The FACT Team Finally Meets in Person!

FACT News

May 18

By Samantha Gasson, FACT’s Humane Farming Program Manager

This week FACT held its first staff retreat since the 1990's and it was bittersweet. Our far-flung group flew in and drove from across the country, congregating at the endlessly fascinating Starved Rock State Park. Many of us met for the first time but, for one of us, it was the last time.

Starved Rock State Park, situated along the Illinois river, may seem like an off the wall place to meet when your headquarters are in the amazing Chicago but it was the perfect choice. This impressive small mountain ridge of St. Peter sandstone was formed a mere tens of thousands of years ago during the last ice age. Melting glaciers formed the canyons as they flowed through the river valley carving and exposing ancient seabeds. It's as if some giant pushed up a mound of sand, formed it into a mountain then scraped and dug through the mountain creating interesting nooks and crannies.... fascinating!

In 1911 Starved Rock Park has the distinction of becoming the second state park in Illinois featuring 18 canyons with tree covered bluffs, waterfalls and so many stairs (150 sets ranging from 5-200 steps each!). There are 13 miles of well-maintained trails which meander from stunning canyon vistas to peaceful river views making sure you get your cardio in for the day. Did I mention the stairs?

Not only is Starved Rock Park a natural beauty it has an interesting history according to the Illinois State Parks web page

When not walking the trails, visiting local humane farms or eating at farm-to-table restaurants, the FACT team met to review our strategic plan and create plans for the future. Our small group has accomplished much over the last few years, I’m proud to announce that we are well positioned with all programs meeting or exceeding their goals! A big accomplishment for a small group with big plans.

We also said goodbye to our amazing FACT colleague, Larissa McKenna, which has been particularly hard for me (and yes, there were plenty of tears). We have made such a fantastic team over the last 5 years bouncing ideas off one another, texting at all hours with new project ideas and generally having fun. I feel a similar vibe with our newest Humane Farming addition, Katie Meade, certainly leaving me with a silver lining to a dark storm cloud.

It has been an exhausting but rewarding few days. I hope we don’t wait another 30+ years for our next retreat.