June 3, 2005
WSFFN announces hire of new Director

BELLINGHAM—The Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network ("the Network"), a non-profit statewide network of over 200 groups, farms, and individuals advocating for sustainable agriculture and food systems, is pleased to announce the hiring of Maryon Attwood as its new Executive Director, replacing Bonnie Rice, who has led the Network virtually from its beginning in 1997.

Ms. Attwood grew up on a small farm in Illinois, and is a long-time supporter of sustainable agriculture as well as having a strong interest in land trusts and local food cooperatives. Since her graduation from college, she has spent over 20 years successfully building, leading and managing community-based cultural and environmental organizations in New England. She has also worked extensively with the League of Women Voters, the Connecticut state legislature, local political entities, and was herself a candidate for local political office. She has continued her formal education through numerous professional seminars and a special by-invitation program at Harvard University.

Ms. Attwood recently moved to Coupeville, WA, and is very excited to be able to connect two of her personal passions—community service and agriculture—into one job, that of building the Network into an even stronger organization to promote and support sustainable agriculture in Washington State. "I come from a Midwest farming background, and had a small certified organic farm in Connecticut for many years" said Ms. Attwood, "and when I smelled the salt air and saw the fertile green plains around Coupeville, I knew I had found the perfect place to make my new home."

"The Network is in a unique position to make positive changes in Washington’s agriculture,” Ms. Attwood continued. "We are in the right place at the right time with the right message to advance 21st century biologically-based farming policy. Our eyes will be on the prize of policies that benefit family farmers and ranchers, rural communities, consumers and the environment—the whole food system."

Dennis Nicholson, Peshastin orchardist and co-chair of the Network's Board of Directors, notes, "Bonnie Rice has served the Network with tremendous leadership for many years, so we were concerned when she told us that she wanted to step down. We were fortunate to attract an amazing pool of applicants from the U.S. and beyond; and we are most pleased that a person with Ms. Attwood's qualifications was available and enthusiastic about this opportunity. The Network is moving to a new level and I expect ever greater results in the years ahead for our state’s farmers and ranchers, the environment, and the food system." (see www.wsffn.org for recent Network policy successes)

Attwood and Rice will work together in the transition process during June, then Attwood will formally take the reins July 1st. The Network currently has offices and staff in Bellingham and in Cheney, near Spokane; the main office will soon move from Bellingham to Mount Vernon.