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“Nourishing Farming, Community, and Hope” Wednesday, December 5th & Thursday, December 6th, 2018

Starting each day at 8:45 a.m.

Blue Ridge Community College Plecker Workforce Center

One College Lane, Weyers Cave, Virginia 24486

http://conference.virginiafarmtotable.org/more-about-conference/speakers/

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Welcome to the 7th Annual Virginia Farm to Table Conference!

Everyone is Welcome

We are glad you are at the table. Each year we bring together practitioners from Virginia and across the na-tion to address and offer insights on economics, soil ecology, nutrition, food access, agriculture of the middle, value chains, farm to school, and farm to table issues. We hope conference will nourish farming, community, and hope, and that you will be inspired and equipped to take your farm, food business, and local food system to the next level. We value your thoughts and efforts to strengthen our local, state, and regional food sys-tems, while improving water quality and soil health. We welcome your collaboration as we rise to meet these challenges together.

Deepest gratitude to our partners and sponsors who believe in these principles and help ensure the confer-ence happens each year through their gifts of time and financial resources. Please take the time to visit with them and thank them for their contribu-tions.

We hope you enjoy your time in the Shenandoah Valley!

Eric Bendfeldt and Kathy Holm, Conference Co-Chairs

SOCIAL MEDIA

Use the hashtag #VAF2T2018 to

share highlights and connect with

2018 Conference Opening and Keynote Speakers

Wednesday, December 5

Thursday, December 6

Virginia’s Secretary of Agriculture

and Forestry Bettina Ring

Dr. Mike Rosmann of Ag

Behavioral Health

Reverend Dr. Heber Brown III of the

Black Church Food Security Network

Dr. David Montgomery and Anne

Bikle of Dig2Grow and authors of

Dirt, The Hidden Half of Nature,

and Growing a Revolution

Dr. Ed Jones, Director of

Virginia Cooperative

Extension

Jack Bricker, State

Conservationist of

USDA— NRCS Virginia

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DAY 1 (WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2018)

8:00 — 8:45 AM REGISTRATION & REFRESHMENTS (FOYER & ROOM C)

8:45 – 9:00 AM

OPENING & LOGISTICS (AUDITORIUM)

Kathy Holm of Virginia USDA – Natural Resources Conservation Service & Eric Bendfeldt of Virginia

Cooperative Extension

9:00—9:15 AM WELCOME (AUDITORIUM) – Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring

9:15 —10:30 AM TOUGH TIMES CAN USE BETTER FARMERS (AUDITORIUM)

Dr. Mike Rosmann, Fourth Generation Farmer and Clinical Psychologist, Ag Behavioral Health

10:30 — 10:45 AM REFRESHMENT BREAK (ROOM C)

CONCURRENT

SESSIONS I

10:45 AM — 12:

00 PM

LIVING & THRIVING IN FARMING COMMUNITIES (AUDITORIUM)

Dr. Mike Rosmann of Ag Behavioral Health, Kirk Ballin of AgrAbility, Beth O’Connor of Virginia Rural Health Association, and Karen Tanner of Virginia Cooperative Extension, Moderator: Kim Niewolny, Ph.D., Virginia Tech/VCE

GROWING YOUR NICHE (ROOM A)

C.J. Isbell of Keenbell Farm, Moderator: Kevin Camm, VCE

COMMUNITY FOOD FORESTS: REGENERATING NATURE, HEALTH, AND PLACE (ROOM B)

Catherine Bukowski co-author of the Community Food Forest Handbook, Moderator: Jonathan McRay, Blacks Run Forest Farm

STRAIGHT FROM THE FIELD: HEALTHIER SOIL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS PART I (J119)

Mark Dempsey of Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and Patryk Battle of Living Web Farms, Moderator: Chris Lawrence, USDA - NRCS

12:00 —2:15 PM

LUNCH (ROOMS A, B, & C) (Catered by A Bowl of Good)

2018 Carl Luebben Soil Health and Water Quality Award

NOURISHING FARMING, COMMUNITY, AND HOPE

Reverend Dr. Heber Brown III, Black Church Food Security Network, Baltimore, MD

2:15 —2 :30 PM REFRESHMENT BREAK (ROOM C)

Note: The Virginia Food System Council will have a Council meeting in Houff G189 from 2:15 to 5:00 p.m.

