Below you will find the tentative schedule for this year’s conference. This may be subject to change as we do expect to confirm more speakers and work within their schedules.

8:30 Registration Opens

9:15 Welcome to the Food and Farm Conference

9:30 Keynote Presentation

Austin Frerick presents Game Over: Ending Corporate Agriculture’s Game of Monopoly

10:30 Break

10:45 Breakout I

Policy Conversations

KRC Policy Analyst Paul Johnson, and KRC Board President and Sierra Club Lobbyist Zack Pistora will discuss challenges, prospects and possibilities for food and farm policy at the state and federal levels.

Farm-to-School

Explore the farm to school movement’s potential to transform local food systems and support both student nutrition and community agriculture. This session brings together farmers and food hub representatives who work directly with schools to share their experiences, challenges, and successes. Attendees will gain insights into creating lasting partnerships between farms and educational institutions, with practical tips on building infrastructure and overcoming logistical barriers. Hear firsthand from farmers on the impact of farm to school programs, and learn from food hub leaders about strategies for connecting local produce to school cafeterias year-round.

Unconventional Livestock Business

Join Rex Rutledge and Susan Elder as they discuss their journey into the unconventional business, Restoration Grazing LLC, in which they landscape by strategically grazing their herd of goats. They will discuss what decisions guided them on their journey and how they continue to adapt. Callene Rapp of the Livestock Conservancy and Sedgewick County Zoo will discuss which heritage livestock breeds she finds well-suited for Kansas and the business models that they support.

11:45 Lunch

12:45 Breakout II

Prairie Conservation and Transforming Crop Ground with Native Plantings for Pollinators

From 2004 to 2010, Dyck Aboretum of the Plains identified more than 100 South Central Kansas prairie remnants, inventoried many of their flora lists, and studied their bird and butterfly species. From the most diverse of these blueprint prairies, they collected local-ecotype seed of grasses, sedges and wildflowers, and planted prairie at Dyck Arboretum to serve as a learning laboratory and refuge for genetic seed diversity.  After Brad Guhr showcases the study, management and restoration of Kansas’ blueprint prairies, Troy Schroeder will explain his participation in the Conservation Stewardship Program, which allowed him to take 60+ acres out of production and plant pollinator-beneficial plants.  Troy’s pollinator-friendly yard includes milkweed for monarchs.

Alternative Land Access

Tom Buller will lead this session, exploring alternative ways for farmers to access land through cooperative purchase, municipal leasing and other models that have helped farmers across the country access land through innovative methods.

Growing Small

Kansas’ agriculture is dominated by conventional row crop and livestock production, but many food producers in the state are growing food in other ways and in smaller spaces.  Join this session to learn about microgreens, hydroponic flowers, and mushroom production from two local growers, Kimberly Ropp and Eric Myers.

1:45 Break

2:00 Breakouts III

What is a Conservation Easement?

The Executive Director of the Kansas Land Trust (KLT), Kaitlyn Stanley, will walk through conservation easements, which are voluntary legal agreements between a landowner and a land trust that protects important land forever. Conservation easements are unique to each landowner and their property, allow landowners to retain ownership of their protected land and remain in place when a landowner sells or hands down their land.

Conservation easements protect habitat for wildlife and pollinators; conserve fertile farmland; improve water quality in Kansas; and secure natural spaces for future generations.  To date, KLT has preserved more than 40,000 acres, across 81 properties in Kansas, with more than 1,300 of those acres being open to the public.  Jackie Keller will explain her agreement with US Fish & Wildlife’s Flint Hills Legacy Conservation Area, which is specific to the tallgrass prairie where ranching plays a major role in preserving by managing through grazing, controlling tree encroachment and burning.

Funding Innovation: Grants and Grant writing for Farmers

Tom Buller and Kerri Ebert will discuss grant opportunities available for farmers including the SARE Farmer Rancher Grant, the Value Added Producer Grant and the Heartland Regional Food Business Center Business Builder grant among other opportunities.  They will also share tips and tricks for preparing grant applications to maximize success.

Kernza, a perennial grain

Perennial grains are on the rise!  Join this session to hear about Kernza, a perennial wheatgrass crop developed by the Land Institute in Salina.  Dr. Jessica Rupp will present research on improving Kernza and farmer James Bowden will talk about his work with Sustain-a-Grain, the local organization striving to move the needle on Kernza adoption and marketing.

3:00 Break

3:30 Looking to the Future of Farming

Facilitator Sarah Green and panelists Sharon Autry, Connie Fiorella Fitzpatrick and James Bowden discuss what the future in farming looks like to them and how we can get there.