Special thanks to our sponsors Patron
Guardian
Ally Chesapeake Bay Foundation Green Mountain Energy Keystone Bio-Ag Laurel Valley Soils Natural Awakenings Magazine Nature Safe Fertilizers Northeast SARE Rimol Greenhouse Systems Sierra Club, PA Chapter Southern Exposure Seed Exchange Wild For Salmon
Backer Appalachian Food Works Blue River Organic Seed Earth Tools Inc. Fertrell Kitchen Table Consultants Logan Labs Longwood Gardens Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG) Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative Peace Tree Farm Vitalis Organic Seeds
Media Partners
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MARKET
GrasSFarmer The STockman
Interested in sponsoring, exhibiting, or advertising? Contact sponsor@pasafarming.org or call 814.349.9856 x704.
Our 72nd Year — Since 1947
Director’s note Dear friends, We can’t wait to see you in Lancaster! More than 1,800 farmers, food system professionals, and sustainable agriculture supporters attended our 2019 Conference, our biggest conference to date, and we’ve got even more in store for you in 2020—including more diverse programming, an expanded trade show, and special networking events. Each year, food and farming education is only becoming more relevant and urgent as we work together to mitigate and adapt to climate change, train a new generation of farmers, and conduct the long overdue work of building a more equitable food system. The collective knowledge, skills, and experiences that you acquire and share with one another is what, day by day, is building a more secure, community-based food system that nourishes the health of our families, our neighbors, and our environment. I look forward to seeing you at our 2020 Conference, where we will celebrate the season behind us and prepare for the good work ahead.
Hannah Smith-Brubaker, Executive Director
Contents 2 | Conference at a glance 2 | Schedule overview 3 | Wednesday intensives 5 | Thursday sessions 6 | Friday sessions 7 | Saturday sessions 8 | Future Farmers (K–8th grade) 9 | Workshare & scholarships 9 | Volunteer & donate 10 | Trade show 12 | Meals, meetings, mixers, movies 14 | Registration 16 | Lodging & travel 17 | Keynote presentations 814.349.9856 | 1
Conference at a glance Each February, farmers, food system professionals, educators, advocates, and homesteaders gather at our annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference for four days of intensive learning on 100+ food and farming topics. No matter your experience level or agricultural interests, you’ll be able to pack your schedule with valuable sessions that help you hone your craft, grow your business, or advance your cause. Programs vary in length and depth, with a wide variety of workshops, panels, and facilitated discussion groups.
Our conference additionally features networking and social events, a miniconference for kids, and an expansive trade show that includes more than 100 vendors. People who are passionate about sustainable agriculture and community-based food systems from more than 30 states and six countries have gathered at our hallmark event since 1992, leaving energized and inspired for the year to come.
Schedule overview
Find a detailed schedule of educational sessions and presenters on pages 3–8.
Tuesday, February 4
Friday, February 7
6–8pm Registration desk open
7:30am–7:30pm Registration desk open 8am Trade show opens 8:30–10am Morning sessions 10:30am Plenary & keynote address by Michael Twitty 12pm Lunch (ticketed) 1:30–5pm Afternoon sessions 5–6pm Reception 6pm Dinner (ticketed) & PASAbilities Awards 8pm Movie screenings
Wednesday, February 5 7:30am–9:30pm Registration desk open 9am–5pm Full-day intensives Lunch available for purchase.
Thursday, February 6 7:30am–9:30pm Registration desk open 8am Trade show opens 8:30–10am Morning sessions 10:30am Plenary & keynote address by Josh Tickell 12pm Lunch (ticketed) 1:30–5pm Afternoon sessions 5–6pm Reception
Dinner on the town–look for our benefit dinners at partner restaurants! 7:30pm Mixers 8pm Movie screenings 2 | pasafarming.org/conference
Saturday, February 8 7:30am–2pm Registration desk open 8am Trade show opens 8:30am–12pm Morning sessions 12pm Lunch (ticketed) 1pm Trade show closes 1pm PASA Annual Meeting & Regional Breakouts
Wednesday, February 5 Take a deep dive into one of these full-day intensives! Intensives run 9am to 5pm. They are located at the Lancaster County Convention Center and cost the full-day registration rate (see page 14), unless otherwise noted.
Dairy Dynamics: Pasture to Parlor
Greenhouse Short Course
Dan Olson, Forage Innovations; Fay Benson, Cornell Small Dairy Support; Liz Reitzig, Real Food Consumer Coalition
Steve Bogash, Marrone Bio Innovations; Tom Ford & Nick Flax, Penn State Extension; Harry Edwards, Rimol Greenhouses
What strategies can dairy farmers use to strengthen dairy and grazing operations in 2020 and beyond? We’ll discuss how to find energy in both perennial and annual forages, how to “farm with the public in mind” by considering consumer psychology, and opportunities for contract grazing dairy heifers. You’ll also learn about current legislative work related to legalizing raw dairy beyond milk, and expanding on-farm animal processing via the PRIME Act.
