20th National Small Farm Trade Show & Conference Features Farmers, Ranchers and More

Celebrate the 20th anniversary the largest annual small farm trade show in the United States with dozens of SARE grant recipients plus staff from the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program at National Small Farm Trade Show & Conference(tm). This year, the Conference takes place on Thursday, November 1st through Saturday, November 3rd, 2012, in Columbia, Missouri, at the Central Missouri Event Center (former Boone County Fairgrounds).

Do you want to farm or ranch while protecting the environment, making a profit, and benefiting your community? More than 25 Farmers Forum talks featuring grants recipients from each of North Central Region SARE’s (NCR-SARE) grant programs will show you how to do it. Farmers Forum sessions are 25 to 55 minutes long and run continuously throughout the three-day event. You'll hear about sustainable beekeeping, rare breeds of pigs, farming with urban youth, how to extend the vegetable growing season, and much more. After the sessions, meet the speakers and pick up free

sustainable agriculture resources at the SARE Trade Show booths. Call NCR-SARE for Farmers Forum details at 573-681-5545.

 Choose from more than 15 one-hour seminars at the show. Don't miss the new age swine production seminar on Nov. 2nd by Kelly Klober, poultry producer and NCR-SARE grant recipient, or the sustainable cropping systems presentation by NCR-SARE Professional Development Program Coordinator, Rob Myers, on the 3rd.

Nine short courses give you the opportunity to get in-depth information on topics ranging from raised bed gardening to mob grazing. Attend a Stock Dog Clinic at the fairgrounds before the trade show on October 31st. The National Small Farm Trade Show & Conference(tm) is sponsored by Small Farm Today(r) and sustained by Missouri Department of Agriculture, NCAT-ATTRA, SARE (USDA-NIFA), and Truman State University.

Show times are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Before October 15th, preregistration is $8 for 1 day, $12 for 2 days, or $15 for all 3 days, allowing attendance of the trade show, seminars, demonstrations, exhibits, shows, meetings, and Farmer's Forum.

Three-hour short courses are an additional $25 each. To register, call Small Farm Today at 800-633-2535, write National Small Farm Show, 3903 W Ridge Trail Rd, Clark MO 65243, or see http://www.smallfarmtoday.com for more information.