Practical News: Friday, Nov. 25, 2022

*SPECIAL EDITION: All about PFI's 2023 annual conference*

"Learning and seeing friends – that's PFI in a nutshell."

Registration for our 2023 annual conference is now open! Since our founding, the annual conference has been a keystone event for sharing knowledge, building connections and celebrating agriculture in Iowa.

As we gather with friends and family this Thanksgiving season, we come together on common ground – in a spirit of gratitude for what the land bestows, and those around us who share their friendship, ideas and support.

We invite you to join us Jan. 19-21 in Ames, Iowa, where we'll explore what it means to be "On Common Ground" in our farming systems and ecosystems, our ideas and relationships.

Connect with old friends, meet new ones – and continue the PFI tradition of learning, sharing and connecting as we seek to build resilient farms and communities.

And remember, if you register by Nov. 30., you'll be entered to win a sunset plane ride over Iowa, courtesy of Stott Aerial!

"This conference encourages and supports the farmer for the future. Valuable aspects include networking and bouncing ideas off of one another."

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS IN 2023

Three Pre-Conference Short Courses

60+ Sessions on a Wide Variety of Topics

PFI Dinner + Pickles & Preserves Potluck

We're excited about the return of PFI's Friday night dinner, along with a new "pickles & preserves" potluck.

What's a "pickles &preserves potluck?" Can it wait in your car during a January day? Can it sit out for a couple of hours? Is it cheese? Jam? Pickles? Summer sausage? Kraut? Is it beer?

If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” bring it to the potluck with a serving utensil. PFI will provide the main and side dishes, but the potluck contributions make this a truly festive event!

The potluck is free with your conference registration; free-will donations for dinner are accepted. Here's a list of other festivities to look forward to.

PFI Member Storytellers

Storytelling is back!

To close out the conference on Saturday afternoon, all conference attendees will come together to hear true stories, performed live, from a selection of PFI farmers.

If you enjoy bending your ear toward a lively, soberingly powerful or particularly well-narrated farmer tale, this storytelling event is for you.

NEED HELP ATTENDING?

Apply for a conference scholarship

PFI is pleased to offer scholarships, which include registration for both days of the conference, a Saturday lunch ticket and a Friday night hotel room (if needed).

Anyone is welcome to apply for a scholarship. Priority will be given to applicants from underrepresented or historically marginalized groups in agriculture, beginning farmers with limited resources and other applicants experiencing financial hardship.

Applications are due Dec. 30.

Questions? Contact Liz at (515) 232-5661 or liz.kolbe@practicalfarmers.org.

GIVING THANKS

Giving thanks to our co-founders and the generous PFI community they inspired

As members and beneficiaries of the PFI community, we would like to take time to express our eternal gratitude and appreciation for PFI’s co-founders: Larry Kallem, Sharon Thompson and Dick Thompson.

They inspired the seeds of a community of farmers and individuals who value curiosity and openness to help everyone improve and thrive, and a culture that welcomes everyone.

Today, that seed has blossomed into a generous community of thousands of members and supporters across Iowa and many other states (and countries). This generous network of people continue to uphold the values set in motion by Larry, Sharon, Dick and all the early supporters and collaborators who breathed life into PFI and helped sustain this special community.

In a world that is ever changing, we want to give thanks to those who came before us. Those who set the stage for cultivating connections and inspiring creativity, while building resilient farms and communities.

Thank you Larry, Sharon and Dick – and all the members who have helped sustain and continue this beautiful work.

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