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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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

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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

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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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New Dirt Rich Episode: Herbalism for Everybody!

By kfeterl | Aug 20, 2020 | Comments Off on New Dirt Rich Episode: Herbalism for Everybody!

Basil, parsley, cilantro–Sarah Lindblom started out growing these classic favorites for her CSA shares at Solar Fresh Produce. An SFA workshop with herbalist Connie Karstens soon sparked an interest in medicinal herbs. She began cultivating holy basil, marshmallow, calendula, and lemon balm–just to name a few. Now Sarah sells both fresh and dried herbs at…

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Luhman: The Benefits of an August Breeding Season

By jluhman | Aug 10, 2020 | Comments Off on Luhman: The Benefits of an August Breeding Season

For us at Dry Creek Red Angus, it’s breeding season! To many of our neighbors, and maybe to many of you, it may seem like an odd time to turn out our bulls. Most people in our area have already finished breeding season and perhaps even begun to preg check. Why do we breed so…

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Immigrant Farmer to Share Her Journey at TC Growers Meeting

By jwalker | Aug 8, 2020 | Comments Off on Immigrant Farmer to Share Her Journey at TC Growers Meeting

Hear the story of Somali-American organic farmer Naima Dhore and her journey toward owning her own farm as SFA’s Twin Cities Growers Network hosts its next virtual gathering from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Fri., Aug. 14. Her story provides inspiration to those seeking to farm and provides a real example of how one hardworking family…

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Beyond Your Backyard: Good or Bad?

By mbenage | Aug 5, 2020 | Comments Off on Beyond Your Backyard: Good or Bad?

Good or bad? I’ve been asked this question a lot in my career. Is haying good or bad? Is grazing good or bad? Is fire good or bad for the prairie? The answer is always the same: a question. What time of year? How short are you haying? How often? How many animals? What kind?…

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Our Blog

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Facing Drought: Tough Decisions and Smart Solutions for Graziers

By SFA of MN | May 12, 2025

As we look at the weather forecast and study the drought monitor, it appears that we are in for another dry spring and summer in the upper Midwest. According to the drought monitor, about 75% of the state is experiencing abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions and it’s only the beginning of May. In a…

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Preparing for Drought in the Pasture

By SFA of MN | May 7, 2025

By Kent Solberg • Senior Technical Advisor Even with pastures greening up fast, 2025 is shaping up to be another drought year.  Much of Minnesota (>74%) is still rated as Abnormally Dry or Moderate Drought according to the US Drought Monitor.  Most of Minnesota was dry last fall and the snowpack for much of the…

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Five Summer Festivals

By SFA of MN | May 7, 2025

By Jerry Ford • Chapter & Events Coordinator Five SFA chapters host a local foods-centered festival each year, and they are all busily preparing for their 2025 events. Learn more about each one at www.sfa-mn.org/festivals. Here are a few ways you can get involved: ADMISSIONS:  Tickets are on sale or will be soon. BE A…

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Farm Day Growers & Makers Markets

By SFA of MN | May 7, 2025

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Learn how to raise your own meat chickens this summer!

By SFA of MN | Apr 7, 2025

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Expanding our perspectives, addressing pressing issues at the Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit

By SFA of MN | Mar 6, 2025

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Member Spotlight: Caroline Hegstrom & Growing Organic Farming

By SFA of MN | Mar 6, 2025

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New year, new dues, and a new member benefit!

By SFA of MN | Jan 22, 2025

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