2025 Cultivating Resilience Winter Conference
February 6, 2025 8:30AM - 2:30PM
Registration Deadline: January 29, 2025 - 05:00PM
The Pinnacle Center, 3330 Highland Dr, Hudsonville, MI 49426
Contact: Sarah Bowman at sarah.bowman@macd.org or call 616-842-5852 Ext. 5 or Charles Gould at gouldm@msu.edu or 616-834-2812.
The Ottawa Conservation District, Allegan Conservation District, and ODC Network are partnering together again with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), MSU Extension, and Ottawa County to host the 2025 Cultivating Resilience Winter Conference! This event is a day of learning and networking for the agricultural community, allowing West Michigan farmers to discover proven strategies to boost soil health and protect your land for future generations. Hear from local Michigan farmers and regional experts who will share practice insights on regenerative farming practices and how they can improve your land and your bottom line.
Date: Thursday, February 6th, 2025
Time: 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Location: The Pinnacle Center, 3330 Highland Dr, Hudsonville, MI 49426
Cost: FREE – Includes complimentary light breakfast and lunch.
Credits Available: 3 RUP Credits & MAEAP Phase 1 Educational Credit
Additionally, we’ll have a wide variety of agricultural businesses and conservation organization exhibitor booths for attendees to network with and learn about resources available in West Michigan between sessions. The more you chat with our exhibitors, the better a chance you have of winning some awesome door prizes!
Registration is now open and will close by January 29th at 5 PM. Walk-in registration is not guaranteed, so please register in advance to secure your spot! Check out the agenda below to learn more about the event.
Conference Agenda
8:30 am: Registration & Light Breakfast – Sponsored by Byron Seeds
9:00-9:45 am: Keynote – Farming Green and the Economic Benefits of Regenerative Practices – Rick Clark from Home | Farm Green
9:45-10:15 am: Networking Break
10:15-11:00 am: First Breakout Session (Choose One)
- Track 1 – MiSTRIPS- Michigan Prairie Strips, Research and Farmer Implementation – Dr. Liz Schultheis, LTER Educator & Outreach Coordinator at KBS and Dr. Kathryn Docherty, Professor and lead PI at KBS,
MiSTRIPS | KBS LTER - Track 2 – Farming Forward: Navigating the Transfer Your Farm to the Next Generation (Session sponsored by Land Transfer Navigators) – Becky Huttenga, Land Transfer Navigator, Economic Development Coordinator for Ottawa County, Land Transfer Navigators – MI.
11:05-11:50 am: Second Breakout Session (Choose One)
- Track 3 – Cover Crop Species Diversity: Benefits for Farm Sustainability, Resilience, and Productivity (Session sponsored by Cisco Seeds) – Dr. Etienne Sutton, Program Manager & Senior Researcher, University of Missouri Center of Regenerative Agriculture. Cover Crop Variety Improvement and Seed Production Program | Center for Regenerative Agriculture
- Track 4 – Irrigation Efficiency for Row, Fruit, and Vegetable Crops – Lyndon Kelly (MSU Extension Irrigation Educator) and Brenden Kelley (MSU Irrigation Efficiency Educator)
MSU Extension – Irrigation
12:00 – 1:25 pm: Enjoy a free lunch catered by The Pinnacle Center – Sponsored by Michigan Farm Bureau Insurance – Hop Agency Inc.
- Hear announcements from major sponsors, learn about MAEAP, and visit vendor booths!
1:30-2:15 pm: Farmer Panel: Challenges and Successes of Conservation Practices – Session sponsored by Delta Institute and moderated by M. Charles Gould (MSU Extension)
- Hear from local, West Michigan farmers about how they’ve been able to incorporate regenerative conservation practices or overcome challenges with regenerative practices.
- Farm Green – Rick Clark
- Natural Cycle Farm – Pete Robertson
- Kantola Quality Farms – Keith Kantola
- Badger Evergreen Nursery – Mitch Boyd
2:15-2:30 pm: Closing – Stick around for our vendor door prizes! Obtain your RUP credits and MAEAP Phase 1 Educational Credit.
Get Directions
Print
Email