Today's Guests: Stephanie Merida-Arend is a 5th generation dairy farmer that currently helps her parents run their dairy farm in West Petaluma. The farm has been in her family since the early 1900s. Last year when all Sonoma County farms were under attack by a local extremist group, she started a social media presence called “Dairy Girl Diaries” to showcase why their organic, pasture based, family farm so that the public could see why Measure J was so misleading. It has since become a way to help other small farmers and spread awareness to the constant attacks farmers are under and how the food system is on its way to being forcibly and strategically consolidated. She has had the unpleasantries of dealing with various lawsuits and helping others work through lawsuits of their own due to various NGOs attacks on farms. Point Reyes Farms are a farming community that often runs in the same pack as Sonoma County farmers, and we rely heavily on each other to support our agricultural environment. The lawsuits that have affected these farmers have caused serious detriment to the farms directly, but they will impact the rest of the farms collectively, which includes Stephanie’s family farm. She has participated in the Dairy Leaders Program through Western United Dairymen, which is an intense leadership program focusing on the economic and political shifts of our dairy industry. She studied Bio-chemistry for a time before focusing on her families business. She also started and grew a bookkeeping firm in the midst of managing the farm and raising 2 boys alongside her husband in Sonoma County. She has attended many continuing education events focusing on leadership, management, sustainability and organic farming. She hopes to bring new vibrance to the agriculture world, encourage new and younger farmers so that America can have food security and a viable food system. She also hopes to help citizens see farmers for what they are, a valuable and difficult to replace piece of our society and wellbeing today.
Our Second Guest is Albert Straus, owner of Straus Dairy Farm in Marshall California, and Executive Chair of Straus Family Creamery.
About Christa Reynolds: Christa has been teaching Yoga and Meditation for over 25 years. Sharing daily morning Meditation Online for the last 5 years. Helping her clients with Emotional Release Work for 10 years. After authoring her book, "Will and Mysteria: Two Inseparable Yogis", in 2019 (www.willandmysteriathebook.com ) she has been conducting individual and group Breath Work sessions. Her current work with Light Meditation teaches her students how to recognize their imbalances and manage their energy, thus cultivating more awareness and keeping their bodies healthy and vibrant. Christa’s inspiration for teaching comes from her love for her students, their journey towards all things Divine, and their desire for a brilliant life.
