Registration for the sixth annual Kentucky Local Food Systems Summit (KYLSS) is now open. Scheduled for March 20, the program is led by the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment Food Connection in collaboration with the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
The KYLSS event allows participants to engage in a full day of workshops, networking and critical conversations about local food systems development. A special early-bird registration is available until Jan. 15.
This year’s summit is structured around three primary session tracks: “Cultivating Equity and Access,” “Uplifting Voices and Catalyzing Change” and “Lessons From the Field.” Each track addresses key challenges and opportunities facing the local food movement.
Morning sessions feature discussions on diversifying customer bases in local food markets, ideas to enact cultural and systems-level changes and local schools’ food programs.
Afternoon session topics range from institutionalizing cultural and systemic change in the local food movement to the financial and community impacts of U.S. Department of Agriculture grants, including the Local Food Purchase Assistance and Local Food for Schools programs. A popular, local chef will also present insights about her journey in building a restaurant group centered around local food procurement.
There will be two keynote conversations. The first is a panel discussion exploring how to align food as medicine efforts with local agriculture. The second is a conversation with award-winning author Crystal Wilkison and eight-time James Beard Nominated Chef Ouita Michel on exploring Kentucky foodways.
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Categories: Kentucky, General, Rural Lifestyle