by Ike Ross, Board Member
Those changes of season starting in September and October settle in come November. The daylight hours shift, and we too settle in a little earlier each evening as the days grow shorter. November offers us the opportunity to reflect back on the year, and prepare for the new year to come. This year is no different, and I find myself noticing these subtle changes: the smell of fall, the crunching of leaves since fallen from the trees, the brisk air welcoming me in the morning.
Willy Street Co-op, like us, has gone through some changes as well and we’re excited to announce some new Board Members this year, officially welcomed to the Board in October. We also reflect on and extend our gratitude to Board members before us. My name is Ike, one of those new Board Members, and I am excited to tell you a little about myself.
What was your first memory of Willy Street Co-op?
I’d heard about Willy Street Co-op from multiple friends prior to ever stepping foot in Madison and couldn’t help but be interested in what a great Co-op it must be with such a reputation.
When I moved to Madison a little more than two years ago, Willy North was the first place I stopped, picked up a membership, and ate from the hot bar in a new home in a new city. Staff informed me during checkout, after learning I was new to town, of all the great deals that week on basic supplies, good food, and where to find a couple extra utensils to help ease the burden of unpacking. It was a minor act, but the warmest welcome I’d had to a new place. Since then, I knew I had to be a part of Willy Street Co-op and am grateful I have the opportunity.
What do you rely on Willy Street Co-op for?
I’d grown up in Michigan eating meat primarily sourced from hunting and vegetables primarily sourced from our garden. Falls were spent preserving what we could and hoping for short winters as we stacked our firewood ceiling high in the basement. Admittedly I’d taken for granted those fresh foods that couldn’t be sourced more locally if we tried. Nowadays, I rely on Willy Street Co-op to fill those seasonal gaps of fresh foods my small garden can’t fill in the early springs, during these fall transitions, or in the winter months to come. While I don’t eat much meat anymore, I am also grateful for the humane options from local farms nearby.
What are your top three favorite Willy Street Co-op foods?
My go-to staples are the variety of options of bulk granola, freshly ground peanut butter, and coffee that have yet to be topped elsewhere. In truth, all the options at Willy Street are good options and I can trust in their quality, even if trying something for the first time.
Do you have any favorite food traditions?
I love nothing more than getting family and friends together in one place, baking a fresh berry pie and some savory treats, having folks bring their own favorites, and talk the evening away.
Besides being a Willy Street Co-op Board member, what else do you like to do with your time?
I am an avid enjoyer of all things outdoors and have dedicated my career to helping leave behind a better environment. Each year I stretch the canoeing season as long as I can, paddling the wonderful waters in Madison and within our beautiful state.
In addition to outdoor recreation, I’ve enjoyed volunteering at Geology days at retirement communities in the past and am excited to start helping with some career services opportunities. I’m grateful to have Willy Street Co-op as another opportunity to engage with my community.
What are you most excited about in being a new Board member, and what do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges the Co-op will face over the next few years?
I’ve had experience farming on family friends’ farms, organic farms, conventional farms, and of course just gardening at home. Willy Street Co-op strives to be a leader in the community to ensure access to fresh and healthy food and I am excited to be a part of that goal, while also recognizing the real world challenges that come with these aspirations. I’m excited to continue these successes and navigate those challenges as Madison grows and as Willy Street Co-op grows.