CONCURRENT

SESSIONS II

2 :30 — 4:30 PM

NOURISHING LOCAL COMMUNITIES (AUDITORIUM)

Reverend Dr. Heber Brown III of the Black Church Food Security Network, Michael Reilly of Slow Money Central Virginia, Beth Schermerhorn of the CFN Community Ownership, Empowerment, and Prosperity Ac-tion Team, Moderator: Steve Cooke, Friendly City Food Cooperative

FARM TO FERMENT: A VALUE-ADDED STORY AND DEMONSTRATION (ROOM A)

Rachel Armistead, The Sweet Farm, Moderator: Kathy Holm, USDA-NRCS

GRAZE 300 VA: OPTIMIZING PASTURE MANAGEMENT FOR YOUR LIVESTOCK AND WALLET (ROOM B)

Featuring educators and practitioners Carl Stafford, Keith Tuck, John Genhoe, Jeannie Layton-Dudding, Tim Mize, and Matt Booher, Moderator: J.B. Daniel, USDA - NRCS

STRAIGHT FROM THE FIELD: HEALTHIER SOIL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS PART II (J119)

Mark Dempsey of Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and Patryk Battle of Living Web Farms, Moderator: Chris Lawrence, USDA-NRCS

4:30 — 6:30 PM Farm-to-Table Networking, Ice Cream Social, and Food Trucks for Dinner (Rooms A, B, & C)

6:30 — 8:00 PM

RESTORING LAND & HEALTH: SOIL ECOLOGY IN ACTION

A Conversation with David Montgomery and Anne Biklé the authors of Dirt,: The Erosion of Civilizations, The

Hidden Half of Nature: The Microbial Roots of Life and Health, and Growing A Revolution: Bringing Our Soil

Back to Life.

A FREE community event to attend, everyone is welcome! (AUDITORIUM)

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE

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CONFERENCE SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE DAY 2 (THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2018)

8:00 — 8:45 AM REGISTRATION & REFRESHMENTS (FOYER & ROOM C)

8:45 — 9:00 AM OPENING AND LOGISTICS (AUDITORIUM)

Kathy Holm of Virginia USDA – Natural Resources Conservation Service and Eric Bendfeldt of Virginia

Cooperative Extension

9:00 —9:15 AM

WELCOME AND IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION (AUDITORIUM)

Dr. Ed Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension & Jack Bricker, State Conservationist, Virginia USDA

– Natural Resources Conservation Service

9:15 —10:30 AM DIRT & GROWING A REVOLUTION: BRINGING OUR SOIL BACK TO LIFE (AUDITORIUM)

Dr. David Montgomery, Professor, Geomorphology, University of Washington and Author

10:30 —10:45 AM REFRESHMENT BREAK (ROOM C)

CONCURRENT

SESSIONS I

10:45 AM —12: 00

PM

PACKAGED AND BOTTLED FOODS FOR ENTREPRENEURS SESSION I (AUDITORIUM)

Allie Hill of Virginia Food Works, Joell Eifert of Virginia Tech’s Food Innovation Center, and Dr. Theresa Nartea of Virginia State University, Moderator: Molly Harris, VA FAIRS

THE REAL DIRT ON SOIL AND HEALTH PART I (ROOM A) Panel with David Montgomery and Virginia farmers, Moderator: Chris Lawrence, USDA-NRCS

SILVOPASTURE IN PRACTICE (ROOM B)

Steve Gabriel of Wellspring Forest Farm and Cornell Cooperative Extension, Moderator: Tim Mize, VCE

STANDING OUR GROUND: FARMING IN THE SUBURBS FOR 50 YEARS (HOUFF G282 & G284)

Hana Newcomb, Co-Owner, Potomac Vegetable Farms, Moderator: Beth Sastre-Flores, VCE

HIGH TUNNEL MANAGEMENT: FROM BIO-CONTROLS TO SOIL HEALTH TO WATER QUALITY (J119)

Dr. Elsa Sanchez, Professor of Horticulture, Penn State University, Moderator: Mark Sutphin, VCE

12:00 — 2:15 PM

LUNCH (ROOMS A, B, & C) (Catered by A Bowl of Good)

Recognition of Community, Local, and Regional Food Systems’ Photo Contest

THE HIDDEN HALF OF NATURE: THE MICROBIAL ROOTS OF LIFE AND HEALTH

Anne Biklé, Biologist, Landscape Architect, and Author

2:15 — 2 :30 PM REFRESHMENT BREAK (ROOM C)

CONCURRENT

SESSIONS II

2 :30 — 4:30 PM

PACKAGED AND BOTTLED FOODS FOR ENTREPRENEURS SESSION II (AUDITORIUM)

Allie Hill of Virginia Food Works, Joell Eifert of Virginia Tech’s Food Innovation Center, and Dr. Theresa Nartea of Virginia State University, Moderator: Julia Clark, VA FAIRS

