Conference schedule finalized!

We are very excited to announce that the schedule for the 2015 conference has been finalized. In addition to some beginner-level topics, this year we are also providing some in-depth sessions presented by experts, which provide more advanced information. Here are just a few of the speakers and topics this year.

Patricia Foreman, author of City Chicks: Keeping Micro-flocks of Chickens as Garden Helpers, Compost Makers, Bio-reyclers, and Local Food Producers, will be presenting three sessions on chickens:

• Chicken Whispering: Discover the Chicken You Never Knew
• Garden Chicks: Growing Food With and For Your Chickens
• Primary Poultry Healthcare & The Poultry Pharmacy

Dr. Jennifer Miller is a veterinarian, FAMACHA instructor, and boer goat breeder, and she'll be presenting a session on Non-Chemical Parasite Control in Small Ruminants.

Richard Hungerford, a certified rangeland specialist who presented at our first conference in 2012 is back to present an in-depth session on fencing for livestock.

Donna O'Shaunessy, former owner of South Pork Ranch, will be talking about how to build a house out of grain bin, as well as how to create and run your own on-farm store.

And in response to last year's attendees, Wes King of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance will again be talking about the legal requirements to sell your homegrown products, including new and upcoming legislation that have changed or will change some of the rules.

Click here to see the complete schedule!