Learn about all aspects of general greenhouse production for all crops and pest management systems. This course is intended for those considering building a greenhouse, new entries into the business, and new hires for greenhouse businesses. We will cover everything that is needed to get started growing indoors, including site selection, structures, water quality, growing media, crop nutrition, pest management, and more.
Ecological Design for Small-Scale & Urban Farms: Methods & Techniques Robyn Mello, Edenspore Design; Benjamin Weiss, Susquehanna Sustainable Enterprises
Learn how to apply ecological and ethical principles of design to any small-scale agricultural site. Robyn and Ben will draw from their collective experience as regenerative farmers and permaculture designers to explain how to incorporate rewilding and riparian buffer zones into farm design; how to diversify yield through integrating agroforestry systems (and how to market those diversified products); and how to incorporate educational programming into your site. You’ll also take virtual tours of successful ecological design sites, and work in groups to complete design exercises.
Digging Deep Into Financing Your Farm’s Growth Julia Shanks, The Farmer's Office; Elaine Lemmon, Kitchen Table Consultants
To make big changes in your farm business (like building a processing facility or building a farm store), you need a solid financial plan that not only explores the potential increased profits, but also the impact of debt on cash flow. In this day-long workshop, we’ll dig into farm finances to understand the historicals and what opportunities exist; how to set sales goals; how to determine financing needs; and how to create financial projections for lenders.
Cooperative Leadership Conference
Erica Frenay, Cornell Small Farms Program; Patty Neiner, Pennsylvania Women’s Agricultural Network
Peggy Fogarty & Stephen McDow, Keystone Development Center Cooperative Solutions; Kim Patrick, JFC Staffing Companies; Francisca Pretorius, Jason Weiner Law Associates; Bill Kitsch, Ephrata National Bank; Dami Odetola, National Co-op Bank; Andrew Rose, Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit
This highly interactive workshop hosted by the Pennsylvania Women’s Agricultural Network will help people who identify as women reflect on what is most important to them, and provide tools for making holistic decisions for themselves, their families, and their farms. You’ll learn the guiding principles of holistic management decision-making, and how to adhere to your values even under challenging circumstances.
Co-ops, owned and operated by the people who use their services, leverage the energy and resources to serve a mutual need helping farmers improve marketing power and control over business decisions. This training hosted by Keystone Development Center offers advanced education to leaders within cooperative businesses. This intensive is designed for board members, general managers, and members who wish to strengthen their co-op.
Holistic Decision Making for Women
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Wednesday, February 5 (cont.) Raising Happy, Healthy Organic Pigs on Pasture Alice Percy, Fedco & Treble Ridge Farm
What do hogs need in their diet to grow and thrive? What role does pasturing play in hog nutrition and welfare? How can you keep hogs healthy without resorting to synthetic medications? This session provides an in-depth introduction to the nutrient requirements of hogs, intensive and extensive pasture systems, and natural hog healthcare.
Food Safety Grower Training Gary Bloss, Pennsylvania Farmers Union; Jeffrey Stoltzfus, Penn State Extension; Lindsay Gilmour, Organic Planet
This training hosted by Produce Safety Alliance will teach best practices for on-farm food safety and how to reduce risks associated with worker health and hygiene; soil amendments; wildlife, domesticated animals, and land use; agricultural water; and post-harvest handling. The curriculum is recognized by the FDA, and is coordinated with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification requirements. All participants will receive a lifetime certificate and a workbook thanks to support from the Farmers Union. The training is open to all farmers, not only those covered under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Cost: $50 Capacity: Limited to 40
Tractor Fundamentals: Operation, Maintenance & Safety Peggy Newel, Penn State Extension
This full-day session will demystify tractors, helping you understand how tractors are designed to work, how to operate them safely and effectively, and how to perform regular maintenance tasks. We’ll cover a substantial amount of material in a classroom setting, on and around a tractor, and in the “workshop.” You’ll leave this class with a much greater appreciation for safe tractor use and machinery care, along with new knowledge and resources. Location: Southeast Ag Research and Extension Center in Manheim (25 minutes from Lancaster) Cost: $20 is added to the full-day registration rate, includes lunch Capacity: Limited to 12; on-site registration not available
