2024 Local Food and Healthy Farms Conference Holt Boyd Extension Podcast

2024 Local Food and Healthy Farms Conference - January 8, 2024 - Jordan Rasmussen, Extension Educator - Rural Prosperity Nebraska

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• [0:04] Nebraska Extension KBRX Piece
• [0:05] Jordan Rasmussen January 8, 2024
• [0:10] Registration is open for the 2024 Local Food and Healthy Farms Conference,
• [0:15] which takes place Jan 25-27 at the River’s Edge Conference Center in Columbus, Neb.
• [0:20] For over 40 years, the Nebraska Sustainable
• [0:23] Ag Society’s annual conference
• [0:26] has been a mainstay event for farmers to connect and share knowledge.
• [0:29] For the third year, the conference is a collaborative partnership with
• [0:33] University of Nebraska Extension and Nebraska Specialty Crop Growers
• [0:36] to provide the most dynamic and comprehensive farming
• [0:39] and local food systems conference in the state.
• [0:43] “Combining both Extension and Nebraska Sustainable Ag Society’s
• [0:46] efforts has allowed the organizing team to think creatively about how we engage
• [0:51] this audience and build connections across the food value chain,” said Ben Jewell,
• [0:55] a Nebraska Extension educator and lead for the Nebraska
• [0:58] Regional Food Systems Initiative.
• [1:01] “Our attendees come from a wide range of backgrounds,
• [1:03] as farmers, ranchers, food entrepreneurs, advocates and researchers - this diverse
• [1:07] group being together over two days allows for more robust conversations
• [1:10] that get at the root of the challenges facing our local food system.”
• [1:14] The conference invites attendees to learn, connect, and
• [1:17] collaborate for a more resilient food future.
• [1:21] Conference highlights include:
• [1:23] More than 30 sessions on topics that span the agricultural and
• [1:26] local food system spectrum, including farm financial and
• [1:29] transition planning, farm skills, field crops, livestock, farm and
• [1:34] food policy, urban agriculture and local food access, and more.
• [1:39] New Thursday pre-conference workshops that will provide more
• [1:42] in-depth training in regional food systems,
• [1:45] communication, and farm/ranch resources.
• [1:48] Keynote addresses from Nancy Williams, Co-Founder and CEO of No More Empty Pots
• [1:54] in Omaha and Michael Foley, co-owner and operator of Green Uprising Farm, a very
• [1:59] small, diversified, family farm in Willits, northern California.
• [2:04] There will also be several opportunities to network with
• [2:07] other farmers, researchers, sponsors, service agencies, and consumers
• [2:11] including a Friday evening reception and exhibit hall.
• [2:15] Many of the sessions are developed and led by local farmers, focused on topics
• [2:19] that are most relevant to small and mid-size food and farming operations.
• [2:24] Other sessions focus on tribal food systems work in Nebraska,
• [2:28] indigenous Mayan regenerative agriculture practices,
• [2:31] and how chefs incorporate seasonally available local foods into their menus.
• [2:36] “A highlight of this conference is the local food dinner that is
• [2:39] served on Friday evening,” said Jewell.
• [2:41] “Conference organizers work with chefs at the venue to plan a meal that is
• [2:45] entirely sourced from local producers.
• [2:49] Everything from local beef, small batch cheeses,
• [2:51] fresh greens, and even local grains are featured in this meal.”
• [2:56] The cost to attend the conference is $80 per day or $150 for both days,
• [3:01] and includes meals and access to all conference events.
• [3:04] Scholarships are available.
• [3:06] Please register by January 13, 2024, at sustainablenebraska.org.
• [3:12] For Nebraska Extension, I am Jordan Rasmussen.