Community Calendar
Table View Farm Tour
For producers to learn about Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) opportunities
Topics Covered will include:
High Tunnel Implementation and Forest Improvement under EQIP - Samantha Adwell, Distriit Conservationist Franklin Co. NRCS
Soil Health & Composting
Mentorship Opportunities
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
Women for the Land Grazing Discussion & Hands On Workshop
American Farmland Trust's Women for the Land Program is hosting a discussion and hands on grazing workshop to improve producer and landowner understanding of grazing, grazing recovery and soil health. This event will take place on October 21st at the Goodland 4-H Building in Goodland, Kansas from 9am to 2pm MT. Please fill out the below information to register for the event by October 16th as space is limited.
Topeka Water Garden Society: Water Wars for Wild Wetlands
Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge are two marshes in west-central Kansas that are designated as wetlands of international importance. They are critical stopover habitat for Whooping Cranes and abound with migrating ducks, shorebirds, and Sandhill Cranes during migration. They also host several rare and endangered species including Black Rails, Snowy Plovers, and Interior Least Terns. With drought, climate change, and over-utilization of water for agriculture adjacent to the preserves, these wetlands are losing the water they need to support wildlife. Dr. Jackie Augustine, AOK Executive Director, will discuss the ecology of these wetlands as well as how Audubon of Kansas has worked and is working to ensure that these wetlands thrive.
potluck at 6:00 PM; presentation follows at approximately 6:45 PM
Farmers Voices| Tour, Table and Roundtable
Join the Kansas Black Farmers Association on October 22, from 9:00 AM–1:00 PM, at Adams Family Farm in Shawnee, Kansas, for a farm tour and meaningful conversation centered on farmers’ experiences and priorities.
Walk the farm, connect with fellow farmers, and take part in a roundtable discussion about agricultural policy, practical challenges, and next steps. Bring your questions, share what you’re experiencing, and help shape the conversation around the issues that matter to your farm and community.
Lunch is included.
Distributed Wind: Making Wind Power Work for You & Your Farm
Find out how to make that wind work for you and your farm with this educational webinar on how distributed wind power works, how it could benefit you, and where to find resources for getting started. Special guest hosts: Kathy Evenson-McDermott, Extension Specialist at Iowa State Extension and Outreach and Sophie Farr, researcher at National Lab of the Rockies Wind Technology Center.
Audubon of Kansas: Owl Hike: Whooooo's awake?
Barred and Great Horned Owls are common, but seldom-seen residents of Kansas. Dr. Jackie Augustine, AOK Executive Director, will discuss owl biology and lead participants on a hike through Kendalls Grove at Far West Wildlife-Friendly Farm to listen for owls. You will learn to identify owls by their calls. As owls are wild animals, viewing owls is not guaranteed, but there is a good chance to see them. Bring sturdy shoes for walking over uneven ground at night, and anything you need for outdoors (sunscreen, bug spray, water, etc.). We will not be using flashlights while searching for owls (so we don't scare them away), but you may want one for getting back to your vehicle.
Solar Freedom in Kansas: How You Can Help Expand Access to Affordable Solar - Sierra Club KS
Join Sierra Club Kansas for a public webinar on October 22 to learn about three policies we’re working to advance during the 2027 legislative session: Homeowner Associations (HOA) Solar Freedom, Plug-In Solar, and Community Solar.
Community Development Forums
Connect with others who are passionate about making Kansas communities stronger. Learn from real community success stories, participate in interactive discussions, and leave with practical strategies and resources you can use right away.
Non-Human Relatives of the Wetlands - CEP
Mark your calendars for two upcoming mini talk events happening about the Haskell Wetlands. This project is lead by Summer Powell
Trail Exchange Day - Sunflower Foundation
The free, one-day conference will provide participants with opportunities to connect with fellow trail supporters, discover new ideas, celebrate accomplishments, and help shape the future of trails in our state.
Beers of the Kaw - Friends of the Kaw
A Beer Tasting Event featuring Breweries along the Kansas Watershed & Kaw River to benefit Friends of the Kaw, a 501 c(3) organization.