THE REAL DIRT ON SOIL AND HEALTH PART II (ROOM A)

Panel with Anne Biklé, Dr. Barbara Fenton of Augusta Health Accountable Care, Kelli Scott of VCE & New River Valley Food Access Network Moderator: Krystal Moyers, Augusta Health

AGROFORESTRY IN PRACTICE AT WELLSPRING FOREST FARM (ROOM B)

Steve Gabriel of Wellspring Forest Farm and Cornell Cooperative Extension, Moderator: Adam Downing, VCE

THE FUTURE OF FOOD LEADERS (HOUFF G282 & G284)

Coordinated by Grayson Shelor and Jessa Fowler of Allegheny Mountain Institute

HIGH TUNNEL MANAGEMENT: DISEASES AND STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS (J119)

Dr. Beth Gugino, Associate Professor, Vegetable Pathology, Penn State University, Moderator: Jason

Cooper, VCE

4:30 PM Complete Conference Evaluations and Adjourn — Safe Travels

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Concurrent Sessions: Wednesday, December 5, 2018 10:45 am — 12:00pm

AUDITORIUM

Living and Thriving in Farm Communities

Do you or someone that you live and work around struggle with anxiety over the unpredictability of farming? Listen to Dr. Rosmann and our panel of experts’ advice and learn of resources available on handling stress and coping with farm life.

Panelists: Dr. Mike Rosmann, Psychologist & Farmer, Ag Behavioral Health, Harlan, IA; Kirk Ballin, AgrAbility, Salem, VA; Beth O’Connor, Director, Virginia Rural Health Association, Virginia Tech; and Karen Tanner, FCS Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Amherst, VA

Moderator: Kim Niewolny, Ph.D., Director, AgrAbility Virginia, Virginia Tech

ROOM A

Growing Your Niche

CJ is a third generation Virginia meat and grain farmer. He wants his farm to be part of the communi-ty and the community to be part of the farm. Hear how he reaches the consumer through direct mar-keting.

Presenter: C.J. Isbell, Owner, Keenbell Farms, Rockville, VA

Moderator: Kevin Camm, ANR and 4-H Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, City of Lynchburg

ROOM B

Community Food Forests: Regenerating Nature, Health, and Place Come and learn about the civic aspects of lasting public community food forests. How can we change systems and social norms to gain access to nutritious fresh food for all? In addition to community gardens and markets, public parks and other green spaces can be transformed into food forests.

Presenter: Catherine Bukowski, Co-author of the Community Food Forest Handbook and consult-ant, Kindred Roots Design, Blacksburg, VA

Moderator: Jonathan McRay, Co-founder & Caretaker, Blacks Run Forest Farm, Harrisonburg, VA

J119

Straight from the Field: We’re Building Healthier Soil Management Systems in the Carolinas - Part I (Small Scale, Low-till Organic & Sustainable Vegetable Systems) Farmers teaching and sharing with farmers is one of the best and most reliable ways to learn! Come hear from two farmers who get creative with cover crops, and other fertility and weed management systems.

Presenters: Mark Dempsey, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Pittsboro, NC and Patryk Battle, Living Web Farms, Mills River, NC

Moderator: Chris Lawrence, State Cropland Agronomist, USDA-NRCS, Richmond, VA

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Concurrent Sessions: Wednesday, December 5, 2018, 2:30 — 4:30pm

AUDITORIUM

Nourishing Local Communities

Hear from individuals and practitioners regarding food access and healthy communities. What can local producers do to help? What role can the faith community play in addressing food security?

Panelists: Reverend Dr. Heber Brown III, Founder, Black Church Food Security Network, Balti-more, MD; Michael Reilly, Co-founder, Slow Money Central Virginia, Charlottesville, VA; Beth Schermerhorn, Chesapeake Foodshed Network Community Ownership, Empowerment, and Prosperity Action Team, Harrisonburg, VA

Moderator: Steve Cooke, Manager, Friendly City Food Coop, Harrisonburg, VA

ROOM A

Farm to Ferment: A Value-Added Story and Demonstration

Value-added products can be a profitable addition to a farm operation. Rachel shares her story of farms, ferments, and family. She will demonstrate the sauerkraut making process as a value-added product that went from home-scale to retail production scale.

Presenter: Rachel Armistead, Owner, The Sweet Farm, Frederick, MD

Moderator: Kathy Holm, Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations, USDA-NRCS, Harrisonburg, VA

ROOM B

Graze 300 VA: Optimizing Pasture Management for Your Livestock and Wallet

Do you think it is impossible to graze your livestock for 300 days a year? Our panel of educators and practitioners will share with you the possibilities and the information and tools that you need to im-plement to extend grazing on your farm—saving you money and producing higher quality product!

