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> Download the .pdf to plan which Saturday and Sunday workshops you don't want to miss at the conference!
> Download the conference brochure (.pdf) for all the details on this year's conference!
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> There are still spaces available in a handful of great workshop options, including Social Media for Farmers, Mush-room Production, Advanced and Beginning Organic Growing, School Lunch Forum, Food Security and Farm Policy, and Organic Livestock Health!
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A Note from The Director 
When we come together, we can do almost anything. Working together, we have set off a food and farming revolution: launching new organic and promoting existing sustainable farms; opening successful farmers’ markets; creating strong farmer-restaurant partnerships; building infrastructure to help sustainable farming and food businesses thrive; and advocating for a fair deal for small farms and local food.
But we face growing challenges: GMOs, market competition, pest and disease pressure, labor shortages, labeling and more on the food safety front.
That’s why it is more important than ever to come together at the 26th Annual Sustainable Ag Conference!
Sharing knowledge: We’ve assembled cutting-edge, skill-building sessions on horticulture, livestock, soils, mushrooms, permaculture, bees, food, and more. Classes will be taught by our best local experts, including: Will Hooker, Chuck Marsh, Andrea Reusing, Ken Dawson, Rob Bowers, Daniel Parsons, Tony Kleese, and Debbie Roos. And we are bringing in amazing talent from around the country: Ross Conrad (VT), Greg Judy (MO), Ellen Polishuk (VA), Paul Wiediger (KY), Guy Jodarski (MN), Kristina Hubbard (CA) and Brian Snyder (PA). Come prepared to learn (a lot!) and share what you know.
Sharing inspiration: Our keynote this year is Joan Dye Gussow, author of the bestselling “This Organic Life.” She’s a legend in the local, organic movement. Friday night Joan will get us thinking together about what it means to defend real food. She inspired Michael Pollan and we’re sure she will inspire you and our Carolina movement.
Sharing food: This year’s conference takes place in Durham, North Carolina. Durham was recently heralded by the New York Times as one of best 37 places in the world to visit in 2011 because of its food scene. What better way to re-establish connections with your farm and food friends, and make new ones, than over a plate of delicious food at a Durham eatery, or check one of amazing farm to fork restaurants in Chapel Hill, Raleigh and the rest of the Triangle. And as always, we put our ideals on your plate with fantastic local, organic food at the conference meals and not-to-be-missed local foods reception.
We want you to come away from this weekend with inspiring ideas, new skills and new friends, mentors and business colleagues. Let’s all build our connections across the spectrum of farmers, businesspeople, community activists and educators. Together, we are creating a positive, sustainable, healthy farm and food future.
Roland McReynolds
CFSA Executive Director