The Kansas Rural Center (KRC) will hold its annual Farm and Food Conference Friday and Saturday November 8-9, 2019 in Wichita at the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview. This year, the two-day program will include a Friday evening anniversary celebration of KRC’s 40 Years as the voice for sustainable agriculture and a sustainable food system in Kansas.

Under a theme of “Planting Ideas, Growing Our Future”, speakers, panelists and workshop sessions will feature presentations and discussions on how biological, human, and economic diversity builds resilience and how we can make it happen on our farms and in our communities.

The keynoter for day one is Fred Iutzi, President of The Land Institute, who will address “Agriculture’s role in economic justice and ecological sustainability” exploring new ways to produce food in a redesigned agricultural system that will meet our needs in a changing climate. Day two will feature keynoter Becca Jablonski, Colorado State University Local Foods Agricultural Economist, on “Bridging the Urban/Rural Divide Through Local/Regional Food Systems”.

Both days will feature 12 workshops each day ranging from thought provoking presentations on a hot issues, to practical how-to’s for your farm or community and organizing how-to’s for advocacy and grassroots engagement.

Friday evening’s 40th Anniversary Celebration will be part of conference registration but also open to non-conference attendees for “$40 for 40” and feature an extensive local food buffet of snacks and hors d’oeuvres, local wine and beer, music and old friends.

Registration will be open later this summer, but mark your calendars now!