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Successful Biological Orcharding Michael Phillips, Holistic Orchard Network; Ike Kerschner, North Star Orchard
Fascinating biological connections make for a healthy orchard ecosystem. All insect pests and fruit tree disease—whether fungal or bacterial—have launching points and particular timing. Healthy trees address these challenges first and foremost from within. During this intensive, you’ll learn how to make an ongoing investment in soil nutrition and biodiversity to set the stage for gentler organic sprays for growing a successful fruit crop. The challenges you face at your locale will become far more manageable as you build a holistic system that keeps trees and berry plantings healthy from the get-go. Location: North Star Orchard in Cochranville (45 minutes from Lancaster) Cost: $20 is added to the full-day registration rate, includes lunch Capacity: Limited to 40; on-site registration not available
Regenerative Farmscape Design Alyson Earl, Jonathan Darby, Wilson Alvarez, & Andrew Horn, Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education
The Horn Farm Center is creating a diversified agroecological farm, designed according to the patterns and principles of nature. We focus on regenerating soil health, creating water retention landscapes, and fostering efficient nutrient cycling. By exposing the invisible links between farm and forest, we reveal that they are really just one complex, beautiful, and interdependent system. Join us for a day-long, hands-on session on the farm to see how these systems were created, interact, and how they can be replicated on your farm. Location: Horn Farm Center in York (30 minutes from Lancaster) Cost: $20 is added to the full-day registration rate, includes lunch Capacity: Limited to 25; on-site registration not available
Thursday, February 6 8:30–10am (Thurs.) farmOS for Produce Safety Record Keeping, Organic Certification & More Michael Stenta, Farmier
Growing High Tunnel Cucumbers Successfully Steve Bogash, Marrone Bio Innovations
Multi-Species Grazing Basics: From Setup & Design to Selecting Animals Tara & Pete Burns, Valley Dream Farm
Organic Weed Control in Row Crops
Sam Hitchcock Tilton, Lakeshore Technical College
The 6 Reasons People Decide to Buy Your Product Corinna Bench, MyDigitalFarmer
1:30–3pm (Thurs.) Bread & Butter Trees: Chestnut & Hazelnut Akiva Silver, Twisted Tree Farm
Clinic: From Soil Test to Management Plan Kirsten Kurtz, Cornell Soil Health Laboratory
Clinic: Putting farmOS to Work on Your Farm Michael Stenta, Farmier
Grilling up Profits: Farm to Hand Approaches for Farmers Markets
Greg Boulos, Blackberry Meadows Farm
Reading the Land: Leading Indicators for Pasture Management Alexis Russell, Ayrshire Farm
The Carbon Sequestration Potential of Agriculture
Eric Sauder, TeamAg, Inc.; Josh Tickell, Kiss the Ground
Making a Home for the Rain
Stacy Levy, Sere Ltd. Art Water Land
Flood Resiliency & Whole Farm Planning
Campaign Organizing 101: How to Change Food Policy
Growing Your Medicinal Herb Business
Raising Resilient Herbs, Fruits & Vegetables
Urban Community Orchards & Food Forests
Walk-Behind Tractor Cultivation
Exploring the Opportunities & Challenges of Growing Hemp
Scaling to Wholesale: Vegetable Production & Sales for Wholesale Market
Do We Have a Farmers Market Problem?
What’s up With My Bees? Questions, Answers & Opinions
Lamonte Garber & Matt Ehrhart, Stroud Water Research Center
Andrea & Matthias Reisen, Healing Spirits Herb Farm Phil Forsyth, Alyssa Schimmel, Michael Muehlbauer & Alkebu-lan Marcus, Philadelphia Orchard Project
Steve Groff, Hemp Innovators
Amy Crone, Maryland Farmers Market Association; Ben Wenk, Three Springs Fruit Farm; Darlene Wolnik, Farmers Market Coalition; Melissa Flynn, Green City Market
Wrestling With Whiteness in Farm & Food Systems Organizations
Tracy Lerman, Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group; Elizabeth Gabriel, Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming; Lauren Shweder Biel, DC Greens
Hands-on Introduction to Cover Crop Decision Tools
Victoria Ackroyd, USDA Agricultural Research Service; Ankita Raturi, Purdue University
Food & Beverage Specialty Grains: Quality Considerations for End Use Mark Brault, Deer Creek Malthouse
Designing Farm-Based Educational Infrastructure & Programs
Gabrielle Hayes, City Parks Foundation; Ciara Sidell, Randall's Island Park Alliance
KEYNOTE (Thurs.) Activism & Regeneration
Josh Tickell, Big Picture Ranch
Nicole Sugerman, Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group Acadia Tucker, Stone Pier Press
Sam Hitchcock Tilton, Lakeshore Technical College; Will Staufer; Doug Zehr, Tilmor
George Brittenburg & Ola Creston, Taproot Farm
Bill Day, The Pfeiffer Center