Panelists: Featuring educators and practitioners Carl Stafford, Keith Tuck, Jeannie Layton-Dudding, Tim Mize, and Matt Booher.

Moderator: J.B. Daniel, State Forage and Grassland Specialist, USDA-NRCS, Farmville, VA

J119

Straight from the Field: How We’re Building Healthier Soil Management Systems in the Carolinas - Part II (Stepping it Up: Cover Crops in Large-scale Commodity Crop Systems)

Part II is a continuation of the morning discussion and will address foundations for success in man-aging fertility and pests in larger-scale grain and vegetable systems.

Presenters: Mark Dempsey of Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Pittsboro, NC and Patryk Battle of Living Web Farms, Mills Creek, NC.

Moderator: Chris Lawrence, State Cropland Agronomist, USDA-NRCS, Richmond, VA

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Concurrent Sessions: Thursday, December 6, 2018, 10:45 am — 12:00 pm

AUDITORIUM

PACKAGED AND BOTTLED FOODS FOR ENTREPRENEURS — SESSION I

Kitchen Options, Food Product Labeling, and Marketing — Do you want ideas as to how to in-crease the value of your products? Come listen to our panel of experts share information about kitchen options, food product labeling and marketing opportunities! Attend and leave inspired!

Panelists: Allie Hill, Program Coordinator, Virginia Food Works, Farmville, VA; Joell Eifert, Director, Virginia Tech’s Food Innovation Center, Blacksburg, VA; and Dr. Theresa Nartea, Market-ing & Agribusiness Specialist, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA

Moderator: Molly Harris, Virginia FAIRS, Richmond, VA

ROOM A

The Real Dirt on Soil and Health — Part I

How has soil influenced societies? What are Virginia farmers doing to protect and rebuild our soils? What does it mean if our soils aren’t sustained?

Panelists: Panel with David Montgomery and Virginia farmers.

Moderator: Chris Lawrence, State Cropland Agronomist, USDA-NRCS, Richmond, VA

ROOM B

Silvopasture in Practice

Steve will share how farming and forestry can be combined to benefit the ecology and bottom line of the farm. He uses forest-based systems to produce numerous products.

Presenter: Steve Gabriel, Co-steward, Wellspring Forest Farm and Agroforestry Extension Special-ist, Cornell Cooperative Extension

Moderator: Tim Mize, ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Warrenton, VA

HOUFF G282 & G284

Standing Our Ground: Farming in the Suburbs for 50 Years

How does a farm hold its land in urban sprawl? The Newcomb family farm is standing strong after 50 years in the DC suburb. Come and hear the amazing story of Potomac Vegetable Farm. It is a story of strong women with a passion and commitment for soil health and sustainability.

Presenter: Hana Newcomb, Co-owner, Potomac Vegetable Farms, Vienna, VA

Moderator: Beth Sastre-Flores, ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Leesburg, VA

J119

High Tunnel Management: From Bio-controls to Soil Health to Water Quality

Take your high tunnel production to the next level! Dr. Sanchez shares how to use bio-controls on high tunnel vegetables and plants to manage aphid populations. She will also speak about maintain-ing long term soil health in the high tunnel and irrigation water quality.

Presenter: Dr. Elsa Sanchez, Professor, Horticultural Systems Management, Penn State Uni-versity, University Park, PA

Moderator: Mark Sutphin, ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Winchester, VA

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Concurrent Sessions: Thursday, December 6, 2018, 2:30 — 4:30 pm

AUDITORIUM

PACKAGED AND BOTTLED FOODS FOR ENTREPRENEURS — SESSION II

Recipe Development and Food Science — How does a producer develop recipes and what pro-cess is required to sell these developed products? Our experts have the answers!

Presenters: Allie Hill, Program Coordinator, Virginia Food Works, Farmville, VA; Joell Eifert, Director, Virginia Tech’s Food Innovation Center, Blacksburg, VA; and Dr. Theresa Nartea, Market-ing & Agribusiness Specialist, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA

Moderator: Julia Clark, Virginia FAIRS, Richmond, VA

ROOM A

The Real Dirt on Soil and Health — Part II

Come participate in a lively discussion about plants and the human body. How does our food influ-ence our health?

Panelists: Panel with Anne Biklé, Dr. Barbara Fenton, Medical Director, Augusta Care Partners, Kelli Scott, ANR Agent, VCE, Christiansburg, and New River Valley Food Access Network

Moderator: Krystal Moyers, Director, Community Outreach, Augusta Health, Fishersville, VA

ROOM B

Agroforestry in Practice at Wellspring Forest Farm

Steve will share how he uses forest-based systems to produce numerous products at Wellspring Forest Farm.

