Conversation with the Region on Local Food & Agriculture
Featuring Keynote Speaker: Commissioner Ryan Quarles, Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Date and Time: Friday, December 8, 2017, 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Site: The New Bluegrass Stockyards, 4561 Ironworks Pike, Lexington, KY 40511
The Conversations with the Region series continues with an important discussion on Local Food & Agriculture. The 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. conference will include lunch from Derae & Friends (Hayden’s Stockyard Eatery). Full conference registration is only $35, or include Bluegrass Tomorrow Membership and full registration for only $50.
The purpose of the discussion is to raise awareness of key food and agriculture related issues in the Bluegrass Region, answering the questions: Where are we? What are our primary challenges? How do we compare to other similar markets?
There have been numerous meetings of stakeholders over the past several years but some believe little has been accomplished to address local food. There are many different groups that have seen the benefit of jumping on the “local foods” bandwagon and defining it to meet their objectives. Our challenge is to look at reality, look at it regionally, and try to bring an all-inclusive framework to the issue and to reach consensus on future objectives and strategies.
Who should attend: local and state government officials, farmers, providers/co-ops,county extension agents and key stakeholders and decision makers involved in food and agriculture and local foods, restaurant owners, suppliers, and other community leaders, business & chamber leaders. Also, board members and stakeholders in the following organizations are encouraged to attend: KY Dept. of Agriculture, University of KY College of Ag & affiliated programs, Kentucky State/EKU and other regional college Ag Depts., KY Center for Ag & Rural Dev., Bluegrass Tomorrow, Bluegrass Greensource, Woodford Forward, Fayette Alliance, Bluegrass Land Conservancy, Bluegrass Area Development District, Kentucky Farm Bureau, KY Cattlemen’s Association, and many others.
Working Agenda