1:30–5pm (Thurs.) RAWMI: Ultra-Low-Risk Raw Milk Production Training
Mark McAfee, Raw Milk Institute/Organic Pastures Dairy Company; Joseph Heckman, Raw Milk Institute/Rutgers University; Sarah Smith, Raw Milk Institute; Edwin Shank, The Family Cow
Safe & Efficient Packhouse Design
Chris Callahan & Andrew Chamberlin, University of Vermont; Cara Fraver, National Young Farmers Coalition; Taylor Mendell, Footprint Farm
CBD Hemp: From Seed to Shelf
Ben Davies, Wild Fox Provisions LLC; Kevin Provost, Greenhouse Ventures; Anais Beddard, Lady Moon Farms; Joe Ullman, Atlas Seeds; Josh Leidhecker, Susquehanna Mills Company; Corey Fitze, PHR Labs
No-Till & Cover Crops: Farming On the Cutting Edge
Jim Hershey, Hershey Farms LLC; Lucas Criswell, Criswell Acres; Steve Groff, Cover Crop Coaching; Lisa Blazure, Pa. No-Till Alliance
3:30–5pm (Thurs.) Pastured Rabbit for Profit
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Supporting the Arboreal Foodweb
Michael Phillips, Holistic Orchard Network
From Unaware to Raving Fan: The 8 Stages of Customer Development
Digging Into the Pennsylvania Farm Bill
Corinna Bench, MyDigitalFarmer
A Winter CSA Guide: Growing Strategies for the Off Season
Nina Berryman, Weavers Way Farms & others TBD
Pa. Dept. of Agriculture & Pa. Dept. of Community & Economic Development
Kirstie Jones, Pennypack Farm & Education Center
The Changing Local Foods Marketplace Myrna Greenfield, Good Egg Marketing
Unique Farm Partnerships: Organizational Collaboration for Urban Farms Grow Cut Flowers for Profit
Lisa Ziegler, Gardener’s Workshop Farm
Management of Allium Leafminer in Organic Yellow Onion
Living Soils: How Soil Biology Fits Into a Soil Health Management Plan
Gladis Zinati, Rodale Institute
Cultivating Consensus & Political Power: Urban Farmer Panel & Working Group
Sam Hitchcock Tilton, Lakeshore Technical College
Troy Hinke, Living Roots Compost Tea
Gabrielle Hayes, City Parks Foundation; Ciara Sidell, Randall’s Island Park Alliance
Be Your Own Farm Mechanic
David Sandy, Healthy Harvest Farm
Collaborating to Serve Veterans in Pennsylvania Ag
Sarah Dachos, Farmer Veteran Coalition; Mimi Thomas-Brooker, Pa. Veteran Farming Project/Troops to Tractors; Lee Rinehart, National Center for Appropriate Technology/ Armed to Farm; Patrick Andrews, Pa. Dept. of Agriculture/Homegrown By Heroes
Wholesale Broccoli
Thomas Björkman, Cornell University; Will Brownback, Spiral Path Farm; Brian Campbell, Campbell Farms
Clinic: How to Become Certified Organic Craig Shroyer, Jen Berkebile, & Ashley Madea, PCO; Sam Malriat, Rodale Institute
Clinic: I Meant to Work on My Business Plan...Then Life Happened
Winifred McGee & Cynthia Nellis, Clarion University Small Business Development Center; Elaine Lemmon, Kitchen Table Consultants
Friday, February 7 8:30–10am (Fri.)
Vegetable & Specialty Crop Tractor Cultivation for Beginners
Engaging Women Landowners & Women in Agriculture to Increase Conservation Margot Mays, American Farmland Trust; Barbara Wyckoff, Creative Disruptors
Employment Considerations for Small Businesses & Farms
Marlene van Nelson, Trellis Legal, LLC
Clinic: Making Cover Crops Work for Your Row Crops
Steve Groff, Cover Crop Coaching
KEYNOTE (Fri.) Culinary Justice: Defining a Theory of Gastronomic Sovereignty Michael Twitty, Afroculinaria
1:30–3pm (Fri.) Growing & Packing the Highest Quality Tomatoes
Steve Bogash, Marrone Bio Innovations
Wicking Hills: A New Natural Irrigation & Flood Protection System
Louis Lego, Elderberry Pond Farm & Restaurant
A Conversation on Food, Farming & Culture Shani Mink, Jewish Farmer Network; Michael Twitty, Afroculinaria
10 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Starting to Farm Justin Naylor, Old Tioga Farm
Apple Tree Pruning & Grafting Basics
Hot Cut-Flower Crops for the Cool Season
Cold-Hardy Winter Vegetables
Hedgerows, Buffers & Windbreaks for Diversity, Food & Fodder
Clair Kauffman, Kauffman’s Fruit Farm Pam Dawling, Twin Oaks Community
Getting the Most Profit From Your High Tunnel
Art King, Harvest Valley Farms; Kathy Demchak, Penn State Extension
Growing Year Round on Small Acreage Stephanie Spock & John Squicciarino, Rolling Hills Farm
Multi-Species Pastured Livestock Processing & Marketing Tara & Pete Burns, Valley Dream Farm
Soil Redemption Song
Michael Phillips, Holistic Orchard Network 6 | pasafarming.org/conference
Lisa Ziegler, Gardener’s Workshop Farm
Tracey Coulter, Pa. Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry
Therapeutic Farming
Abbie Spackman, AgrAbility; Taylor Kinniburgh, Baltimore Free Farm; Robyn Mello, Edenspore Design; Max Vom Stein, Triform Camphill Community
Policy & Grassroots Action for Historically Underserved Farmers
Nichelle Harriott, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition; Nicole Sugerman, Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
Young Leaders Panel: Food System Solutions Hosted by LEAF Project
Extending the Grazing Season
Russ Wilson, Wilson Land & Cattle Co.
