Where's the best place to get started with organic, charge up your batteries, make connections and get invaluable production and marketing tips from other farmers in your region? Two words: regional conferences. There are several dozen very good organic or sustainable agriculture conferences throughout the country. Some of them are literally rocking with energy, excitement and hope. Each conference has its own personality, but all of them tend to have a mixed crowd of wannabee and new farmers, experienced conventional farmers looking for a change, experienced organic growers sharing their wealth of knowledge--and plenty of access to products, services and experts.

Most conferences are held in late fall or winter, and they really are a must for anyone considering going organic. Many of them feature day-long pre-conference sessions that give you in-depth knowledge about organic transition, or organic dairy, or organic greenhouse production. Conference workshop topics range from value-added processing to organic grain production to pest management in organic apples. There's almost always something for everyone.

But, of course, the best thing about these conferences are the people you meet: experienced growers willing to serve as mentors, extension agents interested in organic, and other transitioning farmers.

The listings here include only some of the largest and most established tradeshows in the country. For information on additional events, go the U.S. Regional Guide and browse for your region and state. The top events are listed prominently. You can also check out the North American Directory. Browse by type of resource, and select "calendars" for a listing of regional agricultural event calendars.

Previous page: The Basics

Next page: Education/Training

Conferences/Events
Click the titles below to view specific resource details or -OR- view all
ATTRA Calendar of Conferences, Tradeshows and Workshops This national calendar includes farming, marketing and business oriented conferences that have some relationship to organic and sustainable...
Oregon Tilth Annual Organic Conference Oregon Tilth has been around for over 30 years, as a certifier and an educational institution. Its annual conference brings together farmers,...
New Mexico's Annual Organic Farming Conference Held each February, the conference is organized by New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service, the New Mexico Department of...
Organic Trade Association's All Things Organic™Conference and Tradeshow All Things Organic™ not only gives you an opportunity to connect with hundreds of organic businesses--including manufacturers, processors,...
Calendar of Organic Trade Association Activities OTA organizes and participates in events, trade shows, conferences and the like throughout the year. Posted events offer a wide range of networking...
Organic Trade Association (OTA) Upcoming Events This webpage features OTA's upcoming events, such as trade shows, conferences, and industry receptions.
Organic Trade Association Calendar of Industry Events The OTA's organic industry calendar is a service for members. The web address takes you to the OTA home page, where you can learn more about...
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) Annual Conference and Members Meeting This conference, held annually in November, focuses on issues of traditional breed conservation. Check the web site for more details.
Annual Acres USA Conference The Acres U.S.A. Conference is a premier event nationwide for commercial-scale sustainable and organic agriculture. Several hundred eco-minded...
Annual Upper Midwest Organic Farming Conference in LaCrosse, Wisconsin This may be the largest organic conference in the country. It's been held in February for 18 years. More than 130 exhibitors, over 60 workshops,...
Calendar of Sustainable Agriculture Events from SARE This is comprehensive national directory of conferences, events, workshops and training sessions. An excellent collection of events that are...
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association's (CFSA) Annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference 600 + farmers, educators, extension agents, consumers, and ag professionals convene for a weekend of workshops, wonderful meals, inspiring keynote...
Eco-Farm Organic Conference in Monterey, California Held each January, the Eco-Farm conference is one of the oldest and largest conferences in the country. This 4-day conference features and...
Farming for the Future Conference, from Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture This premiere sustainable and organic farming conference, held every year in early February, has been running for over 16 years. It attracts over...
Georgia Organics Annual Conference Georgia Organics' three-day conference includes cutting edge workshops, in-depth educational sessions, farm tours, an Organic Banquet featuring...
Guelph Organic Conference in Ontario, Canada A premier organic agriculture conference, held each year in January, at Guelph University. A wealth of workshops and seminars on direct marketing,...
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association's (MOFGA) Annual Conference MOFGA's Farmer to Farmer Conference offers in-depth treatment of topics. It's based on the idea that farmers learn best from their peers and other...
Natural Products Expo East Natural Products Expo East is one of the premiere natural products trade shows in the country. It gives you access to thousands of product options;...