Presenter: Steve Gabriel, Co-steward, Wellspring Forest Farm; and Agroforestry Extension Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension

Moderator: Adam Downing, ANR Forestry, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Madison, VA

HOUFF G282 & G284

The Future of Food Leaders

The Allegheny Mountain Institute is so much more than a farmer training program—enabling fellows to develop diverse skills and competencies to grow into leaders of powerful holistic food systems. Come hear our panelists and learn more about AMI.

Panelists: Jessa Fowler, Education Director, Allegheny Mountain Institute, Staunton, VA; Jen-na Clark, Executive Director, Project GROWS, Verona, VA; Emily Sullivan, Owner, Baker, Farmer, Wild Unicorn Farmstead, Hillsboro, WV; Patrick Banks, Farm Manager, AMI Farm at Augus-ta Health, Fishersville, VA

Moderator: Kayla MacLachlan, Allegheny Mountain Institute, Staunton, VA

J119

High Tunnel Disease Management: Strategies for Successful Production

Hear from Dr. Gugino regarding integrated vegetable disease management. Learn how to monitor, forecast and diagnose disease problems for sustainable crop production.

Presenter: Dr. Beth Gugino, Associate Professor, Vegetable Pathology, Penn State University

Moderator: Jason Cooper, ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Harrisonburg, VA

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Program Name: 2018 VIRGINIA FARM TO TABLE CONFERENCE

Program Location: BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WEYERS CAVE, VIRGINIA

Program Date(s): DECEMBER 5 - 6, 2018

Your assistance and feedback is needed to improve farm-to-table and local foods systems programming.

1. If you are a farmer or food business owner, what one to three educational points or take-home messages did you learn that you plan to implement on your farm or adopt in your business or would like to learn more about?

2. If you are an educator, extension agent, conservationist, or technical service provider, what one to three educational points or take-home messages did you learn that you would share with a farmer/producer or wider audience that you work with?

3. Please comment here with anything else you feel important to share about your experience.

4. How many acres do you currently have/manage?

☐ None, but plan to start farming) ☐ 6 to 10 acres ☐ 51 to100 acres

☐ Less than 2 acres ☐ 11 to 20 acres ☐ 101 to 200 acres

☐ 2 to 5 acres ☐ 21 to 50 acres ☐ Over 200 acres

5. What is your age range?

☐ 18 to 24 years old ☐ 45 to 54 years old

☐ 25 to 34 years old ☐ 55 to 64 years old

☐ 35 to 44 years old ☐ 65 and older

6. What is your gender? ________________

7. What is your ethnicity? Please self-describe:__________________________________________________

☐ African-American or Black ☐ Hispanic/Latino

☐ American Indian or Alaska Native ☐ Non-Hispanic/Latino

☐ Asian ☐ White

☐ Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander ☐ Other

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Thank you to the people & organizations who made this possible!

conference.virginiafarmtotable.org

buylocalshenvalley.org

#VAF2T2018

Keep Up With Us Online!

Conference Address: Blue Ridge Community College Plecker Workforce Center, One College Lane, Weyers Cave, VA 24486

Questions? Call Eric Bendfeldt at 540-232-6006. If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services, or other accommo-dations to participate in this activity, please contact Eric Bendfeldt or Cyndi Marston, VCE Northern District Office, at 540-232-6006/6010 during busi-

ness hours of 8am and 5pm to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event. *TDD number is (800) 828-1120

Plecker Workforce Center

Houff Learning Center

Parking

BRCC PLECKER WORK-

FORCE CENTER LAYOUT

AERIAL VIEW & MAP KEY

Eric Bendfeldt, VCE, Conference Co-Chair

Kathy Holm, USDA-NRCS, Conference Co-Chair

Cyndi Marston, VCE, Virginia SARE

Kenner Love, VCE, Rappahannock County

Kim Niewolny, VT/VCE/VBFRC

Chris Lawrence, USDA-NRCS, Cropland Agronomist

Alyssa Mark, VT/VBFRC

Debbie Glenn, BRCC Plecker Workforce Center

Steve Cooke, Friendly City Food Co-op

J.B. Daniel, USDA-NRCS, Forage & Grassland Agronomist

Kevin Camm, VCE, Lynchburg

Christy Gabbard, Chesapeake Foodshed Network

Robin Jones, VA Division of Energy

Kyley Clevenger, Farm Credit of the Virginias

Caitlin Miller, VDACS, Marketing

Kelli Scott, VCE, Montgomery County