Kansas Food Action Network Annual Convening
KFAN’s Annual Convening is a day of connection for the people doing food systems work every day. Whether you’re a farmer, producer, advocate, council member, nonprofit partner, educator, or working to strengthen food access in your community, this day is for you. Come connect, share ideas, learn from one another, and build relationships with people working toward a stronger Kansas food system.
Kansas Audubon Society: Kansas Crane Festival
Witness one of nature’s wonders as Sandhill Cranes and critically endangered Whooping Cranes migrate through central Kansas in November. Experience the incredible beauty of this ancient migration. Learn more about how Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (Quivira or QNWR) provides a crucial inland salt marsh and stopover point for these birds.
Spaces are limited and filling up fast so register today!
Community Development Forums
Connect with others who are passionate about making Kansas communities stronger. Learn from real community success stories, participate in interactive discussions, and leave with practical strategies and resources you can use right away.
Farm Dreams 2026
Are you a beginning farmer or deciding if owning your own farm is right for you? Come join Kansas Rural Center's virtual class from 6-8pm on Tuesday evenings November 10, 17, and 24 to talk with experienced farmers and other new and prospective farmers about your farming dreams. We'll focus on clarifying your values and quality-of-life goals, assessing your readiness to start and run your farm business, and work on creating plans to move forward. The class fee is $15 for three sessions.
Food and Farm Conference
Kansas Rural Center’s Food and Farm Conference features keynote speaker Candy Thomas and focus on topics surrounding regenerative agriculture, community building and farm transition.
Audubon of Kansas - Public Talk: Celebrating Cranes
Cranes are large charismatic species that have inspired cultures around the world. North America supports two crane species: the abundant Sandhill Crane and the rare Whooping Crane. Dr. Jackie Augustine, AOK Executive Director, will discuss crane biology and conservation with a special emphasis on cranes in Kansas.
Politics of the Wetlands - CEP
Mark your calendars for two upcoming mini talk events happening about the Haskell Wetlands. This project is lead by Summer Powell!
Home on the Range for Monarchs Butterflys
Join Conservation Nebraska for a presentation from Dr. Tim Dickson, who will be discussing the importance of rangeland for milkweed and monarch butterfly conservation.
Monarch caterpillars require milkweed hosts, and it has generally been assumed that large grazers such as cattle and bison will not eat milkweed. However, we have found that large grazers eat milkweeds at approximately the same rate as grasses in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas.
A Piece of Kansas Soil "friendraiser"
Over the past thirty years, founder and director Jim Cossaart has been working to restore his fifth-generation Kansas family farm from row crops to native prairie—reconnecting the land with an ecological history much older than the farm itself.
On October 10, visit the farm for a chance to gather with people who care about Kansas land, conservation, and the future of our rural landscapes. We’ll share food, tour the restored prairies, and hear from Jim about the story and vision behind A Piece of Kansas Soil. We’re also excited to welcome Kieran Mulvaney, conservation author and regular contributor to National Geographic, for a special presentation.
Throughout the day, they’ll make plenty of room for conversation about prairie restoration, regenerative agriculture, and conservation in Kansas, and for simply enjoying the land and one another’s company.
If you’re interested in joining, please fill out our brief interest form below. They will follow up with detailed directions and arrival information as the event gets closer.
Southwind General Meeting: Views from the Field - Data Centers
Data centers are a topic on a lot of our minds and the subject of many contentious conversations. Join recorded KRC webinar with the special guests, Lindsay Hamilton (Climate + Energy Project) and Ty Gorman (Sierra Club), as they discuss the state of data centers in Kansas and how community members may engage their local representatives.
Bring a favorite dish to share with everyone during our Social Hour. Please bring your tableware to reduce trash.
Community Development Forums
Connect with others who are passionate about making Kansas communities stronger. Learn from real community success stories, participate in interactive discussions, and leave with practical strategies and resources you can use right away.
