Farmers, ranchers, community food organizers, conservation and wildlife enthusiasts, landowners and others interested in farming practices and our local food system may now register to attend the Kansas Rural Center’s 2013 Farm & Food Conference from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2 in Newton. The event will be held at the Meridian Center, 1420 E. Broadway Ct.
This year’s conference theme will be “Farming as if People Matter: How to Feed Ourselves, Build New Farms and Adapt to a Changing World.” The conference will feature keynote speaker Wes Jackson, founder and President of the Land Institute, Salina. Jackson and the Land Institute’s primary work has been to develop a perennial polyculture using nature as model. Jackson is the author of several books including Nature as Measure and Consulting the Genius of the Place; An Ecological Approach to Agriculture, and is internationally recognized as a leader in sustainable agriculture.
This daylong event will offer 14 workshop sessions that cover topics including family farm transitions; farming with limited access to land, credit and capital; pricing of farm products for local markets; encouraging pollinators; Farm to School; emerging policy issues in Kansas; building soil health; crop insurance for specialty crops and organic; establishing community gardens and more.
The day will also provide an opportunity for networking with others who share the same interests, concerns, or challenges. These will include a “Lean In” inspired session for women in farming, and a session intended to connect beginning and established farmers. An exhibition will be available throughout the day which will feature over 16 businesses and organizations offering information of interest to attendees. To register, please visit www.kansasruralcenter.org. Registration is $45 per person, which includes conference materials and a lunch made from locally sourced ingredients.
This conference is presented by the Kansas Rural Center in partnership with Kansas Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension, Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops, and Farm Aid. Additional sponsors include Heartland Mill, Inc.
The Kansas Rural Center is a non-profit organization that since 1979 has promoted the long-term health of the land and its people through research, education and advocacy that advances economically viable, ecologically sound, and socially just food and farming systems.
A conference agenda, list of exhibitors and sponsors and other upcoming events are available at www.kansasruralcenter.org. Or contact conference coordinator, Natalie Fullerton, nfullerton@kansasruralcenter.org or 402-310-0177 for more information.