The 3rd Annual AgriSummit Starts this Friday, April 20th!
In celebration of local foods and agritourism, Guidestone’s 3rd Annual AgriSummit starts this week Friday, April 20th! This community event is held at the Salida SteamPlant Event Center and attendees will participate in educational sessions, opportunities for networking and inspired discussions focused on local food production, agriculture education, farm to school and agritourism in our region.
Workshop session topics through the day include an Introduction to Fundamentals of Holistic Management, Growing Food and Community with Local Energy, Can Farm to School Work for Your Farm?, Food for Thought: Place-Based Learning with an Agricultural Focus, Strategic Alliances in Agriculture, Know Your Water – Water Management in the Upper Arkansas River Basin, Year-round Passive Solar Aquaponic Food Production, Feeding Beef Cows in your Environment, Industrial Hemp in Restoration Agriculture, Agriculture Education, Season Extension – Why we Need It! In addition, Chaffee County Commissioner Greg Felt will speak about the Envision Chaffee County process as it pertains to agriculture, and a keynote address will be given by Joe & Jenn Wheeling of the James Ranch in Durango, highlighting this multi-generational ranch and the agriculture and agritourism operations that allow it to thrive. Registration for this full day event is at www.GuidestoneColorado.org.
AgriSummit will include a lunch provided by Seasons Cafe featuring local foods, and an early-season Farmers Market hosted by Foodshed Alliance.
FREE to all members of the community, a Community Open House Happy Hour will be held from 4:30pm-6pm in the SteamPlant Ballroom. Farmers Market vendors will have samples available, items for purchase and information on their offerings for the 2018 growing season. Additional festivities include libations, appetizers, live music with local singer-songwriter Matthew Coen, and a silent auction to support Guidestone’s programs. Please join us!
At 6:30pm, the community aspect of AgriSummit continues with a screening of ‘Farmers for America’, a documentary film to celebrate, support, and inspire young farmers. Held at the Salida SteamPlant Theater, doors will open at 6pm, the program will begin at 6:30pm with opening speakers, and the screening will start at 7pm. The run time for this film is 75 minutes. The film screening is open to all members of the community. Tickets are $10 and available both through AgriSummit registration at www.GuidestoneColorado.org or through the SteamPlant. To learn more about this film, visit: https://www.leaveitbetter.com/farmers-for-america/
AgriSummit events will continue through the weekend with farm and ranch tours on Saturday and Savor Chaffee County all weekend! Check out what agritourism offerings are available in our area! Tour sites include Hallmark Ranch Alpacas, Salida Grown Farm Restoration at the Thomas Dairy, the Hutchinson Homestead & Learning Center, Mountain Goat Lodge, Jefferson Farms Paco-Vicuñas/ Natural Fibers, Guidestone’s Community & School Farm, Weathervane Farm and Ring-A-Ding Farm! Visit www.GudestoneColorado.org for additional details and tour times.
Throughout the weekend, local residents and area visitors alike are also invited to visit participating Savor Chaffee County restaurants and businesses featuring locally sourced menu items from Colorado producers in support of the event.
Early registration rates available through Monday, April 16th. For information on registration, scholarships, sponsorships, or becoming a market vendor, visit: www.GuidestoneColorado.org, or contact Andrea Coen with questions: 719-239-0955 or [email protected].
AgriSummit is hosted by Guidestone Colorado and partners committed to strengthening local agriculture. Partners and sponsors include the following: the Colorado Tourism Office, SteamPlant Event Center, Hutchinson Homestead & Learning Center, Foodshed Alliance, Chaffee County Visitors Bureau, Salida Chamber of Commerce, CSU Extension, Salida Creative District, GARNA (Greater Arkansas River Nature Association), Central Colorado Conservancy, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, NRCS and the Upper Arkansas Conservation District.
Guidestone Colorado is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is growing a vibrant agricultural future through education, community building, and partnerships.