Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI)’s 2018 Annual Conference: Revival

Practical Farmers’ Annual Conference has been the backbone of our organization since our founding, when farmers looking to improve diversity on their farms gathered to share their knowledge openly with others. From the days when these informal get-togethers took place at someone’s farm and were known as the Annual Meeting, to the surging interest in pragmatic, sustainable farming solutions that in 2003 necessitated a shift in rhetorical scope from annual “meeting” to “conference,” to the ongoing upwelling of farmers seeking practical yet profitable and ecologically sensitive ways to farm, the annual conference has been a hallmark of what Practical Farmers stands for: farmer-to-farmer learning, networking and grassroots solutions to on-farm challenges for a more diverse, sustainable agricultural landscape.

Our annual conference is open to everyone. The event attracts farmers of all sorts, sizes, systems and enterprises, as well as non-farmers interested in knowing more about how their food is grown and building relationships between those who work the land and those who rely on their labors. From pre-conference short courses that run the day before and morning of the conference to in-depth workshops, roundtables, breakfast meetings and a rich array of sessions in several core tracks, those who attend are sure to come away with valuable working knowledge to improve their farms and enrich their lives.

The conference allows ample time for networking, interacting with sponsors, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones – as well as plenty of fun. Bid on items in our silent auction, unwind at our PFI Potluck Party, enjoy food produced by local farmers or – for beginning farmers – meet with others just starting out at a special get-together planned just for you. We look forward to seeing you at the next conference!

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