The David Engel papers are organized in two series: the ORIGINAL COLLECTION, 1988-2012; and the 2017 ADDITIONS, 1988-2017, that together document Engel's early involvement in a number of organizations, particularly CROPP Cooperative and WI OCIA, that would become significant forces in the Midwestern sustainable agriculture movement.
The Original Collection is arranged in five subseries: Wisconsin Organic Growers Association (WOGA), National Organic Program (NOP), Wisconsin Organic Task Force (WOTF), Wisconsin Organic Advisory Council (WOAC), and Subject Files.
Engel's self-described role as an “organicrat” began in 1988, when he founded the Midwest Organic Services Association (MOSA) and then served as its executive director. An internal audit of MOSA's certification program in the Original Collection dated July 2004, near the end of Engel's tenure with the organization partially documents his role at MOSA. (See also the 2017 Additions for papers relating to MOSA support for the newly created MOSES organization.)
Engel's involvement with the National Organic Program is well-documented, with materials from NOSB meetings at which he made public comments in 2002 and 2006, regarding the NOP decision making process, materials allowable for organic livestock production, and access to pasture standards. Materials for meetings of the Wisconsin Organic Task Force and the subsequently formed permanent Wisconsin Organic Advisory Council document Engel's involvement and the type of issues on which these groups worked. Engel's involvement in WOAC is particularly well-documented, with meeting materials for his two three-year terms.
The Wisconsin Organic Growers Association (WOGA) subseries consists of board materials (including a second draft of the organization's by-laws), 1988-1990; drafts and background materials on state organic food certification standards, 1990-1991; and comments from the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection on the proposed rule for the National Organic Program, 1998. (See also the Faye Jones Papers (Mss 1209).)
The National Organic Program (NOP) subseries includes correspondence with, or copied to, director Richard Matthews on various aspects of the organic program, specific questions and answers related to interpretation and compliance with the federal organic standards, and materials and notes from National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meetings, including two meetings (2002 and 2006) when Engel made public comments on livestock/dairy issues or was present while others made public comments.
The Wisconsin Organic Task Force (WOTF) subseries consists of materials from the Organic Roundtable Discussion in March 2004 and the subsequent four meetings in 2004-2005 which addressed farmer support, university/government technical assistance, marketing/processing, and related issues. Meeting materials include notes, background materials, meeting summaries, and action lists.
The Wisconsin Organic Advisory Council (WOAC) subseries consists of meeting materials, 2006-2012, such as agendas; background materials for discussion; agency, committee, and workgroup reports; presentations; and draft minutes. Topics addressed include ongoing grower support and technical assistance, government relations and legal affairs, development of an organic directory and other marketing efforts, farmer and consumer education, relations with other state organic advisory councils, and National Organic Program issues.
The Subject Files subseries includes a MOSA internal audit report, 2004; materials from Organic Certifiers Council (OCC) meetings, 2001-2002; files relating to gas pipelines and organic farms; concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs); and an annotated report relating to the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (WISA).
The 2017 Additions are arranged in five subseries: Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool (CROPP Cooperative), Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) International, Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), National Organic Program (NOP), and Subject Files.
The Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool (CROPP Cooperative) subseries includes a few folders of early board minutes and materials, annual reports, draft of by-laws, the beginnings of the dairy program, and member and consumer mailings, that document the structure and activities of the early days of the cooperative (now also known by its brand name, Organic Valley).
The Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) subseries provides documentation of Engel's role as president of OCIA International in 1994 through his memos and board materials from that year, including the first Board of Directors meeting in April 1994, when OCIA moved from an administrative council to a board of directors governance structure. Engel's memos reflecting on this change provide information about the organization as well as Engel's leadership role. Also of note are membership surveys (1995-1998) of Wisconsin Chapter #1 of OCIA. (See also the Prescott Bergh Papers (Mss 1177, Box 1, Folder 81) for a chapter review report of WI OCIA #1 while Engel was actively involved in that organization; it contains some references to his role there.)
The Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) subseries includes papers that document MOSA's role as MOSES was becoming established; Engel's participation in the founding meeting of MOSES on December 2, 1999 in Trempealeau, Wisconsin; and some early documentation of the Upper Midwest Organic Farming Conference (UMOFC). (See also the Roger Blobaum Papers for early UMOFC records, Box 6, Folder 47-63.)
The National Organic Program (NOP) subseries includes an analysis of the NOP by the Henry A. Wallace Institute for Alternative Agriculture and annotated copies of the proposed Organic Rule, 1997 and 2000.
The Subject Files subseries includes an obituary, memorial presentation, and scholarship fund established after Engel's death; and articles, papers, and drafts of working documents related to sustainable agriculture.