Clinic: Succeeding with Certified Organic: Years 2 to 5
Small-Scale Specialty Grain Production
Craig Shroyer, Jen Berkebile & Ashley Madea, PCO; Sam Malriat, Rodale Institute
Learning Circle: Weed Control
Saturday, February 8
Elizabeth Dyck, Organic Growers’ Research & Information-Sharing Network; Henry Beiler, Wholesome Acres
Sam Hitchcock Tilton, Lakeshore Technical College
Clinic: From Soil Test to Management Plan Kirsten Kurtz, Cornell Soil Health Laboratory
1:30–5pm (Fri.) Planning to Plant: Vegetable Crop Selection & Rotation
Sara Eckert & Dave Sandy, Healthy Harvest Farm; Sarah Bay Nawa & Franklin Egan, PASA
3:30–5pm (Fri.) Growing Great Garlic
Pam Dawling, Twin Oaks Community
Perennials & Natives for Cut Flowers Lisa Ziegler, Gardener’s Workshop Farm
Keeping Seeds & Building Sovereignty
Owen Taylor, Truelove Seeds; Nykisha Madison, Urban Tree Connection; Lan Dinh, VietLEAD, Urban Affairs Coalition; Chris Bolden-Newsome, Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram’s Garden; Alex Wenger, Field’s Edge Farm
Finding Farmland in Pennsylvania
8:30–10am (Sat.) Fungal Fortunes for Your Diversified Farm Rusty Orner, Quiet Creek Herb Farm & School of Country Living; William Padilla-Brown, Mycosymbiotics
Insider’s Guide to Raising Grass-fed Meat Lambs Caroline Owens, Owens Farm
Making Sense of Base Cation Ratios Douglas Doohan & Steve Culman, The Ohio State University
SARE Series: A Sample of On-Farm Research Projects
Kristy Borrelli, Northeast SARE; Steven Harnish, Central Manor Dairy; Lisa Garfield, Calliope Farm; Jeffery Berta, Always Summer Herbs
3 Visions of Value-Added Dairy
David Rice, Pa. Cheese Guild & Clover Creek Cheese Cellar; Kelly Harding, The Village Cheesemaker; Jude Hess, Little Antietam Goat Dairy
Karen Gardner & Adrienne Nelson, National Young Farmers Coalition; Deirdre Flemming, Two Gander Farm
Panel: Innovative Methods for Pastured Meat Chickens
Coppiced Christmas Trees as a Profitable Addition to Any Farm
Farming for Peanuts
Emmet Van Driesche, The Pieropan Christmas Tree Farm
Understanding the Farm as a Sustainable Business Mark Travers, One Straw Farm
Incorporating Native Plants Into the Grazing System
Russ Wilson, Wilson Land & Cattle Co.
Soil Health & Water Quality Under Contrasting Farming Practices
Atanu Mukherjee, Rodale Institute; Raven Bier & Jinjun Kan, Stroud Water Research Center
Working with Local Government to Establish Urban & Suburban Farms
Michael Kodner, Dancing Creek Farm Sarah Bay Nawa, PASA; John Eisenstein, Jade Family Farm
Building Local Supply Chains to Connect Rural & Urban Communities Judy Wicks & Katherine Rapin, All Together Now Pa.; Benjamin Davies, Wild Fox Farm; Drew Oberholtzer, Coexist Build
A Citizen’s Guide to Backyard Carbon Farming Acadia Tucker, Stone Pier Press
Discussion: Wet Weather Tillage
Jenn Halpin & Matt Steiman, Dickinson College Farm
Panel: Agritourism From Farm Dinners to Farm Stays
Setting up On-Farm Composting Systems for Quality Compost on Any Scale
Claudia Schmidt, Penn State University; Katie Briggs, eclectikdomestic.com; Lou & Merby Lego, Elderberry Pond Farm & Restaurant; Elisa Fleming, Verdant View Farm; Ronald Seagrave, Seagrave-Williams Farm & Virginia’s Veteran Healing Farm; Teddy Moynihan, Plowshare Farms
Small-Scale Grain Processing Equipment
I’m Not Dead Yet! (Managing a New Reality When “Plan A” Takes a Hit)
Benjamin Weiss, Susquehanna Sustainable Enterprises LLC; Douglas Smith, City of Lancaster
Troy Hinke, Living Roots Compost Tea
Elizabeth Dyck, Organic Growers’ Research & Information-Sharing Network; Henry Beiler, Wholesome Acres
Hispanic Farmers in Pa.: How Can Educators Support Their Advancement? Ilse Huerta-Arredondo, Penn State University; Abigail Appleman, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Katie College, Stoney Creek Valley Farm
Tax Planning for Farmers
Jay Clark, Law Office of James Clark
Integrating Seed Saving Into Your Small Farm Operation
Owen Taylor, Truelove Seeds; Ira Wallace, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange 814.349.9856 | 7
8:30am–12pm (Sat.)
On-Farm Retail Marketing
Advocating for Agricultural Policy Change at the State & Local Level
How to Write Good Standard Operating Procedures for Food Safety Plans
Karen Gardner & Adrienne Nelson, National Young Farmers Coalition; Dana Harris-Yates, Black Urban Gardeners & Farmers Cooperative of Pittsburgh; Kim Cook, Young Farmers Coalition of Southeastern Pa.
