Kansas Rural Center’s 2018 Farm & Food conference will be Nov. 16 – 17 at Hotel at Old Town Conference Center in Wichita.

Registration is open until Monday. Conference costs are $70 per day, or $135 for both days.

A limited number of scholarships to attend the conference are available for students and beginning or limited resource farmers. More information on scholarships is available from KRC.

The conference will feature three nationally renowned keynote speakers, 24 breakout sessions featuring farmers and other local and national experts, locally-sourced food, and a silent auction featuring items from local artists, farms, authors, and more.

Breakout sessions will hone in on farm transitions and alternative land ownership models, specialty crop production, developing community food systems, diversity in Kansas, focus on pollinators, adding value and resiliency to your farm, strengthening communities through civic engagement, and updates following the election.

A panel of farmers and Kansas community advocates will discuss “What is Right about Kansas Farms, Food, and Communities?”

A Friday evening social will feature appetizers made with locally-sourced ingredients and local beer and cider.

David Montgomery will give a presentation on the impacts of soil degradation on humans and the environment throughout time, and how some farmers today are taking steps to reverse the degradation.

Anne Biklé will discuss the intricacies and interactions between the microbes and bacteria in the soil and those in our own bodies.

Both days will include a light breakfast and lunch made with locally-sourced ingredients and will offer attendees time for networking and visiting exhibitor booths.

Registration is online at kansasruralcenter.org/2018-farm-food-conference or by contacting KRC at (866)579-5469.