Registration is now open for the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association's (OEFFA) 37th annual conference, Growing Right by Nature. Pre-conference intensives will be held on Friday, Feb. 12 and the two-day conference will take place Saturday, Feb. 13 and Sunday, Feb. 14, at the Granville Middle and High schools in Granville, Ohio (Licking County).

As the state's largest sustainable food and farm conference, more than 1,200 attendees from across Ohio and the U.S. will come together to enjoy keynote sessions with Lindsey Lusher Shute and John Ikerd; nearly 100 educational workshops; three pre-conference intensives; a trade show; locally-sourced and organic from-scratch meals, and more.

Sustainable food and farm conference approaching

 "This conference is about working with nature, rather than trying to control it," says OEFFA Program Director Renee Hunt. "Sustainable agriculture is not only a path for growing right by nature, but for doing right by our communities, public health, and our economy, as well."

The conference will offer nearly 100 beginner, intermediate, and advanced workshops across 16 tracks. Taught by experienced OEFFA members, farmers, researchers, and sustainable agriculture leaders from across the country, the workshops cover a range of topics including sustainable farming, gardening, homesteading, cooking, livestock and poultry production, business management, food and farm policy, research and more.

The conference will feature keynote speakers Lindsey Lusher Shute and John Ikerd.

Shute is the Executive Director and co-founder of the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC). Shute and her husband, Benjamin, raise two daughters and own and manage Hearty Roots Community Farm, an organic farm in New York's Hudson River Valley serving 900 community supported agriculture program members. In 2014, Shute was selected as a White House Future of American Agriculture Champion of Change.

John Ikerd is one of the nation's leading experts and speakers on agricultural economics and a well-known, passionate, and insightful sustainable agriculture advocate and speaker. He is the author of six books including Sustainable Capitalism: A Matter of Common Sense, Small Farms are Real Farms: Sustaining People Through Agriculture, and The Essentials of Economic Sustainability—along with book chapters, journal articles, magazine and trade publications, and conference proceedings on various aspects of the sustainable agriculture movement.

Also on the agenda:
A trade show featuring dozens of businesses, non-profits, and government agencies offering an array of food, books, farm and garden products, tools, information, and services;

•Saturday evening entertainment, including a performance by The Back Porch Swing Band and a conversation with OEFFA's founding members about the history of the organic movement;

•A kid's conference with engaging activities for children ages 6-12;

•A playroom for young children;

•A teen conference where teenagers ages 12-15 can create their own personal weekend schedule;

•Locally-sourced, from-scratch meals; volunteer and scholarship opportunities; a raffle; book table; book signings; seed swap, and much more.

"OEFFA's conference offers something for everyone. Whether you're an experienced grower, backyard gardener, or local food enthusiast, this conference has workshops for you," said Hunt.

To register, visit http://www.oeffa.org/conference2016.php