10:30am–12pm (Sat.) Organic & Sustainable Farming Need a Green New Deal
Elizabeth Henderson, Peacework CSA; Patti Naylor, Family Farm Defenders; George Naylor, Family Farm Defenders; Tonya Noel, Flower City Noire Collective
Spring & Summer Hoophouses
Pam Dawling, Twin Oaks Community
Group Discussion on Sustaining Value-Added Dairy
Sue Miller, Pa. Cheese Guild & Birchrun Hills Farm
Medicinal Herbs: From Field to Bottle Rick Hess, Natural Hope Herbals
Navigating the Maze of Legal Considerations Around Agritourism Marlene van Nelson, Trellis Legal LLC
Farming in Real Life: 3 Perspectives on Making It Work
John Peter Flynn, Pete’s Produce Farm LTD
Cathy Davies, Food Industry Employment Program; Lindsay Gilmour, Organic Planet
School Gardens: Nourishing & Educating Our Students & Communities
Ashlie Delshad, West Chester University; Beth Choate, Allegheny College; Bob Tuori, Ithaca High School; Kelsey Gartner, Great Valley School District
What’s Working in Social Media Corinna Bench, MyDigitalFarmer
Student-Centered Campus Food (& Compost!) Production Lisa Miskelly, Lafayette College Farm
Solar Grazing Discussion: Experienced Sheep Farmers Swap Stories
Lexie Hain, American Solar Grazing Association; Lewis Fox, Agrivoltaic Solutions LLC; Julie Bishop, Solar Sheep LLC; Caroline Owens, Owens Farm
Building Strong Teams With Trust-Based Communication
Suzanna Windon, Penn State University; George Brittenburg & Ola Creston, Taproot Farm
Organic Research Flash Talks & Discussion Session
Leigh & Olin Funderburk, Stoney Creek Farm; Emmet Van Driesche, The Pieropan Christmas Tree Farm
Mary Barbercheck, Elsa Sanchez, Kristy Borrelli, Beth Gugino, John Wallace, Sarah Isbell, Alyssa Collins, & Laura Kaminsly, Penn State University
Experiments in No-Till, Small-Scale, Mixed Vegetable Production
Clinic: Making Cover Crops Work for Your Vegetable Farm
Nina Berryman, Weavers Way Farms & Chris Bolden Newsome, Sankofa Farm
Daniel Kemper, Rodale Institute
Future Farmers (K-8th Grade)
Our Future Farmers mini-conference is designed to educate and entertain your children while you attend the main event. Children from kindergarten to eighth grade will enjoy a wide range of activities developed to increase their 8 | pasafarming.org/conference
understanding of farming, nutrition, and sustainability. Kids are divided into three age groups: K–2nd, 3rd–5th, and 6th–8th. Students in 9th grade and up can register for the full conference at the student rate (see page 14). The Future Farmers program takes place Thursday through Saturday. Space is limited, so register your child(ren) early. Parents must pick up their children during lunch. You may purchase meals for children when you register them. Snacks will be provided.
Get support Workshare & scholarships We’re dedicated to keeping our conference accessible for all who wish to attend through scholarship and workshare opportunities. Details and application instructions at pasafarming.org/conference. Apply by January 15.
Workshare
Scholarships for farmers
Participate in our workshare program—which starts in December and extends until after the conference in February—to reduce your conference registration costs in exchange for lending us a helping hand. Workshare participants trade between four and 12 hours of work to cover up to two days of registration costs. Participants may also apply for scholarship support.
Apply for a scholarship to cover up to two days of registration costs, or combine your scholarship with workshare to cover even more. Scholarships are open to farmers of all experience levels, including those planning to begin farming within the next three years. Funding for aspiring and beginning farmers provided by the Arias M. Brownback Memorial Scholarship Fund. Funding for aspiring and current veteran farmers is offered in partnership with the Farmer Veteran Coalition. Additional funds are awarded in the name of our sponsors.
Give support Volunteer If you have some time to give, but don’t need reduced registration rates, consider volunteering at the conference! Sign up to become a volunteer online at pasafarming.org/conference.
Donate Donate to the Arias M. Brownback Memorial Scholarship Fund Please consider donating to the Arias M. Brownback Memorial Scholarship Fund to help ensure that all who wish to attend our conference can. You can donate to the fund on our website at pasafarming.org, or when you register for the conference. Gifts of any amount help. A gift of $200 is equivalent to covering two days of conference registration costs.
Be a Friend of the Conference Sometimes we all need a helping hand. If you would like to provide some extra support to the conference, please consider becoming a Friend of the Conference. You can add this unrestricted donation to the conference as you register.
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Trade Show Our expansive trade show boasts more than 100 vendors offering an array of products and services that can support your work—from tools and equipment, to educational and consulting services. Our trade show hall is also the networking hub of the conference, offering special events and features that make space for connecting with fellow attendees and presenters.
