In order to promote a vibrant community and personal well-being, the Heartland Local Food Network (HLFN) will use public outreach, community partnerships, and policy education to foster a dynamic food system that is: sustainable, local, and accessible.

After participating in one of the key events at the 2008 Illinois Sustainable Living and Wellness Expo, a group of concerned citizens and farmers came together to address the need for a local food system. Together, they formed the Heartland Local Food Network.

HLFN has worked to further the cause of local foods through a number of projects and partnerships with state and local organizations. In partnership with State Farm Bank, The Downtown Bloomington Association, and The West Side Revitalization Project, HLFN launched the program to accept LINK cards at the Downtown Bloomington Farmer’s Market (DBFM). HLFN has also led the effort to develop a how-to guide for other farmer’s markets that interested in accepting LINK cards.

HLFN also coordinated Fresh Shares, a program established as part of the LINK at the DBFM program in 2009. This program was intended to help bring healthy, local sustainably produced foods to underserved members of the community. In 2009, as part of a State Farm Bank grant, coupons for $5 free food at the DBFM were distributed to recipients of the local food pantries.

Buy Fresh Buy Local is a marketing program designed to connect local producers with area restaurants, retailers, institutions and consumers. In 2009 HLFN partnered with the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, a not-for-profit organization based in Springfield, IL, to develop a Bloomington/Normal hub of the Central Illinois Chapter of Buy Fresh Buy Local. The Illinois Stewardship Alliance is the sponsor of the Central Illinois Chapter and the fiscal agent for the Bloomington/Normal hub.

HLFN has drawn on the energy, commitment and expertise of its volunteers to make contributions to the local and regional communities in other ways. HLFN volunteers have furthered the cause of local food by delivering presentations at community organizations, providing direction on community projects and serving on committees such as the Food System Working Group that was part of the Town of Normal Sustainability Initiative.

In January of 2010 HLFN completed the process to become a not-for-profit organization. HLFN has a fund with the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation to provide the benefits of 501c3 status.

Marsha Veninga, President - A graduate of the University of Florida and the University of Minnesota, Marsha is certified secondary science teacher. After teaching for 9 years at Lincoln Middle School in Schiller Park, Illinois, Marsha become a full-time mother. She, her husband and daughter moved from Chicago to Bloomington in 2005. Marsha became interested in the local, sustainable food movement after years of observing what school children ate for lunch. This eye-opening experience was followed by the need to read food labels, some with dozens of difficult-to-pronounce ingredients, required to identify foods safe for her food-allergic daughter. She is one of the original founders of HLFN and is now serving as President. Marsha also volunteers at Washington School in Bloomington as the Science Club Coordinator and leads a group of 1st graders in the Jr. Great Books curriculum.

Eric Marshall, Secretary - Eric Marshall has many years of involvement as a volunteer with Salvation Army’s Safe Harbor and the Harvest of Hope partnership of local food pantries. He is a graduate of Illinois State University, the 2008-09 class of Central Illinois Farm Beginnings, and a participant in the recently formed Central Illinois Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CI-CRAFT). Eric has a small farm in rural Heyworth with grassfed beef, a young apple orchard, two beehives, and native tallgrass prairie. His other farm interests are alternative energy and rainwater collection. Eric5899@gmail.com.

Jennifer Williams, Treasurer - Jennifer Williams is a graduate of Illinois State University. Jennifer has stayed in Bloomington-Normal. She has been in banking for over 20 years. She currently works at State Farm in the Bank Operations Center.
Jennifer’s volunteer involvement has included St. Jude and Girl Scouts. She is a new member of HLFN and is now serving as Treasurer.

Terra Brockman - Terra Brockman is a speaker and author, most recently of The Seasons on Henry’s Farm, which takes the reader through the many “micro-seasons” on her brother Henry’s sustainable, extremely diverse vegetable farm in central Illinois. A member of a remarkable farming family, Terra is a nuanced observer of, fierce advocate for, and gifted writer and speaker about sustainable agriculture. Terra is also the founder of The Land Connection, an educational nonprofit working to ensure that more Illinois farmland will grow local foods for our tables. Her website is www.terrabrockman.com.

Elizabeth Guzaldo - Elizabeth grew up in the Chicago suburbs tending her family's garden. She has been an employee of Bloomington District 87 since 1998 and is currently a Special Education Teacher at Bloomington High School. Elizabeth believes that food feeds the soul and creates community. This is evident in her backyard, support of CSAs and volunteering/internships during the summer months at local farms. The next step for Elizabeth is to bring this knowledge and passion to schools in Central Illinois, by implementing the curriculum of Farm to School and building communities via school gardens.

John Kahle - Mr. Kahle is a Senior Vice President with Busey Bank and oversees the bank in LeRoy, Illinois. Mr. Kahle has over 32 years of banking as a commercial lender and farm manager. He is an Accredited Farm Manager with the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Mr. Kahle was reared in McLean County and received his BA from the University of Illinois. Mr. Kahle’s main responsibility is lending to businesses and individuals, primarily in the ag sector. He also has farming interests in McLean, Christian, and Shelby counties. Hobbies include sports and gardening. Mr. Kahle has a wife and three children and lives in rural Bloomington.

Mark O’Rourke - Mark O’Rourke is a life-long student of agriculture. Raised on a local small family farm, attended Illinois State University in the Agriculture Science program prior to returning to the farm. In 1992 Mark joined Peace Corps to serve in Nepal as an agricultural extensionist promoting a local seed saving program. His education in agriculture continued after Peace Corps as he pursued a Masters in Agribusiness. Mark currently lives in the Holder area with his wife Rita who together operate the O’Rourke Family Garden. Mark is one of the founding members and is currently serving as Vice-President of the Heartland Local Food Network Inc.

Elaine Sebald - Elaine Sebald has coordinated the Downtown Bloomington Farmers’ Market for 13 years and was one of the original members of Heartland Local Food Network, Inc. She has had the opportunity to participate in numerous local food projects and activities related to community education and outreach, support for local food entrepreneurs, and social justice. She is a 20-year employee of State Farm Insurance Companies, with a professional background in research and analysis, insurance and risk management, and strategic planning. Elaine believes a thriving local food system is an essential element needed to build and sustain a thriving community – that a robust local food system connects members of a community in the same way that preparing and eating meals together connects members of a family.