NOFA-Mass Winter Conference 35 workshops on crops, gardening, farm management, sustainable lifestyles, organic land care, livestock, renewable energy and more. Farm and garden...
NOFA-NH's Annual Winter Conference Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire's (NOFA-NH) Annual Winter Conference is held each year in March. The conference features...
NOFA-NJ's Annual Winter Conference New Jersey's premier gathering for the organic and sustainable farming community. With a mix of both farmer- and researcher-led sessions, the...
NOFA-NY's Annual Farming & Gardening Conference Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York's annual conference hosts over 55 diverse workshops all on one weekend. Programs for teens and...
NOFA-VT's Annual Winter Conference Vermont's organic enthusiasts, farmers, gardeners, and consumers have been gathering for celebration, education and inspiration for the past 25...
Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) Annual Summer Conference More than 150 workshops on organic growing, animal husbandry, herbs and flowers, orchards, homesteading, practical skills, sustainable building,...
Practical Farmers of Iowa Annual Conference This annual conference, held in January, features dozens of workshops on topics such as livestock production, high tunnels, marketing, extended...
Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (Southern SAWG) Conference This annual conference, held each year in January at a different location in the South, attracts over 900 farmers and advocates working toward...
A Regional Event Calendar from Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture An excellent calendar of regional agricultural events--workshops, field days, conferences and trainings.
Ag Calendar from Innovative Farmers of Ohio This calendar features workshops and training sessions on organic production, marketing and more.
Agriculture Network Information Center Calendar This page takes you to a listing of dozens of conferences and trade shows internationally that have to do with farming and agricultural marketing....
Annual Conference on Biological Control of Insects, Weeds and Diseases, Sponsored by The Center for Biological Control at UC-Berkeley Go to the Center's web site and look for information on the conference, held in California every July. The conference features an excellent set of...
Annual Great Lakes Indigenous Farming Conference Discussion & Workshops: Local Food Systems, Organic Farming, Seed Saving, Seed Sovereignty, Renewable Energy for the Farm & Home, Community...
Annual Illinois Organic Production Conference Organic production and consumer driven marketing for the farmer entrepreneur: simultaneous conferences in Illinois on organic production and...
Annual Meeting of the Innovative Farmers of Ohio This annual meeting, for IFO members, features information sessions, networking opportunities and a keynote speaker.
Annual Michigan Family Farms Conference This one-day conference features a variety of educational and networking opportunities for family farmers. Breakout sessions include workshops on...
Annual Michigan Organic Conference Sponsored by the Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance, this conference, held annually in March, features well-known organic experts as speakers,...
Annual Midwest Value Added Conference in Minnesota Annual conference, held in January. For farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs interested in value-added enterprises. Co-sponsored by the Minnesota...
Annual Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference Farmers are greeting the challenges of today’s agricultural world with new found passion and creative production, marketing, and management...
Annual Organic Growers and Grazing Conference Sponsored by Woodbury County and the Organic Grassfed Beef Coalition. Held in Iowa.
Annual Southern Minnesota Organic Crops Day, in March A daylong event featuring speakers and deomonstrations on practical topics such as planting soybeans into rye covers, alternative crops, weed...
Annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference from the Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops The 2007 conference focused on topics such as U.S. farm policy to promote rural wellbeing, social justice issues, local food systems, recent...
Annual Sustainable Agriculture Pest Control Advisor Conference, Sponsored by California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) Held in December in California, this conference features innovative pest management practices for sustainable agriculture. Learn about tools for...
Annual Urban Agriculture Conference Boston's Food Project hosts this annual conference in April, in Boston. The idea: Community gardens, urban farms, rooftop gardens and other food...
Annual Wisconsin Grazing Conference The Wisconsin Grazing Conference, held annually in February, has presentations on variety of topics that to help farmers become more successful....
Appalachian Grazing Conference The Appalachian Grazing Conference features presentations targeted towards increasing profitability for livestock producers in Kentucky, Maryland,...
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) Marketing Opportunities for Farmers Conference Local demand exceeds supply for many farm products. Farmers who effectively think through their marketing and business plans can find profitable...