Trade Show Hours
New this year!
Thursday: 8am–6pm Friday: 8am–6pm Saturday: 8am–1pm
Trade show only access is free on Saturday thanks to support from Ephrata National Bank.
Trade show admission is included with full- and halfday conference registration. You can also choose to register for the trade show only (rates on page 14).
Trade Show Stage & Classroom Learn what’s new in the sustainable agriculture industry by dropping by our trade show stage, brought to you with support from Lancaster Farming. New this year, our trade show also includes classroom space featuring sessions on topics like apple tree pruning, raising rabbits, weed control, beekeeping, and more!
Receptions & Tastings Mix and mingle at receptions and tastings held in the trade show hall, featuring light food and beverages sourced from local farms and food artisans. Also, connect with other attendees between sessions during coffee and tea breaks.
Farm Innovations Show Get inspired by the tools, structures, and systems designed and built by our farmer community at our Farm Innovations Show, sponsored by Farm Show Magazine. Learn more and submit your own innovations by January 15 at pasafarming.org/ conference. 10 | pasafarming.org/conference
Mercantile & Book Nook Stock up on PASA gear and refresh your library at our mercantile booth and book nook—chock full of resources to help you grow your farming and food knowledge, brought to you with support from Chelsea Green Publishing. We’ll also be hosting book signings featuring authors in attendance.
Community Classifieds Find and post job opportunities, equipment for sale, land for sale or lease, upcoming events, and more at our Community Classifieds.
Seed Swap Bring your extra seeds to share, and take home a few new-to-you varieties.
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Meals, Meetings, Mixers & Movies Meals Enjoy the bounty of our community through a series of menus highlighting local and seasonal ingredients sourced from farmers in our network. See rates on page 14.
Lunches
Dinners
Wednesday: Get cozy with our winter picnic featuring casseroles, salads, and BBQ.
Dine out in the city
Thursday: Choose your own adventure with
Explore Lancaster’s vibrant food scene by eating out at a local restaurant—you’ll find a variety of options just steps from the conference venue. Plus, several restaurants will be hosting benefit dinners to support our education and research programs (details to come).
a build-your-own hearty bowl buffet.
Friday: Celebrate the flavors of African
American food traditions, inspired by keynote speaker Michael Twitty
Saturday: You can’t visit Lancaster without getting a taste of Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine.
Thursday
Dinner & PASAbilities Awards Friday • 6pm
All are welcome to join us for the PASAbilities Leadership Awards, where we honor farmers and businesses who exemplify the spirit of sustainability in agriculture and food systems.
Meetings Pennsylvania Farmers Union Convention Annual meeting: Wednesday • 5–6pm • Free Dinner: Wednesday • 6:30–9pm • $40
Pennsylvania Farmers Union invites you to their annual meeting and farm-to-table dinner. Come early for the meeting, then stay to enjoy good food and good company. You’ll hear from a panel on issues impacting Pa. agriculture and learn about the benefits of being a Pennsylvania Farmers Union member. Open to all.
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Lunch with Turn the Tap Saturday • 12pm • Free
Participate in a small group discussion about water use efficiency and soil moisture technology in vegetable and small fruit production. Open to commercial vegetable producers. Participants will receive lunch and a $75 honorarium. This work is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. Limited to 12. Preregistration is required.
PASA Annual Meeting & Regional Breakouts Saturday • 1pm • Free
Join us to learn about PASA’s achievements over the last year and our vision for the next. You’ll participate in breakout sessions with members in your region, hear from board candidates, catch up with longtime friends, and meet new members. Open to all; light refreshments provided.
Mixers Thursday • 7:30pm
LGBTQ Farmers & Allies Mixer Celebrate the important contributions of LGBTQ people in the food system. All are welcome to attend. Young & Beginning Farmers Mixer Socialize with other young and beginning farmers from around the state, as well as Pennsylvania chapter leaders from National Young Farmers Coalition. Veteran Farmers & Ranchers Mixer Calling all veterans! Enjoy light fare and drinks with the Farmer Veteran Coalition and its members.
Movies Thursday & Friday • 8pm
Join us for movie screenings that explore food and farming issues.
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Registration How to register
Go to pasafarming.org/ conference
If you will be attending the conference as a speaker, sponsor, scholarship recipient, or workshare participant, please wait to register until we send you customized registration instructions.
Phone:
We’ll have dedicated phone registration hours beginning in mid-November:
Online:
Call 814.349.9856
• Tuesdays & Wednesdays: 1–5pm • Thursdays & Fridays: 9am–1pm • January 8–9 & 27–28: 9am–6pm
Dates of note January 9: Register by this date for the lowest rates! January 15: Deadline to apply for scholarships & workshare. January 28: Standard rate pre-registration closes. After this date, you may register at the conference at the on-site cost.
Rates Conference • Full-day registration is available Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. • Half-day registration is available Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. • Both full- and half-day registration includes trade show access for all days (Thursday–Saturday).