Sips and Stems
Join in for a lovely morning playing with flowers at Juniper Gardens Training Farm! You’ll learn to assemble your own bouquet of gorgeous blooms grown by New Roots and other local farmers, with expert instruction from florist Colleen McCoole Payne of FarmStrong Flowers and the KC Flower Farmers Wholesale Market.
You’ll also be treated to a Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar that includes all the fixings, with alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available, plus a light brunch of pastries, fruit, and cheese.
Learn from the best, make your unique-to-you bouquet, stroll around and check out the farm, and have a nice little brunch too. We just know it’s going to be the sweetest morning on the farm!
Community Development Forums
Connect with others who are passionate about making Kansas communities stronger. Learn from real community success stories, participate in interactive discussions, and leave with practical strategies and resources you can use right away.
Prairie Festival - The Land institute
At this year’s Prairie Festival: 50 years of perennial possibilities, The Land Institute invites members of the community to reflect on the past 50 years of our collective work to transform food systems for people and the planet and envision the next 50 years of a global perennial agriculture revolution.
Community Development Forums
Connect with others who are passionate about making Kansas communities stronger. Learn from real community success stories, participate in interactive discussions, and leave with practical strategies and resources you can use right away.
Soil Health School: Dig into the Fundamentals of Soil Health
Join the Kansas Soil Health Alliance for two days of hands-on soil health education and networking for beginners. This school is aimed at producers who are less than 10 years into a soil health management system, and will offer practical tools and support to help guide the next steps for your farm and/or livestock operation.
Kansas Soil Health School
This school is aimed at producers who are 1-5 years into a soil health management system, and will offer practical tools and support to help guide the next steps for your farm and/or livestock operation.
Indigenous Food Sovereignty Summit
Save the date for a unique and powerful experience at the University of Kansas. Gather to share knowledge, strategies, and stories of success that strengthen traditional food systems and inspire initiatives toward a thriving and healthy community!
Urban Food Systems Symposium
UFSS brings together a national and international audience of academic, non-profit, private-sector, government and research-oriented professionals around this years’ theme of ‘Cultivating Communities, Cities, and Food Systems.’ UFSS fosters collaboration and emphasizes the role of urban food systems in shaping sustainable solutions for our cities and communities.
Cultivating Communities, Cities, and Food Systems
UFSS brings together a national and international audience of academic, non-profit, private-sector, government and research-oriented professionals around this years’ theme of ‘Cultivating Communities, Cities, and Food Systems.’ UFSS fosters collaboration and emphasizes the role of urban food systems in shaping sustainable solutions for our cities and communities.
FREE Foodpreneur Lunch and Learn
Have your questions answered about licensing, regulations, and accessing shared kitchens. Resources to help entrepreneurs start or grow their food businesses will be available at no cost. Come enjoy lunch and leave equipped to turn your food entrepreneurship dreams into reality.
Co-op Curious
What happens when communities work together to solve local challenges? Could a cooperative business be right for you? Learn about cooperative business structures, discuss shared challenges, and explore resources available through the Homegrown Prosperity grant. Whether you're curious or actively involved, come connect and learn about the potential of cooperation.
Common Ground Screening
Kansas Rural Center is excited to partner with Working Films and the Redford Center for a screening of "Common Ground." This is a free event with refreshments provided by the Millennium Cafe. Audience participation in discussing scenes from the film is essential for completing this project and will provide valuable feedback that can help foster community action in the future.
About the film:Common Ground is the highly anticipated sequel to the juggernaut success documentary, Kiss the Ground, which touched over 1 billion people globally and inspired the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to put $20 billion toward soil health. By fusing journalistic expose’ with deeply personal stories from those on the front lines of the food movement, Common Ground unveils a dark web of money, power, and politics behind our broken food system. The film reveals how unjust practices forged our current farm system in which farmers of all colors are literally dying to feed us. The film profiles a hopeful and uplifting movement of white, black, and indigenous farmers who are using alternative “regenerative” models of agriculture that could balance the climate, save our health, and stabilize America’s economy – before it’s too late.