Arkansas Women in Agriculture Conference This conference, which held it's third annual event in March 2007, has workshops on crop and livestock production, agri-tourism, marketing,...
Beginning and Small Farmer Training Programs in New York, Courtesy of Cornell University A current calendar listing of events in New York state designed for beginning and small scale farmers. You can sign up from this page for a Small...
Beginning Farmers Conference, Sponsored by Iowa State University Extension A conference for beginning and experienced farmers to come together, network, and share ideas. In its second year in 2007.
BioCycle West Coast Conference on Composting and Organic Recycling Held annually in April, the conference addresses a broad range of topics, from the benefits of composting to large scale composting systems for...
Calendar of Sustainable Ag Events for Oklahoma, from the Kerr Center This listing includes workshops, conferences, field days and festivals.
California Annual Organic Dairy Conference This Annual Organic Dairy Conference, held each March in Fortuna, California and hosted by Humboldt Creamery, provides an opportunity for...
California Niche Meat Marketing Conference This annual conference, held in Placer and Nevada Counties of California, features presentations and group activities on processing, organic...
Colorado Organic Producers Association Annual Meeting & Conference The COPA Annual Meeting is held each year in February Conference topics include conventional and organic production for vegetable and field crops,...
CSA in New York City Conference This annual conference, sponsored by Just Food, offers workshops for both farmers and consumers--including information on fundraising for CSAs,...
CT NOFA's Annual Cultivating an Organic Connecticut Conference Held annually in March, this Connecticut conference provides workshops, speakers and networking opportunities for organic growers.
Event Calendar from the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center This calendar features seminars, workshops, field days and farm tours in Ohio.
Family Farmed.org EXPO in Illinois Over 3,000 people come to this show to meet family farmers and support the local food movement. The expo features over 120 farmer and other...
Flowers: Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) National Conference and Trade Show Held annually in October. Check the web site for details.
Fruit: Annual Small Fruits Conference in Western North Carolina This conference focuses on establishment, varieties, production, pest management and marketing specific to Western North Carolina. For more...
Growing Kentucky: Land, Food & Culture--Creating Sustainability Where You Live A symposium to examine future visions for Kentucky agriculture, rural communities, local markets and development of sustainable food systems. The...
Guinea Fowl Breeders Association Convention This annual event is hosted in part by Penn State University, and offers programs and demonstrations on guinea fowl research, reproduction,...
Homegrown, Northwest Indiana: A Local Foods Expo This conference, for locally grown food producers, growers, marketers, specialty retailers, chefs, food entrepreneurs and interested community...
Kansas City Annual Food Circle Expo Kansas City Food Circle organizes this opportunity for local food eaters to meet local food producers. Producers can promote their produce and...
Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association (MOFGA) The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), formed in 1971, is the oldest and largest state organic organization in the country....
Michigan Food and Farming Systems Events Calendar This calendar features information on workshops, training sessions, farm tours and more.
Minnesota Dairy Goat Conference The Annual Goat Breeders Conference presents basic thru advanced classes for goat owners. If you are even considering starting a goat project, this...
Minnesota Grown Marketing Conference The annual conference, held in St. Paul, MN in March, is targeted to specialty crop and livestock producers including garden centers, fruit and...
Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) Calendar A collection of agricultural calendars for the region.
Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) Regional Events Calendar The MISA calendar is a truly comprehensive listing of local and regional events in Minnesota and the region, including a wide range of hundreds of...
Montana Organic Association's Annual Conference Featuring workshops on all aspects of organic agriculture from seeds to marketing. Special plenary sessions on GMOs, wheat breeding and the future...
National Conference on Facilitating Sustainable Agriculture Education Held at Cornell University's Alice Cook House, located in Ithaca, New York, the conference draws a diverse gathering of faculty, staff,...
National Conference on Grazing Lands The conference is "a forum for discussing the benefits of grazing. We will exchange technical and management information, identify research needs,...
National Farm to Cafeteria and Food Policy Conference The third annual conference, held in March, 2007 and sponsored by the Community Food Security Coalition, brings together hundreds of farm to...
Natural Products Expo West Natural Products Expo West is one of the premiere natural products trade shows in the country. It gives you access to thousands of product options;...
