Annual Conference

Annual-Conference-Logo

Saturday, February 11, 2023
Gorecki Conference Center
College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph

Early bird registration is now open!

$50 for current SFA members, $75 for nonmembers.  Ends December 31, 2022. Prices go up by $25 on January 1, 2023!
Emerging Farmers:  Free

Children's program (ages 5-12): $10

Lunch ticket in St. Ben's excellent cafeteria: $15.  (You may also do lunch on your own.)

Register HERE.

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With topics including:

  • Fruit & Vegetable Soil Health and Profitability
  • Grazing Strategies
  • "Burn the Box" Changing Ag Paradigms
  • Beekeeping
  • Farm Profitability
  • Emerging Farmer Resources
  • Climate Adaptability
  • New Cooperative Marketing Models
  • and more!

Full schedule coming soon.

Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunities

Please consider partnering with us on SFA's flagship event for farmer-to-farmer education and networking.

More information and an application form are HERE.

Our 2023 Sponsors

BLOOM SPONSORS

Afternoon Social Sponsor

Lakewinds Co-op

A community owned grocery store with 3 locations in the Twin Cities Metro area, Lakewinds' mission is to promote sustainable agriculture, support local makers. and nourish our community. No membership required to shop, and all are welcome!

Opening Plenary Session Sponsor

Compeer

SAPLING SPONSORS

MAWQCP

A voluntary opportunity for farmers and ag landowners to take the lead in conservation practices that protect our water while obtaining regulatory certainty for 10 years.

MN Department of Agriculture

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture mission is to enhance all Minnesotans' quality of life by equitably ensuring the integrity of our food supply, the health of our environment and the strength and resilience of our agricultural community.

SEED SPONSORS

Solar Farm LLC

Solar Electric (PV) design, sales and installation.

A look back at our 2022 conference:
Why attend our Annual Conference? Take it from these farmers:

Our Blog

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From the Executive Director: ‘Agriculture, done well, heals’ at the Heart of Membership

By SFA of MN | Oct 2, 2020 | Comments Off on From the Executive Director: ‘Agriculture, done well, heals’ at the Heart of Membership

This afternoon I ran an errand to Mankato and was amazed at the bountiful crops ready to be harvested, and the abundant farmers market offerings.  This, coupled with glorious fall colors, buoyed my spirits.  What really keeps me optimistic is the innovative work being done in local food production and processing by SFA members, and…

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Zimmerli: Grants Help Farms Become More Profitable, Sustainable

By dzimmerli | Oct 1, 2020 | Comments Off on Zimmerli: Grants Help Farms Become More Profitable, Sustainable

SFA is working with several partners to host webinars on how to effectively apply for some of the various grants that are out there. Grants can be an excellent way to inject a little extra cash into an initiative on your farm that can help you to be more profitable, sustainable or both. On my…

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Planting Minnesota Garlic on Dirt Rich

By SFA of MN | Sep 29, 2020 | Comments Off on Planting Minnesota Garlic on Dirt Rich

“Minnesotans don’t like that garlic. They don’t eat that spicy stuff, dontcha know?” Jerry and Sunny and their sold-out-by-August harvest beg to differ! It’s just about time to get next year’s crop in the ground. Our resident garlic guru, Jerry Ford, takes some time to compare notes and philosophies with fellow organic garlic grower Sunny Ruthchild as…

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Meet the Regenerative Grazier: Tyler Carlson

By SFA of MN | Sep 28, 2020 | Comments Off on Meet the Regenerative Grazier: Tyler Carlson

This interview with Tyler Carlson originally appeared in the Silvopasture Learning Network’s first e-newsletter. The Silvopasture Learning Network is a project to research effective silvopasture practices and innovations, and educate farmers, agricultural and natural resource professionals and conservationists throughout the state on silvopasture and oak savanna restoration principles and practices. SLN is a partnership among…

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TC Growers to Spotlight Lakisha Witter

By SFA of MN | Sep 24, 2020 | Comments Off on TC Growers to Spotlight Lakisha Witter

Join the the TC Growers online on October 1st (5:30-6 PM) to hear from organic farmer Lakisha Witter, the woman, the farmer, the owner, and inspiration behind Live Organically! Witter is an adjunct instructor in Bethel’s graduate program in special education and a Special Education Director overseeing numerous charter schools in the twin cities. She will…

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Beyond Your Backyard: Savoring the Season

By mbenage | Sep 23, 2020 | Comments Off on Beyond Your Backyard: Savoring the Season

If you’ve ever had the honor of being a dog’s person, you know they are always ready for adventure. Wherever you’re headed, whatever you’re doing, they’re excited to go with you. As the summer comes to an end I’ve been thinking more and more about my 15.5-year-old coonhound-lab mix, Savannah, and all the adventures we’ve…

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Watch TC Growers’ “Spotlight” on Naima Dhore

By kfeterl | Sep 18, 2020 | Comments Off on Watch TC Growers’ “Spotlight” on Naima Dhore

