Colorado Springs Screening of Farmers For America

COLORADO SPRINGS -- ‘Farmers For America,’ the new documentary that champions young farmers and the local food movement, will screen July 18 at Ivywild School in Colorado Springs and will feature a wide-ranging panel discussion with local farmers and food advocates. Before the screening, there’s a chance to share delicious hamburgers at Drifters, made with local beef from farmer Mike Callicrate’s Ranch Foods Direct.

Film summary: The average age of the U.S. farmer has reached 60. Half of America's farmland will change ownership in the next 15 years. Our nation faces a little-known agricultural crisis on an unprecedented scale. Against all odds, this is the story of an eclectic mix of young people- military veterans, bright-eyed idealists, and multi-generational farmers who are accepting the virtuous challenge of feeding us all.

The documentary is narrated by Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs, Returning the Favor) and stars farmers from every region of the United States including national agricultural leaders like Joel Salatin, Eliot Coleman, Blake Hurst and Lindsey Lusher-Shute.

THE DETAILS:

Food Event- 5:30-6:30 at Drifter's

Address: 4455 Mark Dabling Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80907

Come enjoy the legendary Drifter’s hamburger made with all-local ground beef from Ranch Foods Direct.

Movie- 7-8:15pm at Ivywild School

1604 S Cascade Ave

Colorado Springs . CO

Panel- 8:15pm-9pm

Panelists include:

Mike Callicrate Ranch Foods Direct, Will Frost of Fountain Creek Ranch, Nick Levendofsky - Rocky Mountain Farmers Union,

The director of the documentary, Graham Meriwether will be moderating the panel.

Cost:

Food will be available for purchase a la carte at Drifter’s.

Movie Ticket is $10 and can be purchased in advance here.

THE PANELISTS:

MIKE CALLICRATE, RANCH FOODS DIRECT -- Mike Callicrate founded Ranch Foods Direct in 2000, with a mission to sell high quality naturally raised beef directly to customers. Today, Mike and other local farmers and ranchers, loving the soil and caring for the land, produce organic whole foods free of chemicals and artificial preservatives.

WILL FROST, FOUNTAIN CREEK RANCH  -- A fourth-generation rancher on the farm 20 miles south of Colorado Springs, Will is a young farmer who wants to make a difference, helping sell the ranch’s produce at local farmers markets, and creating direct marketing opportunities for the Frost enterprises.

NICK LEVENDOFSKY, ROCKY MOUNTAIN FARMERS UNION -- Nick grew up on farm in north central Kansas and has been involved in trying to make sure farmers have a voice in legislation that affects their everyday lives.  A Kansas State graduate, Nick recently joined the RMFU, which represents farmers in Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico, and helps strengthen family farms and makes sure their interests are served in agriculture legislation in the nation, region and state.