NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. — 2016: Plan to attend the Healthy Farms Conference of the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society. The dates for 2016 are January 29th & 30th and it will be held at the Lied Lodge & Conference Center in Nebraska City.
Keynotes: This year we will feature;
Molly Haviland, B.S. Certified Soil Life Consultant, Haviland Earth Regeneration. Molly has a B.S. degree in sustainable living and is an affiliate professor at the Maharishi University of Management where she co-teaches with world renowned soil microbiologist Dr. Elaine Ingham. She is co-founder of the Living Soil Compost Lab and is a Holistic Soil Life Consultant. As a microherder, Molly understands how to cultivate beneficial soil organisms, merge them into growing systems, and encourage them to thrive in that location. She has worked with compost operations, graziers, and growers to develop the highest quality compost and compost amendments designed specifically for the desired crop. She introduces her audiences to the foundational principals of cultivating the soil foodweb and the myriad benefits from its presence. She demonstrates how the soil foodweb is a tool that, when used correctly, has been proven to provide maximum yields with increased mineral and nutrient content, components essential for thriving plants, animals, and human communities. https://thermalcomposting.wordpress.com/
Sessions: This year’s agenda offers a number of breakout sessions with topics ranging from cover crops to holistic orchards to FFA projects. We will also once again have a full youth program with many of the presenters being youth and presenting on projects from their farms.
* Managing Crops, profitably, for Wetlands and Wildlife
* The Native Spirit, Pollinators & Diversity
* Cover crops for the commodity grower
* Cover crops for vegetable production and beyond
* Building An Energy Efficient Building & Lighting
* All About Fencing
* Elders of Sustainable Agriculture Panel Discussion
* Nutrition in Feed
* FFA Presentation; Benefits of Composting on small scale livestock operations (SAE)
* FFA Presentation; None of your Beeswax Marketing opportunities (SAE)
* Plant Breeding, Seeds, conventional & non gmo
* Marketing Opportunities to consider when starting
* Food Hub/Coop Marketing Panel
* Marketing from the Other Side, A Consumer Perspective
* Growing a Holistic Orchard
* Starting with Heirloom Fruits
* Using Biochar on your Farm
* Improving Wetlands Using Holistic Grazing of Dairy Cattle & Low Impact Crossings
* Rotational Grazing for the Seasoned Veteran
The complete list will be available on our website and will be updated as they are confirmed!
About: The Healthy Farms Conference has been hosted by NSAS for over 40 years. From Aurora to Grand Island and Nebraska City to Columbus, the conference has laid the framework for promoting sustainable agriculture and local foods in Nebraska and the Midwest. The Healthy Farms Conference features over 20 breakout sessions aimed at equipping farmers, aspiring farmers, foodies, and advocates to with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful. The conference also features several keynote sessions meant to inspire and motivate people to action, and that what they are doing and why they are doing it makes a difference. Together we can change the world one farmer, one eater at a time! The conference also provides support for current farmers by fostering growth and stability in sustainable farming methods, including organic agriculture and sustainable agriculture. We do this by helping farmers to develop innovative ideas and projects that can impact their local communities and areas. A variety of interactive educational opportunities are available for adults and youth. Participants will have the chance to network with farmers, university faculty, and fellow agricultural colleagues. Besides providing informative, educational sessions the conferences has commercial and educational exhibits. The Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society has been hosting the Healthy Farms Conference for over 40 years.
Roundtable Discussions
We will once again be hosting the roundtable discussions on Saturday morning of the conference. The format will be similar to last year, and we will set aside additional time for these discussions. Have a topic? Email William @ healthyfarms@gmail.com!
NSAS Annual Awards
Each year at the Healthy Farms Conference we recognize farmers, young/beginning farmers, chefs & organizations who are making a difference. If you would like to nominate someone please email Jo at jo@4jl.net. Nominations should include a brief message as to why this person, farm, or group should be nominated. We request that nominations be received by December 1st.
Exhibitor/Sponsor Information
There are numerous ways to participate in the conference including exhibitor and sponsor opportunities. If you are interested please email William at healthyfarms@gmail.com
All-Nebraska events & Food!
The first and original local foods event in Nebraska. Foods for the entire conference including all meals and breaks will be provided by the Timber Dining Room at the Lodge.
The Timber Dining Room at Lied Lodge. It’s more than dinner. It’s nature-inspired dining. Local, sustainable food is served under soaring timbers and alongside sweeping views of Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Our menu reflects what’s fresh for the season, bringing the best fruits and vegetables from the field to your table..
The All-Nebraska Evening will consist of a local foods dinner, a live auction fundraiser and we’ll cap the evening with local musicians providing the entertainment. January 29th.
Website
Check for complete details to be updated at, http://nebsusag.org/conference.shtml
Look for the official conference brochure later in the Fall complete with registration instructions and how to register online.
The Healthy Farms Conference is the annual conference of the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society. For information and to join please visit, NebSusAg.org
— Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society
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