Registration for our 2017 annual Prairie Festival is open and available online.
The first Prairie Festival took place in 1979 and since then our signature annual public event has drawn thousands of attendees from around the world to interact with some of the world’s most compelling authors, thinkers, artists, and advocates focused on agriculture, the environment, science, sustainability, and social and environmental justice.
The event revolves around “low tech” presentations by notable guests in The Land Institute’s Big Barn. It’s a great opportunity to hear from our entire science staff and some research partners, who will provide tours and an in-depth update on our plant breeding and ecology projects.
New this year, meals during the event will be provided by food trucks, offering more dining options and flexibility.
This year’s theme – Urban Agriculture and Rural Agrarianism: Toward a Perennial Future – will put thinkers, advocates and innovators from both sectors together in the barn for a lively and timely dialogue. Jill Isenbarger from Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture will moderate a Letters To a Young Farmer panel discussion with Amigo Bob Cantisano and Amy Halloran, book contributors. Severine von Tscharner Fleming of The Greenhorns and Agrarian Trust will present, along with Wylie Harris and Ӧzlem Altıok of North Texas and Turkey.
Wes Jackson will present, as well as our president Fred Iutzi. And in addition to our scientific teams presenting research updates we will convene a panel of researchers, innovators and early adopters will discuss Kernza® perennial grain in more detail as it blazes a trail in the consumer marketplace for other perennial grain, oilseed and legume crops.
Join us for what The New York Times called an “intellectual hootenanny” and what has become a remarkable can’t-miss event on the prairie.
More information about Prairie Festival and a link to register for this year’s event can be found here.