New England Farmers' Direct Marketing Conference and Trade Show Sturbridge, Massachusetts. "Successful Strategies for Growing Your Farm Business" is the theme for this unique marketing conference that targets...
NOFA-NH Event Calendar This calendar features workshops, farm tours and other events sponsored by NOFA-NH.
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Rhode Island (NOFA-RI) NOFA-RI is an organization of consumers, gardeners, farmers and environmentalists working to promote organic farming practices and supporting all...
Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society Annual Winter Conference NPSAS holds its annual conference in February in South Dakota. Topics range from transitioning to organic production to revitalizing farm...
Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Tours from University of Illinois These Illinois Small Farm Tours start in May, organized by University of Illinois Extension.
Organic Connections Tradeshow in Saskatchewan The three-day conference features an organic industry tradeshow and a strong program covering topics of interest to producers, processors,...
Sheep: Minnesota Lamb and Wool Producers Association Annual Conference The Minnesota Lamb & Wool Producers (MLWP) annual conference and trade show focuses on flock health and risk management. The program includes two...
Small farm and Beginning Farmer Events in New York, courtesy of Cornell University
South Dakota ValueAdded Ag Conference This is an annual conference sponsored by the Value Added Ag Development Center, SDSU and other ag industry entities to provide information and...
Summer Workshops from NOFA-VT NOFA-VT sponsored workshops are $8 for NOFA members and $12 for nonmembers (unless indicated). Pre-registration is sometimes required and is...
Sustainable Farming Conference: Standing on Common Ground Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. Laurelville Mennonite Church Center hosts its annual sustainable farming conference, Farming with Values that Last, a...
Tennessee Organic Growers Association Annual Conference The third annual conference was held in March of 2007. The conference features workshops, discussion groups and speakers addressing production,...
Texas Conference On Organic Production Systems This annual conference features keynote speakers, networking opportunities, and of course, workshops on a wide range of topics. In 2007, topics...
The Annual Diversified Agriculture Conference in Utah The Diversified Agricultural Conference, sponsored by Utah State Cooperative Extension, is designed to benefit agriculture producers who are...
The California Small Farm Conference The California Farm Conference is the state's premier gathering of small farmers and those who support them. The three day educational conference...
The Food Project in Massachusetts The Food Project Works with over a hundred teens and thousands of volunteers each year to farm on 31 acres in rural Lincoln, MA, and on several...
The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture's Biennial Conference in Oklahoma The last conference was held in 2006. The next will be in August of 2008. It's an excellent conference focussed on sustainable agriculture, local...
The Minnesota Organic Conference and Trade Show The Minnesota Organic Conference and Trade Show offers learning and networking opportunities for those of you new to organic production as well as...
The Quivira Coalition Annual Conference on Sustainable Ranching Held each January in New Mexico, this conference brings together ranchers and environmentalists for workshops on sustainable ranching and land...
Tilth Producers of Washington Conference Held each year in November, the Tilth Producers Conference offers speakers, discussion sessions, and workshops on topics ranging from farm and...
Tour d'Organics Organic Farm Bike Tours Bicycling tour featuring local organic farms: Numerous locations and time throughout year.
Upper Midwest Regional Fruit & Vegetable Growers Conference The annual educational conference is held in cooperation with the University of Minnesota Extension Service and the Minnesota Department of...
UW Center for Cooperatives' Annual Farmer Cooperatives Conference For almost a decade, the Farmer Cooperatives Conference has provided a stimulating forum for cooperative board members, managers, cooperative and...
Virginia Biological Farming Conference and Trade Show This conference, held annually in February, is intended for a broad range of folks, including commercial farmers and farm managers, educators,...
Virginia Organic Producers and Consumers Association (VOPCA) VOCPA, a nonprofit, was founded to provide the Virginia organic farming community with business and marketing assistance. They also work to...
Women in Blue Jeans Conference, Held Each Year in January in South Dakota Women in Blue Jeans is presented each year by a group of dedicated people committed to providing education, inspiration, and networking...
Women, Food, and Agriculture Fall Gathering in Lanesboro, MN Practical skills for the farm and beyond shape the fall gathering by the Women, Food, and Agriculture Network, and all women are invited.