Community Calendar
Local Food Workshops
Annually in February and March, we host regional Local Food Producer Workshops in collaboration with the Kansas Department of Agriculture and Kansas SARE. In 2026, the workshops are also co-sponsored by Growing Growers through their USDA-NIFA Beginning Farmer Rancher Development grant.
These workshops are an opportunity for producers and small food businesses to learn more about selling their products through farmers markets, direct-to-consumers sales, and other local market opportunities. Participants can connect with other producers and learn from their peers to improve their business success.
2026 Farm to Fork Summit & Expo
This event is for connecting with food supply chain leaders to grow your business and strengthen regional resilient local food sourcing. Perfect for farmers, food industry pros, and community leaders seeking connections, education, & inspiration.
Urban Ag Mini-Conference
Register for the Urban Ag Mini-Conference as we are approaching our deadline to give meal count to our chef! The $75 registration fee includes lunch, snacks, and all materials for the day.
Topics include: Economics of Veggie Production, Greenhouse and High Tunnel Considerations, Intro to Bee Keeping, Livestock Integration on smaller acreage, and more!
Enhancing Your Grazing From the Ground Up
The workshop will start with registration at 9:00 a.m. and the meeting kicking off at 9:30 a.m. Topic titles include We Grow Soil, It’s All About Water, Livin’ on the Edge, What Bugs Me; all from the Ground Up. This workshop will explore what it takes to grow soil, rebuild the water cycle, what happens above the ground, building ecosystems and managing for biodiversity on the farm. These components will result in better grass, improve range health which all results in enhanced grazing on the ranch.
Enhancing Your Grazing From the Ground Up
The workshop will start with registration at 9:00 a.m. and the meeting kicking off at 9:30 a.m. Topic titles include We Grow Soil, It’s All About Water, Livin’ on the Edge, What Bugs Me; all from the Ground Up. This workshop will explore what it takes to grow soil, rebuild the water cycle, what happens above the ground, building ecosystems and managing for biodiversity on the farm. These components will result in better grass, improve range health which all results in enhanced grazing on the ranch.
Meet the Buyer
This event will feature an educational component designed to help farmers and food businesses prepare wholesale opportunities. Topics will include what buyers are looking for, how to navigate wholesale requirements, and tips for building long-term business relationships. Whether you’re a producer curious about entering wholesale markets or an experienced grower looking to expand your reach, this event will provide valuable tools and insights. Cost is $30.
Living with Fire – Prescribed Burning, Wildfire Safety, & Land Stewardship
Fire has shaped our landscapes for centuries—with both beneficial and destructive outcomes. This program explores fire as a management tool, covering prescribed burning, wildfire risk reduction, and practical steps homeowners can take to live more safely with fire. Participants will gain a better understanding of when fire helps, when it threatens, and how thoughtful planning can protect people, property, and ecosystems. Registration is free!
Role of Producers, Processors & Grocers in Food is Medicine
Food is Medicine is a growing effort to unite healthcare and community partners around the power of food to improve health, reduce hunger, and strengthen local economies. Please join Hunger Free Kansas, in collaboration with the Sunflower Foundation and the Kansas Food Action Network (KFAN), for a 10-part virtual learning series examining Food is Medicine and how these models and services are taking shape across our state and the country.
Register today for the next webinar in the 10-part virtual learning series on Food is Medicine
Discovering Resilience
Farmers and ranchers: Ever wonder if your farm is at risk because of a lurking legal problem? Do you wish you knew where to turn for the answers?
Those answers aren’t always easy to come by — especially for the most innovative, direct-to-consumer farmers. Discovering Resilience is a legal workshop designed just for you. This workshop empowers farmers and ranchers with the legal knowledge and skills you need to resolve legal vulnerabilities. You’ll walk away from this five-session, highly interactive, and producer-focused workshop ready to implement your own legal action plan and find legal answers with confidence. Plus, you’ll have a group of fellow producers to keep you on track.
Advanced Farm Labor Law
Farmers and ranchers: Are you ready to strengthen your labor program? Do you want to create systems that will manage your employment law obligations now and into the future?
These may feel like big questions, but the good news is you have the power to get a handle on your minimum wage, overtime, and workers’ compensation obligations while creating fair and equitable management systems on the farm. You can do all of this and more, and this course is designed to help you do it.
This advanced course supports farmers and ranchers in gaining the legal knowledge and applied skills needed to effectively manage employment liabilities.
