USA: MOSES Organic Farm Conference

Organized by the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), the annual Organic Farming Conference (OFC) is the largest organic farming conference in the USA. The farmer-centered event will be held from 24 to 26 February 2011 in La Crosse. The OFC is considered the foremost educational and networking event in the organic farming community in the USA, Dunn County News reports. In 2010, the OFC attracted more than 2,700 farmers, advocates, educators, students and industry representatives. A flyer of all the 2011 conference offerings and registration form can be found here.
 

Some of the OFC highlights are:
 

MOSES Farmer of the Year award: Every year, MOSES recognizes an outstanding organic farmer or farm family who are innovators; who excel in managing their farm resources and are good stewards of the land; and who serve as educators and shining examples in their communities and to the next generation of organic farmers.
 

Organic University: The Organic University offers nine intensive courses on various organic agriculture topics for novice and experts alike through pre-conference, full-day courses.
 

Research Forum: Through integration of the Organic Research Forum with the Organic Farming Conference, researchers have a unique opportunity to share their cutting edge organic agricultural research with farmers, students and agriculture professionals.
 

Workshops: More than 70 workshops will be offered on a multitude of organic farming, marketing, production and management topics and timely agriculture issues.
 

Young organic stewards: Young people have always been at the heart of the MOSES Conference. The Young Organic Stewards program recognizes the need to honor and support the next generation of food producers through targeted workshops and social activities.
 

Organic, locally-sourced food: Two full days of meals for conference attendees featuring the best locally sourced, organic food prepared in delicious entrees, sides, salads and desserts.
 

Networking opportunities: The OFC is an outstanding place for new organic farmers to connect with experienced ones to share and collect information. This year offers even more opportunity through Farmer Connection Roundtables.
 

Evening entertainment: Live music, topical films, a children’s show and a poetry slam will all be featured as “after hours” entertainment at the 2011 OFC.

Inspiring keynote speakers: MOSES will host two  keynote speakers

Dunn County News