The Twin Cities Metro Growers Network convened online last month for a “Growers Spotlight” on Naima Dhore, a certified organic Somali-American farmer and founder of the Somali American Farmers Association. Learn more about SAFA and about her farming experience, including pursuing an FSA loan to purchase farmland, on the Youtube video. The next virtual meeting will…

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Bolstering Farm-to-Table with Food Safety

By kfeterl | Sep 10, 2020 | Comments Off on Bolstering Farm-to-Table with Food Safety

Sarah Lindblom and Josh Reinitz join Dirt Rich to talk about how they’ve been growing food for their communities with food safety in mind–through the pandemic, and always. With more of an eye on health this growing season, farmers have been “bringing their food safety A-game” to ensure that they continue to keep their customers…

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Luhman: If You are Hot, Your Soil Probably Is, Too

By jluhman | Sep 9, 2020 | Comments Off on Luhman: If You are Hot, Your Soil Probably Is, Too

The last couple months have been some hot ones, as temperatures have often been in the 90s with heat indexes over 100 degrees. Weather like this is hard on everybody, and I have been grateful for this job and an excuse to spend a more time in the air-conditioned office. Weather like this is also…

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Beyond Your Backyard: The Magic Lights of Summer

By mbenage | Aug 21, 2020 | Comments Off on Beyond Your Backyard: The Magic Lights of Summer

“Oh hey, can you please turn your outdoor lights off at night? I’ve got some fireflies trying to mate in my backyard and you’re ruining their date night.” These are the neighbor chats we ecologists have. Outdoor lights can interfere with female fireflies being able to see the male signal (and flash back depending on…

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Our Blog

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Pasture Walk Series to Begin in Otter Tail County

By SFA of MN | Apr 24, 2024

It’s safe to say that spring is here (although, you never know in Minnesota), and we are excited to be kicking off our season of pasture tomorrow! On the fourth Thursday of each month, SFA will host an engaging pasture walk with a specific focus at various Minnesota farms. All of the walks will be free to…

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Growing sales while building up a farm and a family

By SFA of MN | Apr 5, 2024

Market more effectively with Charlotte Smith on April 18 By Jonathan Kilpatrick • Farmer Education Director Before working for SFA, I managed a ranch that sold grass fed meats direct-to-consumer. It was around the time I started that position that I came across some of Charlotte Smith’s marketing resources and podcast, “The Profitable Mindset Podcast.”…

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Two new Member Benefits are live!

By SFA of MN | Apr 3, 2024

Members of SFA now have access to a Member Directory and Bulletin Board when they log in to their account portal. Here’s how to use them. If you haven’t used your account before, please click here to set up a password. The Member Directory The directory is designed to be another avenue of connection for…

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Let’s Farm Well Retreat Postponed

By SFA of MN | Apr 3, 2024

The Let’s Farm Well Retreat at the Abbey of the Hills Retreat Center in Marvin, South Dakota, has been postponed. Watch for a new date later this year so you can join us for some relaxation, reflection, and connection! You can also sign up for our Connect e-newsletter to get updates on this event and…

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Shape the future of SFA

By SFA of MN | Mar 18, 2024

By Liz Morris-Otto, SFA Board President SFA has been hard at work for months now, crafting a strategic plan to guide our work for the next few years. To guide that effort, we’d like to know who you are, where you come from, where you are headed – and how we can help you get…

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Midwest Soil Health Summit benefits farmers across scales; crops

By SFA of MN | Mar 1, 2024

Ford: They pay me, but I’d go anyway. By Jerry Ford • Chapter & Events Coordinator Why have I gone to 9 of the 10 Midwest Soil Health Summits so far? Well, yes, as many of you know, they pay me to. After all, I’m the EVENTS & Chapter Coordinator for SFA, and I manage the logistics…

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Luhman: What I’m looking forward to at the Midwest Soil Health Summit

By SFA of MN | Feb 16, 2024

By Jared Luhman • Soil Health & Grazing Lead Over the past year I have taken a significant step back from my responsibilities with SFA to focus on farming with my family! However, I have stayed involved to assist Jonathan and the team in the planning of our Midwest Soil Health Summit! This is one of…

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Volunteer at the Annual Conference

By SFA of MN | Jan 10, 2024

By Jerry Ford • Chapter & Events Coordinator The SFA Annual Conference is Saturday, February 10, 2024 in St. Joseph, and we’re looking for some volunteers. Most needed are people to help with our Conference Kids program.  This is the only volunteer position that comes with free registration for the conference, so sign up early.  Shifts are 90…

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Midwest Soil Health Summit Speaker Spotlight: Burke Teichert

By SFA of MN | Jan 6, 2024

Experts from near and far will convene in Mankato for the 11th annual Midwest Soil Health Summit on March 13 & 14, 2024 to dig into “Managing for Profit: Soil Health Principles as a Profit Strategy.” Meet Burke Teichert Burke Teichert is one such expert who attendees will hear from during a keynote presentation, breakout session, and at our…

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