Nov 5, 2024

SOWTH 2025 conference focuses on Southern farming

Sustaining family farms throughout the South is the focus of a three-day event set for February in Atlanta.

SOWTH 2025, set for Feb. 4-6 at the Georgia World Congress Center, is expected to draw more than 1,000 farmers, ranchers, producers and advocates to explore practical tools and solutions. The event is being planned by partners in 13 states and territories including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to a news release.

Discounted early registration is available.

Growers in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands and Virginia are eligible to apply for SOWTH scholarships to attend the event.

The deadline to apply for scholarships in Nov. 13. Applications are available in English and Spanish.

“We are prioritizing new and beginning producers and ranchers: Black, Indigenous, Latino/a, and persons of color, veterans, women, and agricultural students in this region as our primary recipients for scholarships,” according to the release. “As space allows, we will consider ag and culinary professionals, educators, nonprofit/community organization employees, and other food systems professionals.”

SOWTH is a regional small farms, big community conference, according to the release.

“At SOWTH 2025, we will collectively explore solutions and opportunities for the advancement of farmer prosperity, practical production methods and practices, advocacy, and environmental and social justice,” according to the release. “Come together with over 1,000 farmers, ranchers, food system professionals, scientists, academics, and advocates who are all working together to build strong regional food systems.”

The event is co-sponsored by USDA-NRCS, the Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education, the National Young Farmers Coalition, Virginia State University and Fort Valley State University.

Read more about the event here.