Southern Illinois Farming Alliance Conference
Date/Time
Date(s) - 01/27/2024
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location
John A Logan College
Categories
Contact: Jennifer Duensing ,Coordinator of Farmer Training Programs, Food Works of Southern Illinois
email jenniferduensing@fwsoil.org, 618-943-6006
Carterville, IL – Save the date for Food Works’ Southern Illinois Farming Alliance Conference,
January 27th, 2024, 9am-4pm at John A Logan College.
Local farmers and those interested in farming are invited to take part in a full day of connecting with
speakers and organizations providing resources to support Organic, regenerative, and entrepreneurial farms
in Southern Illinois. Over 20 organizations will be on hand offering resources to farmers, including Midwest
GRIT, University of Illinois Extension, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, American Farmland Trust and many more
dedicated to providing services for small to midsize farms. Hear from keynote speaker: Dr. Trent Ford, Illinois
State Climatologist, talking about climate change for farmers in this region. Also hear from guest speakers on
key topics for sustainable and organic farmers such as land access with Farmlink and Agroforestry as part of a
regenerative system with the Savannah Institute. Food Works of Southern Illinois will also share updates on
local programming and opportunities for farmers.
Registration is now open. There is a refundable fee of $20 paid at the time of registration, which will
be reimbursed upon check-in at the event. There are also small stipends available to support farmers’ travel to
the conference. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, along with beverage service throughout the day. For
more details, please visit www.fwsoil.org/sifa-2024-conference .
The Southern Illinois Farming Alliance Conference is made possible through Food Works’ Southern Illinois Farming
Alliance, with support from the Illinois Farm Bureau and the USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program.
The Southern Illinois Farming Alliance (SIFA) is a farmer-driven network, whose focus is to encourage area farmers,
gardeners, and local eaters to learn from one another and is just one of the many programs Food Works offers. Food
Works is a non-profit organization, dedicated to creating a sustainable food economy in Southern Illinois. Community
members are invited to support this work by becoming a member of Food Works. Members receive access to our
SIFA Facebook page, free access to local events such as field days, and receive a monthly newsletter with farming
news and education information to access. Learn more at www.fwsoil.org/membership
If you have any questions about Food Works or want to learn more about any of Food Works programs which
include the Southern Illinois Farming Alliance, the Carbondale Community Farmers Market, Farm Beginnings, the
Mobile Farmers Market and the Southern Illinois Link Hub, go to www.fwsoil.org or feel free to contact Jennifer
Duensing at jenniferduensing@fwsoil.org
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Food Works is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to creating a sustainable food economy in Southern
Illinois. Through farmer training and consumer education, Food Works promotes long-term farming networks
that create healthy soils, healthy food, and healthy communities in the 23 counties that make up Southern
Illinois. (www.fwsoil.org)