Congrats to Sakari Botanicals!
February 27, 2019, news release from the NASDA Foundation
The NASDA Foundation today announced Sage Dilts of Barn Owl Bakery as its 2019 Women’s Farm to Food Competition grandprize winner. The prize was awarded on the fringes of the 2019 WinterPolicy Conference of the National Association of State Departments ofAgriculture (NASDA) in Arlington, Virginia.
TheNASDA Foundation established the Women’s Farm to Food Competition tosupport women leading agricultural and food businesses. “We created thiscompetition as a new way to celebrate women farmers, producers andentrepreneurs who are diversifying their operations and creating uniqueapproaches to developing value-added products,” NASDA FoundationExecutive Director Lisa Benson said.
Aspart of the grand prize, Dilts was awarded $20,000 to help grow herartisanal bakery. Dilts competed against 238 applicants, and along withfour other finalists, she pitched her business ideas before a panel ofjudges and an audience of state department of agriculture leaders duringthe NASDA Winter Policy Conference.
Washington-based Barn Owl Bakery produces bakery goods from heritage grains grown and milled on Lopez Island, where the bakery is located.
The People’s Choice Award, with $10,000 for business operations, was awarded to La Vang of La Vang Foods LLC in Hillsboro, Oregon, and the runner up prizes, including $5,000 for each business, were presented to Spring Alaska Olson of Sakari Botanicals and Lori Babcock of Tieton Farm & Creamery LLC.
“We’reproud to recognize outstanding women farmers and entrepreneurs,” saidNASDA CEO Barb Glenn. “The passion and creativity these entrepreneurshave shown in their agriculture businesses is commendable.”
TheWomen’s Farm to Food Competition, in its first year, is dedicated tofostering growth among women entrepreneurs with food and beveragebusinesses in Oregon and Washington. “NASDA and the NASDA Foundationthank Oregon Department of Agriculture Director Alexis Taylor andWashington State Department of Agriculture Director Derek Sandison fortheir involvement with this groundbreaking event that providesincredible opportunities for women in agriculture,” Glenn said.
Farmers,fishers and ranchers, as well as women entrepreneurs who source fromlocal farmers, were eligible for the competition. The women’scompetition is part of the NASDA Foundation’s Women in Agriculture Project.