Douglas County Market of Farms
Shop Kansas Farms is excited to host the next Market of Farms in Douglas County on March 28. Do you grow fresh produce, make salsas, jams, soaps, or produce other specialty farm products? Showcase your hard work and connect directly with consumers by registering for a booth as a vendor.
Eat Local & Organic Expo
Join The Food Circle and shop with more than 30 KC Food Circle farmers who pledge to meet high standards for growing plants and mushrooms, beekeeping and raising animals.
Attendees can talk directly with farmers as they sign up for weekly farm shares, buy transplants for their gardens, and get the freshest early spring products our region has to offer!
Rural Grocery Summit
The National Rural Grocery Summit, hosted every other year, is the premier networking and resource-sharing venue for independent grocers and rural food access stakeholders. It brings together grocery store owners and managers, community leaders, food suppliers, academic researchers, healthy food access stakeholders, policy makers, and funders to connect and share lessons learned. The event is focused on sustaining locally-owned rural grocery stores and improving access to healthy food in rural communities.
WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL 2026
Friends of the Kaw Announces the Wild & Scenic Film Festival 2026! The Wild & Scenic Film Festival was started by the watershed advocacy group, the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL), in 2003. This Festival benefits Friends of the Kaw, all proceeds from the event will benefit Friends of the Kaw and the Kansas Riverkeeper Program.
Ice On the Farm - Farm Commons
Take a closer look at what federal law says about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to farm property, including fields, homes, and other non-public areas. Farm Commons will go beyond the simple directive that ICE can’t enter non-public areas by putting the law in context of the open fields doctrine and regulatory limitations. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of what options are available when officers arrive, where legal uncertainties currently stand, and opportunities to hold government accountable if there is an overreach.
World Cup Foodpreneur Readiness Training 2
This upcoming FREE training is facilitated by the Online Restaurant Academy for those food businesses who are preparing for the World Cup.
There will be two sessions available on Monday, February 16th from 9:30am to 11:00am and from 3:30pm to 5:00pm via Zoom. We can have up to 100 participants per session, and there will be a breakout space for Spanish speaking participants that includes a translator.
World Cup Foodpreneur Readiness Training
This upcoming FREE training is facilitated by the Online Restaurant Academy for those food businesses who are preparing for the World Cup.
There will be two sessions available on Monday, February 16th from 9:30am to 11:00am and from 3:30pm to 5:00pm via Zoom. We can have up to 100 participants per session, and there will be a breakout space for Spanish speaking participants that includes a translator.
Food and Farm Conference
Please save the date for Kansas Rural Center's Annual Food and Farm Conference.
This February 14th, 2026, our conference will be held at the Spring Hill Suites in Lawrence, Kansas.
We are currently in full swing of planning and want to share with you that we are carving out time in the morning for our conference goers to attend the famous Kaw Valley Seed Fair before returning for a full day of programming focused on uplifting our farms and food systems!
Lawrence Seed Fair
This is a great place to meet people devoted to sustainability and biodiversity in our Kaw Valley region.
Please bring your saved seeds or packaged seeds to share at our exchange tables. We typically have envelopes available but bringing your own is a great idea. If you do not have seeds to share, make a donation to our Venmo @KVSF-Green. Sharing is exactly what makes this event a great success every year.
Special note* KRC is offering free registration to the KRC Food and Farm Conference for LSF volunteers and venders. We understand they may not be able to attend the full day of the conference but would still like to attend what they can. Please reach out to KRC’s info email to take advantage of this offer. .
Farm Stop Conference
Whether you operate a farm stop already, or think that you may one day want to open one in your community, our goal is to provide content useful toyou as you move forward. With that in mind, we are putting together an ambitious slate of local food thought leaders, and are planning a full lineup ofpanels on everything from fundraising and farmer relationships, to best practices for staffing your store and which agencies may be supportive offarm stop development in your state. Of course, there will also be plenty of time for networking and lots of delicious, locally sourced food.
Shifting Priorities, and Partnerships in Conservation
Plenary Session Speakers: Celia Llopis-Jepsen - environment reporter for the Kansas News Service and the host of the podcast Up From Dust and Bruce Knight - Principal and Founder of Strategic Conservation Solutions, LLC, a consultancy focused on conservation and sustainability issues related to agriculture.