Early (by Jan. 9)
Standard (by Jan. 28)
On-site
Half day
Full day
Half day
Full day
Half day
Full day
Member
$60
$100
$75
$115
$90
$130
Non-member
$70
$125
$85
$140
$100
$155
Senior (65+)
$45
$65
$55
$75
$65
$85
Student / Apprentice
$35
$55
$35
$55
$45
$65
Be a member & save Become a member or renew your membership to save $25 per full day on your conference registration! You can join or renew when you register for the conference. Go to pasafarming.org or call 814.349.9856 for membership details and rates.
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Trade show only Trade show only registration is available Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. It includes refreshments and receptions. (Note: Conference registration includes trade show access on all days.)
Thursday & Friday Saturday
Standard (by Jan. 28)
On-site
$10 per day
$15 per day
Free, thanks to Ephrata National Bank
Kids Future Farmers program (K-8th grade) registration is available Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Snacks are included; meals must be purchased separately. Standard (by Jan. 28)
On-site
$45 per day
$55 per day
Children under five can attend the conference for free. You may purchase meals for children under five when you register.
Meals We are proud to gather sustainably and regionally sourced ingredients from our members and friends for our meals and receptions, which include vegan, vegetarian, and omnivore options. Buffet lunches are available all days; buffet dinner is available Friday only. Lunch (per day)
Friday dinner
Children under 12
$18
$22
Adults
$30
$45
Payment
Cancellation policy
Registration must be paid in full by January 28. Otherwise, pre-registration will be cancelled and you will need to register on-site at the full rate.
•
You’ll receive an 85 percent refund on cancellations of conference registrations, trade show only registrations, and meals made by January 9. Cancelled meals will not be refunded after January 9.
•
You’ll receive a 50 percent refund on cancellations of conference registrations and trade show only registrations made between January 10–28.
•
In the case of extreme weather or family emergencies, exceptions to our cancellation policy will be made on a case-by-case basis. All requests for special consideration must be made in writing and will be reviewed after the conference.
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Lodging & travel Venue Our 2020 Conference will be held at the Lancaster County Convention Center, a historic hotel and convention center located in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Lodging
Parking
On-site accommodations are available between February 4–9 at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square (25 S Queen St.) at a reduced rate of $119 plus taxes per night. Overnight parking for one vehicle is included.
On-site parking is available at the Penn Square Garage (enter at 28 S Duke St.—clearance is 6’8”). The garage is attached to the hotel and conference center. Parking for one vehicle per room is included for those staying on-site at the Lancaster Marriott. The front desk will provide you with a validated parking ticket for your full stay.
Book your room online by January 14 at pasafarming.org/conference. You can also call 1.888.236.2427 to book. Let the reservation staff know you’re attending the “PASA conference” to reserve a room in our conference block.
Travel The conference venue is conveniently located near several transportation hubs. Train: The conference venue is located one mile from the Lancaster Amtrak train station and bus terminal. Plane: The conference venue is a 20-minute drive from Lancaster Airport (LNS) or a 40-minute drive from Harrisburg International Airport (MDT). Round-trip flights from Pittsburgh or Baltimore to Lancaster are available through Southern Airway Express.
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Also nearby is East King Street (150 E King St.—clearance is 8’ 2”). We will provide you with a parking voucher that will reduce the cost of parking to $7 per day at any Lancaster City Parking Authority garage or lot. Note: Parking garage clearances vary. See pasafarming.org/conference for a list of garages and lots.
Ride & room share If you’re interested in sharing travel or lodging costs with fellow conference goers, visit pasafarming.org/ conference to join our ride & room share forum.
Keynote presentation (Thursday, February 6)
Activism & Regeneration
Josh Tickell Filmmaker & author of Kiss the Ground: How the Food You Eat Can Reverse Climate Change, Heal Your Body & Ultimately Save Our World
We get it—soil can sequester carbon, generate abundant food, and stabilize the climate. Now, how do we get everyone from the United Nations to your town commissioner (and the President) to get it too? Drawing on over three decades of environmental activism, Josh Tickell will provide new insights, tools, methods, and takeaways for building a successful regenerative moment—from the micro-local scale, to the global scale. Learn to cut through the red tape and make your regenerative voice heard.
Keynote presentation (Friday, February 7)
Culinary Justice: Defining a Theory of Gastronomic Sovereignty Food justice, social justice, environmental justice, food sovereignty—an entire language has developed around how we want to live in a better world where fairness and right action prevail. In an extension of these concepts, Michael has begun to promote his notion of culinary justice—the idea that historically oppressed peoples have a right to authority, sovereignty, prosperity, and acknowledgement in their contribution to national and global foodways. Join Michael for a lively discussion to explore how the preparation of food unites and divides narratives, and how we can use it for good.
Michael Twitty Chef & author of The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South
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Featuring
Michael Twitty Chef & author of The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South
Josh Tickell
P.O. Box 419
Millheim, PA 16854
Filmmaker & author of Kiss the Ground: How the Food You Eat Can Reverse Climate Change, Heal Your Body & Ultimately Save Our World