OAK 2024 Conference Recordings

In early 2024, OAK held its annual conference at Kentucky State University's Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm in Frankfort, Kentucky. The sold-out conference brought together inspirational speakers and participants to join in learning and networking, with the theme Adopting Practices, Increasing Resilience, and Strengthening Systems.

OAK's 13th annual farming conference included a growing audience of hundreds of Kentuckians and neighbors active in community food systems: farmers, researchers, nonprofit professionals, federal and state agency partners, allied service providers and local food advocates working collectively to build a local, resilient and healthy food system. 

Please enjoy these recorded sessions from the 13th Annual OAK Conference, Adopting Practices, Increasing Resilience, and Strengthening Systems, on January 25-27, 2024. Individual recordings are linked below, or view the full OAK 2024 Conference playlist on YouTube and read the print program for session descriptions and to get to know the speakers.

Five Steps to Your Regenerative Resilience Plan: A Workshop for Farmers

Laura Lengnick - Cultivating Resilience

No-Till Cover Cropping on a Small to Medium Scale

Jesse Frost - Rough Draft Farmstead; Susana Lein - Salamander Springs Farm; Joel Dufour - Earth Tools; Shawn Lucas - Kentucky State University

Foundations of Regenerative Grazing Ecosystem Function and the Tool of Livestock

J. Dylan Kennedy - Ketelwood; Adam Jones - USDA NRCS; Michael Wilson - Kentucky State University

Want to Grow Fruit? Small Fruits for Kentucky

Blake Cothron - Peaceful Heritage Nursery

Raising Goats in Kentucky

Von Barnes - Kentuckiana Backyard Farms; Emily Clement - Jefferson County Public Schools; Fatima Jackson - Action Jackson Farms; Holly Robinson - Hallow Springs Farm; McKinley Stonewall - Kentucky State University

KEYNOTE: Cultivating Community, Wellness and Purpose Through Food and Farming

Ardis and Henry Crews - Green Rural Redevelopment Organization (GRRO)

Are Tomatoes Worth It?!? Evaluating Profitability in High Tunnels, Crop by Crop

Liz Graznak - Happy Hollow Farm

Exploring Organic Small Grain Production in Kentucky

Michelle Ajamian - Appalachian Staple Foods Collaborative / Shagbark Mill; Chelsea Askew - Johnnie Dew Farm; John Bell - Elmwood Stock Farm; Lauren Brzozowski - University of Kentucky

Growing Community Through Seeds: Stories of Grassroots Organizing & Growing Shared Resources

Florentina Rodriguez - Flora Seeds

Introduction to PawPaws

Blake Cothron, Dr. Kirk Pomper

Food Insecurity and Access in Kentucky: Panel Discussion

LaToya Drake - University of Kentucky; Jann Knappage - University of Kentucky; Taylor Ryan - Change Today Change Tomorrow; Martin Richards - Community Farm Alliance; Sharon Stone - Two Suns Farm / Woodhill International Market; Rae Strobel - Barr Farms

Using Ecological Practices and Appalachian Ingenuity to Grow Year-round in a Challenging Environment

Sara Martin - Sustainabillies

Introduction to Working with Livestock Guardian Dogs

Bree Pearsall - Rootbound Farm

Digging into Sustainability Data with Farmers: Lessons from the Field for Incentivizing Climate-Smart Practices

Annie Woods - Organic Association of Kentucky (OAK); Robin Verson - Hill and Hollow Farm / OAK

Practical Climate Risk Management

Laura Lengnick - Cultivating Resilience 

Finding the Funding That Fits: A Forum for Farmers

Partner Organizations

It Takes a Village: Resources for Farms and Farmers

Partner Organizations

Over The Fence Rails: Farmer-to-Farmer Skillshare

Farmers

KEYNOTE: Organic Farmer Panel: Adopting Practices, Increasing Resilience and Strengthening Systems in Our Organic Farming Community

W.B. and Lynn Brown - Brown's Place Farm; Liz Graznak - Happy Hollow Farm; Anna Raines - Rains and Sun Hilltop Farm; Mac Stone - Elmwood Stock Farm; Moderator: Bree Pearsall - Rootbound Farm 

Silvopasture Opportunities and Challenges for Kentucky Farmers

Sid Brantly - 3-Cross Farms; Douglas Hines - Hines Farm

Organic Transition: Resources for Success

Kenya Abraham - OAK; Brooke Gentile - OAK ; Randy Smallwood - National Resources Conservation Services

Organic Strawberries: Propagation to Market

Bryce Baumann - Lazy Eight Stock Farm

Adaptation Options for Diversified Organic Farmers

Laura Lengnick - Cultivating Resilience

Addressing the Use of Plastics in Organic Agriculture

Ben Abell - Rootbound Farm; John Bell - Elmwood Stock Farm; David Gonthier - University of Kentucky; Amber Sciligo - The Organic Center; Alejandra Warren - Plastic Free Future

The Black Farmer Blight and Planting Seeds of Solutions

Michael Carter Jr - The Carter Farms / Africulture

NOTE: Michael Carter Jr. was unable to attend the conference in person due to illness. OAK staff arranged for him to join virtually and unfortunately, technical issues got in the way. Committed to delivering Michael's message to our community, OAK staff recorded Michael's presentation with him on Zoom post-conference (linked above).  

Alley Cropping for Climate Resiliency, Farm Diversification, and Cropping System Services

David Butler - University of Tennessee; Jody Thompson - Kentucky State University

From Soil to Fork: The Importance of Microbes in Agriculture

Kendall Corbin - University of Kentucky; Carlos Rodriguez Lopez - University of Kentucky; Shawn Lucas - Kentucky State University; Mark Williams - University of Kentucky

Navigating Labor Challenges and Opportunities on a Small-Scale, Diversified Vegetable Farm

Liz Graznak - Happy Hollow Farm

Forest Farming 101 

Andrea Miller - Rural Action; Clint Quarles - Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Agrivoltaics: Solar Grazing with a Regenerative Approach

J Michael Moore - Shaker Village

Alley Cropping for Climate Resiliency, Farm Diversification, and Crop Health: The “Why’ and The ‘How’

David Butler - University of Tennessee; Taylor Malone - Fauna Forest Farm; Oakes Routt - Grandview Farm; Brian Shobe - Echo Hallow Farm; Jody Thompson - Kentucky State University

Thank you again to the sponsors, partners and funders of OAK's 13th Annual Farming Conference.