by CFSA | Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019 –
The word “networking” gets thrown around a lot, but at the Sustainable Agriculture Conference, we think about it a little differently. For our attendees, it’s not just about meeting new people—it’s about coming together with an open mind and creating meaningful connections.
When you’re here, you’re a part of the community, and that’s one of the most valuable experiences at the gathering. We’re all in this movement together! Whether this is your first conference or you’ve been dozens of times, here are some networking recommendations to make the most of your time at SAC, so that you can share knowledge, conversation, and camaraderie and come away with new friends, mentors, and allies.
How can I make the most out of the community building opportunities at SAC?
Join CFSA staff at the New Attendee Community Building session. Mary Beth Miller, CFSA Education Coordinator will co-lead this fun networking session along with Jared Cates, CFSA Community Mobilizer. “We want to do more than grow your network. We want to further build your community, and this is a great start,” says Mary Beth. This session is designed for first-time attendees to meet new folks, get to know others in the sustainable agriculture community, and find people to share a table with at the Local Food Feast. Plus, shares Jared, “Attending this session is an easy way to meet new people that you’ll interact with for the rest of the weekend.”
Attend at least one non-workshop related gathering. Mary Beth encourages all attendees, new and returning, to participate beyond the workshops. Whether it’s the new attendee community building session (Friday), a regional meetup (Saturday), or the CFSA member meeting (Sunday), there are LOTS of networking opportunities at SAC.
Network with vendors and other attendees between sessions. Take some time to talk with the vendors, and you’ll inevitably learn something useful. In between sessions, chat with folks while you stand in line or fill up your coffee.
Share a meal with fellow food and farm folks. Meals at SAC present a wonderful opportunity to sit across from someone new and connect. Jared Cates, who has been involved with SAC for the past nine years, says “I really enjoy finding a table with people I don’t know and sharing a conversation.” Whether you attend the Local Food Feast Keynote Dinner on Friday, the Annual Awards Luncheon on Saturday afternoon, CFSA’s 40th Birthday Reception on Saturday evening, or the Policy Breakfast on Sunday, you’ll have the chance to pull up a seat and enjoy some great food in good company.
Connect to other farmers in your growing region. The Regional Meetups on Saturday will introduce you to your neighbors to discuss regionally-specific issues. At least one director of CFSA’s board and a CFSA staff member will be in attendance to facilitate the discussion. Meetup regions include Charlotte Metro, Triangle, Triad, High Country & Mountains, Eastern & Coastal, and South Carolina.
Meet workshop and bus tour attendees. Learn alongside fellow attendees at any of the 60+ engaging workshops, and share a seat on the bus tours. Tours include Livestock tour (Reverence Farm & Braeburn Farm), High Tunnel Tour (Ten Mothers Farm & Red Hawk Farm), Beginning Farmer Tour (Good Hope Farm & Red’s Quality Acres), and Hemp Tour (Magu Hemp).
Chat with published authors. Get to know the experts at the “meet and eat” book signing on Saturday. This is your chance to talk with Ellen Polishuk, Laura Lengnick, Chris Smith, Craig Lehoullier, Jeanine Davis, Ira Wallace, Pam Dawling, Rhonda Sherman, and Shawn Jadrnicek, who will be in the Imperial Ballroom to sign copies of their books.
Join the Research Meetup. What topics would you like to see answered with CFSA’s expanding research programs? Please join us on Saturday for a discussion on exciting research projects we are planning in upcoming seasons. Your feedback is welcome!
Make the most of the Exhibit Hall. Some folks think of the Exhibit Hall as a place where people are trying to sell them things. We get that line of thought, but we encourage you to consider that each person there is intentionally selected by CFSA. We’ll be joined by more than 50 exhibitors from greenhouse gurus to farm financing fanatics to ag-app developers! Seriously, the exhibit hall is a great way to meet some amazing folks who are excited to share ways to make everything from your backyard garden to your 30-acre farm even better.
Connecting Your Work to the Larger Community
Attending SAC is a great way to meet a wide variety of folks in different aspects of the food system, from farmers to seed breeders to community gardeners to food artisans to organizational and governmental technical assistance providers.
“It connects your work to an entire community of people who are trying to figure out ways to finance, grow, produce, transport, sell, consume, and dispose of food in a more sustainable and equitable way. It can be easy to be in your own silo of work, especially as a farmer and the opportunity to be around a large group of other people who care about the same things you care about, and who provide you with endless amounts of helpful information and inspiration can be incredibly powerful,” says Jared Cates.
Just remember, says Mary Beth, “Everyone who attends the conference is here because they either want to learn something new, they want to help you, they are passionate about sustainable agriculture, or all of the above!” Over the years, she has attended SAC in many capacities, as a farm apprentice, a beginning farmer scholarship recipient, a farmer-speaker, a CFSA staff member, and this year as a conference coordinator.
At her first SAC, Mary Beth admits she felt overwhelmed—in a good way—at the number of people who shared her passion and interest in sustainable agriculture. “It sounds kind of crazy now, but sometimes farming can feel so isolating that you forget there’s a whole bunch of people out there who are also doing the same hard work and are rooting for you and working to support you in some way.”
“Now those same people have been in my network for eight years and there’s no other group of people I would rather call my family, friends, colleagues, mentors, or even competitors.”
It’s Not Too Late, Tickets Are Still Available!
If you still want to be part of the 2019 SAC community after Friday, Oct. 25, when online ticket sales close, you can purchase tickets on-site at the conference in Durham. Passes are available by the day, for the whole weekend, or for specific sessions and meals. See our conference prices page for the full scoop.