The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

The Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO) announced in late February that one of its affiliated programs, Abundant Montana (AMT), has expanded its team by adding several regional Local Food Coordinators (LFCs). In Blaine County, that person is Randi Fetter. Fetter began her new role as Nakoda Aaniiih Economic Development Corporation Food Sovereignty/Local Food Coordinator in September 2021.

Located across the state, LFCs act as "boots on the ground" AMT representatives. Currently, AMT has LFCs in five regions: Central Montana/Great Falls, Flathead Valley/Glacier Country, Five Valleys/Southwest MT, Gallatin Valley/Yellowstone country, and the Fort Belknap Reservation.

A member of the Assiniboine Nation, Fetter holds certification as a Master Gardener and is currently pursuing a business degree. She names bookkeeping as her passion but also enjoys sewing and baking. "My Indian name is White Snow Woman, and I am a proud mother of two daughters and four step-children. In my spare time, I quilt the star blankets that my mother sews, and I love baking cake pops, which is an art in itself. I am excited to have joined the AERO team and am excited to share my culture and explore the thought of food sovereignty in our area."

Fetter's preliminary duties are to maintain the Lodge Pole community garden, orchard, and walipini greenhouse. She will also help to create support systems for individuals and families growing gardens in their own homes as well as provide access to as much locally grown food as possible.

A walipini style greenhouse is essentially a pit greenhouse, or a hole dug in the ground with polyethylene glazing laid over it. The word walipini means 'place of warmth' in the Aymara language of an indigenous Bolivian tribe where this style of greenhouse is used.

"The aspect I like most about my job is being able to network with the community and being able to create support systems since we need to try different outlets for keeping our reservation on a positive path," Fetter stated.

About Fetter and the AMT program, Hillary Maxwell, an agent with the Fort Belknap Reservation Extension Office, expressed pleasure. "She's very humble, but this is a great enhancement for our programming."

The mission of AMT is to educate consumers about the value of local food and to support food and farming entrepreneurs in building successful, well-connected, and thoughtful businesses. Ultimately, the goal is that LFCs become recognized and valued within their regions as a local food information resource, expert, and business connector. These individuals support local efforts that are building community food businesses and food webs where they live.

In addition, LFCs actively seek out opportunities to educate and promote the value of local food and the AMT marketing and media hub, particularly as a means to help local food and farming businesses succeed with increased sales and connections. They get to know the local food "scene," including identifying stories that matter to the community, which AMT can then share across the state.

AMT believes that an investment in Montana's local food future ensures that Montanans will be more food-secure. Their website states: "Local food means we know the quality of what we eat and its impact on our land. Local food means more jobs and money that stays in Montana, re-investing in our communities."

AMT began as a print directory in 1995, linking Montanans with local food across the state. Currently, AMT has over 800 listings on their website (abundantmontana.com). With this resource, consumers can locate farms and ranches, farmers' markets, food pantries, community gardens, grocery stores, restaurants, and other institutions that provide local food, as well as the processors, distributors, institutions, and organizations that support Montana food systems. By year's end the organization anticipates having a directory with 1000 or more listings and aims to double that figure by 2023.

"Abundant Montana connects all the dots of the food system and makes it easy for anyone to find and choose local," Fetter explained.