Common Ground Screening
Farmers, gardeners, sustainability experts, and anyone interested in the politics of food are invited to join us for a screening of Common Ground at the Topeka Public Library in Marvin Auditorium B on Wednesday, August 26th at 6 PM
Common Ground uncovers the dark web of money, power, and politics behind our broken food system. The film reveals how unjust practices have shaped our current agricultural system, where farmers of all backgrounds are struggling to feed us. It highlights a hopeful movement of white, Black, and Indigenous farmers who are adopting alternative “regenerative” models of agriculture that could help balance the climate, improve our health, and stabilize America’s economy—before it's too late..
Virtual Fence Workshop
Want to learn more about virtual fence? Join us for an informal workshop. Lunch provided. RSVPs requested by August 14 to Lori.Siebert@ks.nacdnet.net or Lisa.Suderman@ks.nacdnet.net or call the office at 620-382-3714 ext. 3
Speakers include:
Doug Spencer, NRCS State Range Conservationist
David Kraft, Kansas Grazing Lands Coaltion
Jaymelynn Farney, Kansas State university
Lisa Suderman, Marion Reservoir & Cottonwood WRAPS
Representatives from Halter and Monil collars
Chris Mushrush, Mushrush Red Angus
Dean Suderman
Brandon Greenwood
Nate Nelson
Commercial Vegetable Field Day (KC Farmers Coalition)
The 2026 Commercial Vegetable Field Day features current research updates from Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center and K-State Olathe. Field Day content will be of interest to all fruit and vegetable growers, regardless of farm size. Research project presentations will be followed by a cookout meal and Growing Growers KC apprentice recognition.
Beginning growers are eligible for up to $500 stipend reimbursement for travel and registration to this and other networking/training events: https://www.kscga.org/new-grower-program
Food Business Start-Up Summit
The Food Business Start-Up Summit is a hands-on, two-day working retreat designed to help Kansas food and farm entrepreneurs make real progress on their businesses. Rather than sitting through presentations, participants work alongside trusted advisors and peers to tackle challenges like licensing, financing, production, distribution, and growth. Bring your key partners (teams of up to three) and step away from daily operations to gain clarity, build confidence, and leave with a practical action plan tailored to your business.
2026 Kansas Environmental Conference
Hear presentations from the private and public sectors, including program and regulation updates, emerging issues and technological innovations.
Check KSDE for actual times. To sign up for upcoming details and updates for the Kansas Environmental Conference, click here.
Kansas Environmental Conference
Environmental professionals: boost your knowledge on environmental issues, new technologies, regulatory information and pollution prevention activities.
Overview: Kansas’ Food is Medicine Roadmap - Event by Hunger Free Kansas
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
To Use a Mountain // No Nukes KC Coalition
Six rural American communities are marked as candidates for an unthinkable fate: their land, a burial ground for 77,000 tons of nuclear waste. Against the impassive logic of government analysis and archives, a people’s history of resistance and stewardship emerges through a visceral journey across the landscapes, ecologies, and personal histories of the candidate sites. Presented by No Nukes KC Coalition and followed by an in-person Q&A with the filmmaker, Casey Carter!
To Use a Mountain Screening
Six rural American communities are marked as candidates for an unthinkable fate: their land, a burial ground for 77,000 tons of nuclear waste. Against the impassive logic of government analysis and archives, a people’s history of resistance and stewardship emerges through a visceral journey across the landscapes, ecologies, and personal histories of the candidate sites.
Regenerative Food, Housing, and Energy through Permaculture Design - Kansas Permaculture Institute
Amber Thumann, permaculture consultant, teacher and 20 year practitioner, is opening her Permaculture homestead to the public for a day! Come ask questions, see experiments in process, and enjoy a look at what permaculture can do in eastern Kansas.
Guided tours will start every hour and guests are encouraged to ask questions and explore the homestead.
Enhancing Your Grazing 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 result in better grass and improve range health, resulting in enhanced grazing and stewardship on the ranch.