Agenda available here.

Local and regional food is more than what happens at farmers markets and on U-Pick farms. When we support food and farm businesses, we can seize new market opportunities that build our communities’ wealth—creating jobs and strengthening relationships.

If you are passionate about local agriculture, healthy food access, and improving your community, this event will offer you new tools to advance your work with a focus on economic development. The Harvesting Opportunity Symposium will highlight the potential positive economic impact well-developed regional food systems could have in Kansas–and the investments we need to achieve it. Attendees will gain new insights into this burgeoning economic sector and discuss strategies and actions to help spur urban and rural community development throughout Kansas.

Join us to:

  Hear from national experts and regional leaders about how to use emerging tools and strategies for building strong communities.

  Discover innovative food and agriculture enterprise models that advance financial equity and increase access to healthy foods for all community members.

   Learn how to advance your community’s economic development goals through creative local investment solutions that keep more value near home.

  Identify your community’s unique assets and the ways local government and regional institutions can seize these market opportunities.

  Catalyze dialogue and relationship-building to build coordinated efforts that go beyond the event.

Please RSVP by May 21

Tickets are $45 and include a locally sourced lunch

Reserve your spot at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/ycwg4zxh

The voices of producers in this conversation are valuable, so we will work to waive registration fees for any Kansas local producer, as well as reimbursement for significant travel costs if requested. Contact Douglas County Extension Director Marlin Bates at batesm@ksu.edu for more information.

This event made possible by: