Join the Virginia Chapter of the Soil & Water Conservation Society in Charlottesville, VA for its 2019 Annual Meeting!  This year, the VA Chapter SWCS will convene in Charlottesville to hear from Virginia NRCS, Cooperative Extension, Researchers, Growers, Marketing Experts, Chapter leaders and local food hub specialists about how the local foods movement, conservation, soil health, and sustainability are not just linked, but intricately interwoven.

 Local Food Production Means Sustainability!

Sustainable food production systems are non-polluting; conserve energy and natural resources; are economically efficient; are safe for workers, communities and consumers; and, do not compromise the needs of future generations. To be sustainable, local food production needs to be built on a foundation of healthy soil. Food value chains need to be developed throughout the system, which add value through local processing and link farmers directly to local consumers. This meeting explores how local food production in Virginia contributes to sustainability and improves the livelihoods of local producers.

8:30AM Registration/Coffee/Snacks
9:00AM Welcome: Tim Durham, President, Virginia Chapter SWCS and Assistant Professor of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, Program Coordinator of Agricultural Sciences, Ferrum College
9:10AM Virginia NRCS Local Foods initiatives: Jack Bricker, State Conservationist, Virginia NRCS
9:30AM Sustainability and Environmental Issues Associated with Local Food Production: Eric Bendfeldt, Extension Specialist, Community Viability, Virginia Cooperative Extension
10:30AM Break
10:45AM Virginia’s Finest/Virginia Grown Programs: Bill Scruggs, Manager of Sales and Market Development, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
11:15AM SWCS Publications and How to Publish in Them: Dr. Brian Benham, Professor of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech
11:30AM SWCS Business Meeting: Updates on Chapter revitalization, new member drive, questions from members: Tim Durham, President, Virginia Chapter SWCS
12:00PM Lunch, Catered by BreadWorks Bakery & Deli, Charlottesville
12:15PM Virginia’s Terroir for Wine Making: Jaclyn Fiola, Ph.D. Student, Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech
1:00PM Chapter Awards Ceremony: Kilby Majette, Awards Committee Chair and Tim Durham, Chapter President
1:15PM Meeting Adjourned
2:00PM Local Food Hub Tour, 556 Dettor Rd #108, Charlottesville, VA 22903 (approximately a 20-minute drive from Unity of Charlottesville)
3:00PM Tour ends