K-State Ag Profitability Conference - Erie
This program will provide an overview of the current farm financial situation and explore strategies to manage expenses, monitor markets for pricing opportunities, and make the most of safety nets programs like crop insurance and government commodity programs.
Specialists will also discuss trends in Kansas land values, tools for managing farm stress, and considerations for retirement or transitioning the farm to the next generation.
K-State Ag Profitability Conference - Kingman
This program will provide an overview of the current farm financial situation and explore strategies to manage expenses, monitor markets for pricing opportunities, and make the most of safety nets programs like crop insurance and government commodity programs.
Specialists will also discuss trends in Kansas land values, tools for managing farm stress, and considerations for retirement or transitioning the farm to the next generation.
K-State Ag Profitability Conference - Garden City
This program will provide an overview of the current farm financial situation and explore strategies to manage expenses, monitor markets for pricing opportunities, and make the most of safety nets programs like crop insurance and government commodity programs.
Specialists will also discuss trends in Kansas land values, tools for managing farm stress, and considerations for retirement or transitioning the farm to the next generation.
KBFA Quarterly Town Hall
The Kansas Black Farmers Association invites urban and rural farmers, partners, and supporters to join us for our Quarterly Town Hall at Kansas State University. This in-person gathering creates space for meaningful conversation, shared learning, and connection around the future of farming and food systems.
Local Food Town Hall
The January Town Hall will include an update on the State Food Policy Council, a presentation the Lawrence Farmers Market Double Up Protein Bucks program, and a screening of “The Table We Share”, a documentary on food insecurity in Kansas. Don’t miss it!
Bridging Healthcare, Food is Medicine & Local Food Systems
Food is Medicine is a growing effort to unite healthcare and community partners around the power of food to improve health, reduce hunger, and strengthen local economies. Please join Hunger Free Kansas, in collaboration with the Sunflower Foundation and the Kansas Food Action Network (KFAN), for a 10-part virtual learning series examining Food is Medicine and how these models and services are taking shape across our state and the country.
Register today for the next webinar in the 10-part virtual learning series on Food is Medicine
K-State Ag Profitability Conference - Hays
This program will provide an overview of the current farm financial situation and explore strategies to manage expenses, monitor markets for pricing opportunities, and make the most of safety nets programs like crop insurance and government commodity programs.
Specialists will also discuss trends in Kansas land values, tools for managing farm stress, and considerations for retirement or transitioning the farm to the next generation.
K-State Ag Profitability Conference - Colby
This program will provide an overview of the current farm financial situation and explore strategies to manage expenses, monitor markets for pricing opportunities, and make the most of safety nets programs like crop insurance and government commodity programs.
Specialists will also discuss trends in Kansas land values, tools for managing farm stress, and considerations for retirement or transitioning the farm to the next generation.
K-State Ag Profitability Conference - Mankato
This program will provide an overview of the current farm financial situation and explore strategies to manage expenses, monitor markets for pricing opportunities, and make the most of safety nets programs like crop insurance and government commodity programs.
Specialists will also discuss trends in Kansas land values, tools for managing farm stress, and considerations for retirement or transitioning the farm to the next generation.
Great Plains Growers Conference
The Great Plains Growers Conference in St. Joseph, Missouri, serves commercial fruit and vegetable producers and hobbyists across Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and other Midwestern states. This event offers valuable, research-driven insights from vegetable research specialists and experienced local growers, designed to help your farm flourish and succeed. It includes full day workshops on January 8, followed by several conference tracks, a trade show, and keynote speaker Curtis Millsap, on Farming as a Sacred Trust: Building Community at the Intersection of Land, Food & People.
Understanding Your NRCS Options for 2026
Not sure whether to apply to NRCS in 2026? Join RAFI on Jan. 6 in a zoom webinar to learn what the Jan. 15 deadline means & decide your next steps
Zoom Webinar: What Do NRCS’s 2026 Changes Mean for Farmers?
New deadlines, new programs — and how RAFI can help you navigate your options
When: January 6, 2026 12-1:30pm ET
Description: In the last two weeks, USDA/NRCS made two major conservation program announcements: a single nationwide “batching/ranking” date for NRCS program applications — January 15, 2026 — and a new “Regenerative Pilot Program” that sets aside EQIP and CSP program funding for specific conservation practices. Because 2025 brought significant changes at USDA, it’s understandable that some farmers may feel hesitant about engaging with NRCS or may be wondering whether applying could be beneficial to your farming operation.
