Robert Karp Becomes
PFI’s First Executive Director
As if a vibrant Annual Meeting and record-breaking membership
wasn’t enough good news for PFI, the board named Robert Karp to be
PFI’s first Executive Director at their February 8 meeting. (Read
more about Robert Karp in his article on the next page.) In a letter
to the membership soon thereafter, PFI President Colin Wilson wrote
“…the board believes that Robert will do an excellent job. He is
familiar with PFI’s mission, history, staff, board, members, and
partners in sustainable agriculture. Robert has already served as a
capable and respected PFI employee for over three years. I am very
impressed, not only by Robert’s insights and perceptions, but also
with his strategies for dealing with some of PFI’s present
challenges…. I know that you will want to join the board and staff
in giving him your full support.” Indeed!
Back in January, the search was still on for such a leader when
over 350 people attended the Annual Meeting and Winter Workshops in
Ames at the Gateway Holiday Inn Conference Center. Fred Kirschenmann
gave the keynote address, called “Farmer’s - Who Needs them?”
(See p. 4.) Participants chose from over eighteen concurrent
workshops and cob rolls. (Summaries available, p. 18.) The Iowa
Bounty Buffet featuring items produced on PFI farms was complimented
by Governor Vilsack as “The best meal I have eaten as Governor
outside my own home.” Three new board members, Tom Wahl, Robert
Bahrenfuse, and Michael Nash got elected at the district meetings. (
See board business, p. 10)
As
ever, the Annual Meeting was a great opportunity for old friends to
get together. There were plenty of new faces too. In fact there were
over sixty new members who joined PFI in the course of registering
for the meeting. These folks and a few more in the months since have
put PFI membership at an all time high. (See graph p. 9.) As we go
to press, the membership count is 671, even better than the graphic
at right depicts. Indeed, our future looks bright this season. Stay
tuned for more illuminations.
An Open Letter to PFI Members, Friends and Supporters
– from Robert Karp.
