Conference Agenda
Wednesday, September 16th, 8:45am-4:00pm
Octagon Barn, 4400 Octagon Way, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Light breakfast and lunch provided
The following Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) Units are available:
- Integrated Pest Management 0.5 unit
- Soil & Water Management 1 unit
- Organic specialty 3.5 units
8:45 - 9:40 am Check in, breakfast, and Welcome
9:40 - 10:30 am Lessons from the Field: Organic Farmer Panel
Moderator: Molly Nakahara, Education Manager, California Certified Organic Farmers Foundation
Speakers:
Lan King, Farmer, King & King Ranch
Ron Labastida, Organic Inspector, California Certified Organic Farmers
Jake Rosenthal and Jesse Spaulding, Farmers, Tomorro Farm
Alisha Taff, Farmer, Just Jujubes, Rock Front Ranch
10:45 - 11:45 am Regional Support Providers: Lightning Introductions
Moderator: Lexie Wilson, Extension and Outreach Coordinator, UC Organic Agriculture Institute
Ann Baier, NCAT Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) Program
Arianna Bozzolo, Western Region Research Director, Rodale Institute
Ben Faber, Soils, Water, Subtropical Crops Advisor, UCCE Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties
Joshua Kouri, Regional Coordinator — Central Coast Soil Hub, Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District
Molly Nakahara, Education Manager, California Certified Organic Farmers Foundation
Maria Orozco, Education and Mentorship Coordinator, UC Organic Agriculture Institute
Hilary Phillips, District Conservationist, NRCS, San Luis Obispo County
Pam Rodriguez, Special Investigator with the State Organic Program, CA Department of Food and Agriculture
Li Schmidt, Food Systems Advisor, UCCE Ventura and Los Angeles Counties
Lilian Thaoxaochay, UC ANR Disaster Resiliency, Planning, & Policy Advisor, UCCE San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, & Ventura Counties
Jesse Trace, Groundwater Community Engagement Contractor, Community Alliance with Family Farmers
Claire Tuohey-Mote, Staff Research Associate, UC Small Farms Network
11:45 - 12:45 pm Lunch
Concurrent Session 1- Milking Parlor
12:45 - 1:20 pm Preparation for Climate-related Pests and Diseases
Lilian Thaoxaochay, UC ANR Disaster Resiliency, Planning, & Policy Advisor, UCCE San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties
Ben Faber, Soils, Water, Subtropical Crops Advisor, UCCE Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties
1:20 - 1:55 pm Beyond Practice Checklists: What Soil Health Testing Reveals About Regenerative Vineyard Management in California
Charlotte Decock, Associate Professor, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
2:05 - 2:55 pm Sustainability and Food Safety Comanagement
Roger Baldwin, CE Specialist: Human-Wildlife Conflict Resolution, UC ANR
John McKeon, Organic Agriculture and Conservation, Pelican LLC
Taylor Van Rossum, Agriculture Water Quality Program Coordinator, CA Marine Sanctuary Foundation
Concurrent Session 2-Octagon Barn
12:45 - 1:45 pm Exploring Farm to School as a Wholesale Channel for your Farm
Moderator: Li Schmidt, Food Systems Advisor, UCCE Ventura and Los Angeles Counties
Jerry Mahoney, Owner/Operator, Blosser Urban Garden
Chris Massa, Farm to School Regional Producer Engagement Specialist South Coast Region, CA Department of Food and Agriculture
Claire Tauber, Farm to School and Institution Manager, Community Alliance with Family Farmers
Jessie Wesch, Director of Food Services, Paso Robles Joint Unified School District
1:55 - 2:55 pm What you need to know about SGMA: Updates & Innovations
Moderator: Jesse Trace, Groundwater Community Engagement Contractor, Community Alliance with Family Farmers
Carly Deitsch, SGMA Community Education Specialist, UC Small Farms Network
Brenton Kelly, Watershed Stewardship & Advocacy Director, Quail Springs
Luis Paniagua, SGMA Community Education Specialist, UC Small Farms Network
Erik Rodriguez, SGMA Community Education Specialist, UC Small Farms Network
3:05 - 3:55 pm Local Networking and Discussion Time
3:55 - 4:00 pm Closing
11:45 - 4:00 pm Meet 1:1 with organic technical assistance providers during Organic Office Hours
9:00 - 4:00 pm Tabling & student poster session!
