April 5, 2016

Contact: Michelle Olgers, VSU College of Agriculture, 804-524-6964, molgers@vsu.edu

Virginia State University’s College of Agriculture will host the 7th National Small Farm Conference, “Creating and Sustaining Small Farmers and Ranchers,” on September 20-22, 2016, at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Virginia Tech.

The conference will consist of short courses, oral and poster paper presentations, exhibits, success stories and educational tours in and around Virginia Beach.

The National Small Farm Conference, held every three to four years, brings together hundreds of stakeholders who work with small farmers and ranchers. The 2016 conference will include a number of preconference short courses, plenary sessions, oral and poster paper presentations, success stories, exhibits, and educational tours.  

The conference will bring together approximately 750-800 U.S. and international professionals and leaders from academia, non-governmental organizations, governmental agencies, foundations, and the grassroots farming community whose goals and activities support the sustainability of small farmers and ranchers.

It will strengthen collaborations and partnerships among stakeholders and will provide an opportunity to share new ideas in research, extension, and outreach in order to build resilient farming systems and quality of life within communities. 

The conference will also serve as a forum to discuss the results of research geared towards addressing challenges facing small farmers and ranchers. Other topics to be addressed include: women and youth in agriculture, farmworkers, immigrants, socially disadvantaged producers, returning veterans and how these groups can access USDA programs and services, land grant colleges and universities, non-governmental organizations and other groups providing outreach to enhance economic opportunities and quality of life for small farmers and ranchers.

For more information, including how to register, submit an abstract or become a sponsor, visitwww.vsu.edu/nationalsmallfarmconference. Abstracts are due on April 15, 2016.

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Mark Klingman at (804) 524-5626 /TDD (800) 828-1120 during business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations a minimum of 30 days prior to the event.

The 7th National Small Farm Conference is sponsored, in part, by Farm Credit, Farm Bureau of Virginia, Virginia FAIRS, and the USDA National Agricultural Statistic Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and Rural Development.

Extension is a joint program of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state and local governments. Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Edwin J. Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; M. Ray McKinnie, Interim Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State University, Petersburg.

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