Outstanding Presenters
For this conference we always look for the best of the best to provide you the useful information you need to succeed. The over 80 presenters we are bringing together for this event this year are outstanding in their field, with plenty of expertise to share. Here is just a sampling of what to expect.
Field trip host and presenter, entrepreneur, and gardener Chris Hiryak's mission in starting the Little Rock Urban Farming was to educate the community and increase awareness of how consuming locally grown fruits and vegetables can lead to a stronger economy and community. Chris interned back in 2009 at the farm of another of our stellar presenters—Mark Cain! Click here to read more about Chris and his work in the Arkansas Times.
Mark Cain, of Dripping Springs Garden, is a perennial favorite at the Southern SAWG conference. Mark and his partner Michael Crane are true veterans in the sustainable farming movement, having produced organic vegetables, herbs, blueberries and specialty cut flowers for over 20 years. Mark will be instructing a cut flower mini course as well as a general session about on-farm apprenticeships. This Ozark farm was recently profiled in The Arkansas Traveler.
Ira Wallace is both worker and owner of the cooperative Southern Exposure Seed Exchange seed company. She will be presenting two conference sessions on seeds: organic seed production basics, and integrating organic seed production into your diversified farm. Learn more about Ira and her work with seed saving in this article from Mother Earth News. And don't forget to bring your favorite seed varieties to the seed swap on Thursday night. See announcement to the left for more details.
The Oklahoma Farmers and Ranchers Association website provides a wonderful introduction to Dr. Ann Wells and her commitment to the research and production of quality grass-fed beef. Ann is a veterinarian, specializing in natural healthcare for ruminants. She also produces lamb and beef for Ozark Pasture Beef--a group of farms committed to producing meat in a natural environmentally sustainable manner. She will be leading a pre-conference short course on controlled grazing management and a conference session on holistic animal healthcare.
Click here to learn more about the rest of our great presenters. |