November 13, 2015 to November 14, 2015

Location

Manhattan, Kansas

“Roots, Shoots and Boots: Healthy Farms, Healthy People from the Ground Up”

The Kansas Rural Center invites you to join us November 13 and 14, 2015, at the Annual Farm and Food Conference in Manhattan, Kansas, at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel. Come share your business or organization with the anticipated 200 + farmers, ranchers, community leaders, wildlife enthusiasts, landowners, health, agriculture, and conservation organizations, and others interested in diversified farming systems and establishing a vital local and regional food system.

This year’s activities, speakers and workshops will embody the theme, “Roots, Shoots and Boots: Healthy Farms, Healthy People from the Ground Up.”  The two -day conference promises to have something for a broad spectrum of attendees—from conventional and organic farmers, to beginning and established farmers and local food advocates and community leaders.

Friday, November 13: The entire first day will be dedicated to a Soil Health Forum: The Nexus between Cover Crops, No Till and Organic Systems. Speakers confirmed  are Dr. Bianca Moebius-Clune, director of the USDA NRCS Soil Health Division.; Jeff Moyer, Rodale Institute’s Research Director, who will speak on organic no-till and opportunities in organic; and Klaas Martens, a well-known certified organic farmer with a 1400-acre organic grain farm near Penn Yan, NY.  Also, a panel of cover crop/no till and organic farmers will share information, experience, and explore common ground.

Saturday November 14: The second day will feature Keynote speaker David Hunt, a nationally recognized teacher and leader in organizing for social change. Hunt will set a tone of action for policy development, issue & community organizing and community building throughout a packed day of diverse sessions and speakers. Break out sessions will focus on local food systems, community food solutions and economic opportunities, farm transitions and beginning farmer opportunities, health-agriculture connections, soil health/farming practices, state and federal food policy, and more.   The agenda and speakers for both days are being finalized so please reach out to Natalie Fullerton or Mary Fund at 866-579-5469 for any questions.