When Friday, December 1, 2017 at 8:30 AM CST
-to-
Saturday, December 2, 2017 at 5:30 PM CST
 
Where
Emporia Best Western
3021 W Highway 50
Emporia, KS 66801

Kansas Farmers Union - the state's oldest farm organization - will hold its annual convention at the Best Western, Emporia, December 1-2, 20167.
 
Won't you join us? Early Bird discount ends November 20.
 
Join the Kansas Farmers Union Board of Directors as it holds its quarterly meeting and reviews proposed bylaw changes prior to the General Session. During the General Session, members nominate board candidates and national convention delegates, receive a report on organization finances, and begin drafting 2018 KFU Policy. KFU has a rich history of working to protect and promote the interests of family farmers and ranchers by taking a leadership role in advocating for farming, ranching and agricultural interests across the state. Each year, members review past policy, propose and debate new issues, and adopt policy for the coming year. Following lunch, Sarah Green introduces the theme of Farmers, Bridges and Kansas, and Jason Schmidt shares ways he's built bridges between idealism and practicality. Kurt and Andi Dale dive into how they've worked across generations on their family farm in Southwest Kansas. Matt Perdue, National Farmers Union, delivers an update from Washington D.C. about national farm policy and how the organization is building its own bridges.

Wrapping up the day, Erika Nelson presents Make Art, Not War exploring a rich array of protest art - art made to draw attention to a topic of great concern in hope of eliciting change or expanding the conversation.

Saturday morning sessions move to the American Legion Post. Barbara Patterson, National Farmers Union, explains the "Food Safety Modernization Act: A Bridge We Must Cross". A panel discussion "Bridges to a New Farm Bill" is moderated by Bill Spiegel, editor of High Plains Journal. Panelists are Lisa French, Cheney Lake Watershed Inc.; Jim French, Center for Rural Affairs; Sandy Proctor, KSRE; and Sharon Karr, Kansas Farm Service Agency committee member. In the convention keynote, "Thoughts and Reflections on the Farm Crisis of the 1980s, and How We Came Through It," Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum Baker has a conversation with Nick Levendofsky about her time in the Senate, her role during the Farm Crisis of the late 70's and early 80's, women in politics, and how things have changed since she left office 20 years ago. We move back to the Best Western for the annual convention banquet and the presentation of prestigious 2017 Ruth Hirsh Award.

Hop on the Bus, Get Schooled! Saturday afternoon showcases several area farms with a bus tour for beginning farmers and other interested members. The tour highlights three local farms by Madison: Our Seven Acres has a small-scale family vegetable and fruit operation incorporating hoop houses, small livestock, an a CSA. Hear from Mandy about how she connects with consumers, supports her community, and inspires young farmers. Preston Beeman, is a transitioning farmer south of Madison, who rents his farm from his mother and siblings. After joining Gail Fuller on a tour of Gabe Brown's farm in South Dakota, he discovered cover crops can be profitable when grazed. Preston has changed his farming practices and now plants cover crops on his farm and custom grazes yearlings. Jacob Knobloch is a young farmer who took over his grandpa's farm in 2005. He did conventional cropping for the first three years, followed by two years of strip till. Jacob took advantage of some cost share opportunities to try no-till and is slowly making a move to drastically reduce commercial inputs.

LODGING
Hotel At Old Town

Best Western
3021 W Highway 50
Emporia, KS 66801
 
To reserve, call 620.342.7587 and refer to Kansas Farmers Union. A room block has been reserved until November 24.

Room rate is $79.99.