2024 Stinner Summit Report Now Available

The 18th Annual Stinner Summit drew 86 participants to The Lodge at Hocking College on Friday, November 15 to develop projects around the 2024 theme of Supporting Healthy Appalachian Agroecosystems.
Groups were first asked to brainstorm major challenges facing the development of healthy agroecosystems in the Appalachian region. Key challenges identified included Economic Infrastructure: Access to Land, Access to Markets, Access to Capital; Community/Social Infrastructure: Skills, Knowledge, Education, Poverty, Drugs, and Mental Health; and Topography/Natural Resource Challenges. Participants were then asked to consider possible Stinner project ideas that might address these challenges. The rest of the day was spent developing potential projects and, of course, enjoying a delicious lunch together, featuring local foods. The Stinner Endowment committee awarded funding to three of the five resulting project proposals, based on participant votes, IOU support commitments, and available endowment funds.
Funded Projects
- Project 1 – Creating Farmer-Led Cooperative Marketing Channels (85 votes, 23 IOUs) - $9,000
- Project 2 – Engaging Youth in Agricultural Entrepreneurship (64 votes, 13 IOUs) - $7,000
- Project 3 – "R U Ready?" Rural Urban Connections Tours (37 votes, 7 IOUs) - $4,000
Thank you to everyone who attended this year's Stinner Summit and contributed time, expertise, and energy towards our goal of supporting healthy Appalachian agroecosystems. AMP staff is meeting with leaders of each of these projects to review the project goals, budget, and IOUs.