Mid-South Farm to Table Conference

Registration: $25 public, free for college students with I.D.

Purchase your tickets HERE.

What is the best way to ensure a thriving local food system in the Mid-South region?

Please join us for the 2019 Mid-South Farm to Table Conference on February 11 at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN. This year’s conference, presented by Memphis Tilth, will bring together local and regional farmers, food justice advocates, educators, non-profit leaders, and consumers. We invite you to add your voice and share your ideas for building a better local food system through your sponsorship of this conference.

The Farm to Table Conference was established in 2011 with the vision that a thriving local food system will strengthen farmer livelihoods by connecting more farmers to local consumers, improve access to fresh produce, increase healthy food consumption, and stimulate economic development and job creation in the region. It is designed to provide a forum for farmers, consumers, entrepreneurs, and other local food stakeholders to be inspired and to share their knowledge. The last Mid-South Farm to Table Conference was held in 2016, when over two hundred participants gathered in West Memphis for a full day of lectures, panels, and networking. Today we are working to revive this important opportunity to build relationships and learn from one another. At this year’s conference, Ellen Polishuk, a nationally-renowned consultant on sustainable small farm business operations and profitability, will present on maximizing income, decreasing costs, and effectively managing labor to increase farm efficiency.

PRE-CONFERENCE RECEPTION w/ Keynote Speaker Ellen Polishuk Sunday, February 10, 5:00 – 6:30 Memphis Made Brewery Free beer ticket to first 25 guests!!

CONFERENCE Monday, February 11th, 8:30 – 4:00 Christian Brothers University, Buckman Hall

8:30 – 9:00 - REGISTRATION Breakfast, Dave’s Bagels

9:00 – 10:45 KEYNOTE State of the Onion Address: Where are we in sustainable agriculture in 2019? MODERATOR:: Brandon Pugh (Delta Sol Farm) SPEAKER: Polishuk (Farm Consultant)

11:00 – 12:15 FARM TRACK: Finding Balance? Can you have a profitable farm business without it taking over your life? MODERATOR: Josephine Alexander (Tubby Creek Farm) SPEAKERS: Debra Lockard (Lockard’s Produce), Amanda Reed (Native Son Farm), Dennis O’Bryan (One Wheel Market Garden), Matthew Robinson (The Produce Tribe)

11:00 – 12:15 EDUCATION/RESEARCH TRACK: Experiential Learning in the Memphis Food System: Current Research with Children and Veterans MODERATOR: Dr. May Campbell SPEAKERS: Kaylee Burgan, (Applied Medical Anthropology, The University of Memphis), Nichole Reed (Clinical Dietitian, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital)

11:00 – 12:15 COMMUNITY TRACK: Urban Homesteading: One Model of Food Sovereignty MODERATOR: Theo Davies (Green Leaf Learning Farm) SPEAKERS: Mike Minnis (Landmarks Farmers Market), Mike Larrivee (The Compost Fairy), Miles Tamboli (Tamboli Produce Company

12:30 – 1:30 – LUNCH Eny’s Tamales and Caritas Village INTERACTIVE RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS “Just Food?” Is there just food in the south? Is there more to food than just what’s on our plates? PRESENTERS: Amanda Lane & Merit Pinker; Bridget Blair and Amu Iyer; Hannah McCarty and Jon Kowalik; Aileen Qin and Allie Swanson; Dariane Pedines and Gustabo Mireles (Rhodes College)

1:45 - 3:00 FARM TRACK: Lean Farming: Theory and Techniques MODERATOR: Brandon Pugh (Delta Sol Farm) SPEAKER: Ellen Polishuk (Farm Consultant)

1:45 – 3:00 EDUCATION/RESEARCH TRACK: Youth + Food + Empowerment MODERATOR: Mary Riddle (Hutchison School) SPEAKERS: Elizabeth Bradford (Big Green), Jimisha McMorris (Newberry Elementary), Ryan Betz (Delta EATS), Kenya Ghanor and Maetrica Westbrook (Girls, Inc.), Ben Townsend (Shelby County Schools Farm to School)

1:45 – 3:00 COMMUNITY TRACK: Eating Local in Memphis MODERATOR: Stacey Greenberg (Edible Memphis) SPEAKERS: Peyton Parvey (Wi******er Farm), Phillip Dewayne (Private Chef), Jimmy Gentry (P.O. Press), Dave Krog (Dory Restaurant), Kevin Krueger (St. Jude), Kelvin Neely (Memphis Tilth)

3:00 – 4:00 NETWORKING RECEPTION Refreshments – Muddy’s Cupcakes, Coffee and Tea