Here is a glimpse of three of the six panelists. Check back next week for Pat Schoenecker, John Peterson and Larry Schultz. Read more about the event.

 Atina Diffley (Gardens of Eagan)

Eagan, MN www.gardensofeagan.com

Atina Diffley is an experienced organic vegetable farmer, educating consumers, farmers and policy makers about organic farming and related issues. She provides consulting services to organic vegetable farmers through her business, Organic Farming Works LLC. She presently serves on the board of Minnesota Institute of Sustainable Agriculture, as Secretary of the Midwest Organic Sustainable Education Services Board, and as Board President for the Organic Field School at Gardens of Eagan.

 

 

Jeff Jirik (Faribault Dairy Company, Inc.)

Faribault, MN www.faribaultdairy.com

Jeff grew up on a third generation dairy farm near Lonsdale, MN. He began working at the plant that is now Faribault Dairy on December 26, 1979 as a “Cheese Scraper.” He moved up in the cheese business holding multiple positions, and then in 1996 he accepted a position as VP National Operations for a transportation specialist.

In 2001, Jeff purchased the cheese caves with wife Brenda and then began Faribault Dairy Company, Inc. with two other friends who were former employees as well.  Today Faribault Dairy employs 26 full-time and several part-time employees. Their hand-made artisan cheeses have won national and international awards. Jeff is also a Certified Organic Farmer, producing corn, milling oats and food grade soybeans on the family farm. He is a member of the Sustainable Farming Association of MN and Slow Foods. He is active in the American Cheese Society and a Director of the North Central Cheese Industry Association. Still a licensed Wisconsin cheesemaker, he also belongs to the WI Specialty Cheesemakers Association and the WI Cheesemakers Association.

Byron Korus (Chef / Owner of Special Events Catering and ChuckWagon Catering)

Plymouth, MN www.mncatering.com

Byron is an entrepreneur and owner of Special Events Catering Company and Chuck Wagon Catering. A Certified Executive Chef, Certified Culinary Educator and Certified Sommelier, Byron is a member of the American Academy of Chefs. Byron shares his professional culinary credentials and real-world experience as a chef and educator in The Culinary Education Center’s Certification Program to be based in Burnsville.

Prior to joining The Culinary Education Center, Chef Korus was an instructor at the Art Institutes International School of Culinary Arts in Minneapolis for the past 20 years. Byron is active in teaching students about aspects of sustainability and the green movement.

Tags: ChuckWagon Catering, Faribault Dairy Company, Gardens of Eagan, organic vegtable farmer

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