RAFI will host a webinar for farmers on January 6, from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm ET, to present what we have learned thus far and answer questions you may have. We hope to help you understand your options, the next steps, and how best to communicate with NRCS offices so that you can approach the application process with greater clarity and confidence.
This session is designed to help farmers understand their options — and decide whether and how to move forward before the 2026 deadline.
Register here: https://www.rafiusa.org/events/understanding-your-nrcs-options-for-2026/
Here is a link to our detailed blog on how to apply to NRCS.
K-State Ag Profitability Conference - Hiawatha
This program will provide an overview of the current farm financial situation and explore strategies to manage expenses, monitor markets for pricing opportunities, and make the most of safety nets programs like crop insurance and government commodity programs.
Specialists will also discuss trends in Kansas land values, tools for managing farm stress, and considerations for retirement or transitioning the farm to the next generation.
“Why Do My Hands Hurt, and What Can I Do About It?”
This session will explore the anatomy of the upper extremity and the cause of common musculoskeletal and compressive problems affecting the upper extremity. In addition to exploring the anatomy, links to occupation and methods to mitigate injuries will also be discussed.
Cargill if by Land, Cargill if by Sea: A Deep Dive on Big Ag in Our Oceans
Women Food and Agriculture Network welcomes James Mitchell, NAMA Legislative Director, and Anthony Pahnke, San Francisco State University professor, for a look at how agriculture policy and Big Ag impacts our oceans in the second installment in WFAN's Advocacy & Policy 101 webinar series. A part of our Plate to Politics program reboot, we will be exploring ways to find your voice, speak up, and connect with others in your community to fight for what is important to you. Don't Cage Our Oceans might be that cause!
Views From the Field
Join Leslie Montee and Thomas Eisenbarth as they openly chat about the importance of caring for our mental health.
Thomas is a fifth-generation Kansan, ag educator, writer, and founder of Grounded, an initiative focused on strengthening mental health and emotional resilience in rural communities. Through personal experience and his V² framework, Thomas brings a relatable, boots-on-the-ground perspective to the challenges farm families face today.
K-State Ag Profitability Conference - Burlington
This program will provide an overview of the current farm financial situation and explore strategies to manage expenses, monitor markets for pricing opportunities, and make the most of safety nets programs like crop insurance and government commodity programs.
Specialists will also discuss trends in Kansas land values, tools for managing farm stress, and considerations for retirement or transitioning the farm to the next generation.
K-State Ag Profitability Conference - Manhattan
This program will provide an overview of the current farm financial situation and explore strategies to manage expenses, monitor markets for pricing opportunities, and make the most of safety nets programs like crop insurance and government commodity programs.
Specialists will also discuss trends in Kansas land values, tools for managing farm stress, and considerations for retirement or transitioning the farm to the next generation.
Biochar Workshop
Complete a bio-char burn using an in-ground trench and learn about how biochar can be used to increase soil health. - Kansas Permaculture Institute
SARE Farm Rancher Grant Infosession
Join Kansas State SARE Coordinator Kerri Ebert and, KRC's Executive Director, Tom Buller to discuss how to apply for the SARE Farmer Rancher Grant and to answer your questions. If you have questions before the webinar, please email them to us at our info email.
Applications are due Thursday, December 4th!
Farm to School Overview - November Views From the Field
Join Barb Depew and Eryn Davis, with KS Dept. of Education/Child Nutrition & Wellness, at KRC's monthly Views From the Field get together November 20th at 12pm. This month's gathering will highlight activities of the Kansas Farm to Plate Initiative in Child Nutrition Programs. Barb will share the successes of the past years, and Eryn will continue with future goals and projects to help incorporate local food on Kansas children’s plates.
Bee Calm, Bee Well
Beekeeping is an emerging therapeutic intervention being used by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Heroes to Hives program that can teach mindfulness and positively impact veteran mental health. During this session participants will learn about the considerations, equipment, and tools needed to facilitate a therapeutic beekeeping program, and will learn two therapeutic beekeeping practices. The presenter will also share the most current research on beekeeping as a therapeutic intervention.
Webinar-Food Security, Access, and Health Outcomes in Rural America: Challenges and Policy Pathways
This webinar will focus on the everyday challenges rural communities face in accessing healthy and affordable food, and how these challenges affect health and well-being. We will discuss the impact of policy reforms, unique challenges such as food deserts, and strategies to strengthen rural food systems through partnerships, education, and innovation.