spending. “The Penny Game” highlights just how fine the margins are for a locally owned food store of River Market’s size and stature, with additional information on how these pennies of the dollar all go toward benefiting customers, owners, and the St. Croix community at large.
Board President David Mickelson rounded off the featured board speakers with updates on areas the coop can grow and possibilities they can explore. He also sent off some of our valued members of the board and local volunteers that have contributed and embodied the coop spirit over the years who are now leaving the community. Finally, aided by a drumroll, Board Secretary Luke Engel announced the winners of this year’s board elections.
The highlight of the evening was provided by the grant recipients, who enraptured the crowd while discussing all facets of their farm operations. Moderated by board Vice President Angela Hauge, each farm got their time to shine for this wide-ranging discussion. Together, Cimarron Community Farm, StrongHeart Farms, and Foxtail Farm all spoke openly and genuinely on their farming philosophies, the impact grant funding has had on their farm, and the fulfillment they feel by practicing healthy, sustainable, and ethical production of high-quality food. These farmers are truly a credit to the profession and practice, and their clear dedication toward their ends was appreciated by the crowd, who met them with a round of applause, with some members personally speaking to them after the roundtable.
Everyone went home well-fed and happy thanks to our neighbors at Victoriano’s Pizza, with salad provided by our very own grant recipients at Foxtail Farms. If the following year at all resembles 2023’s Annual Meeting, it should be a roaring success for owners, staff, farmers, and community alike.
