Cultivating Community Connections

November 8 – 9, 2024 – The Journey Museum, Rapid City, SD

For over ten years, the South Dakota Local Foods Conference has provided education and networking for both producers and supporters of local foods. This ever-growing conference is a broad-spectrum event aimed at creating a better local food system in South Dakota. It celebrates South Dakota farmers, eaters, and food systems professionals who are committed to developing resilient communities and equitable food systems through sustainable agriculture, robust partnerships, and community education.

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The South Dakota Local Foods Conference operates with the following objectives in mind:

  • Bringing diverse voices together to highlight & support the South Dakota local food system
  • Educating on how local and regional food systems operate
  • Supporting potential, beginning, and current producers to be successful on their farms & ranches
  • Expanding access to and consumption of local and regional food across South Dakota
  • Increasing recognition for the value of local food to South Dakota communities, economies, and rural vitality
  • Highlighting the role of Indigenous food systems and Tribal food sovereignty in our state
  • Amplifying historically marginalized voices and highlighting innovators in sustainable food production
  • Creating opportunities to network & get to know your local foods community

This annual event highlights the latest work being done to improve and promote local foods in our state and connects producers, consumers, retailers, restaurants, chefs, and resource providers from across South Dakota.

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For questions concerning this year’s conference, please reach out to Geb at Graham.Bastian@sdstate.edu

Speakers and Keynotes

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Conference attendees will have the opportunity to hear from nationally-known keynote speakers, learn from local experts in the region in a wide variety of breakout sessions, tour farms and learn from farmers that are committed to innovation and environmentally conscious practices, develop new connections through networking opportunities at social events and the exhibitor fair, and celebrate locally-sourced foods by sharing meals together.

Keynote Speakers and More

Workshops

Native Tea Time Workshop

Native Tea Time Workshop With Mariah Gladstone, Piikuni (Blackfeet) and Tsalagi (Cherokee)

Connections Across the Generations

Friday, November 8th, 2024 – 12:45 – 2:15 pm MT – The Joe Rovere | Minnilusa Pioneer Room

For thousands of years, Indigenous people have hunted, fished, farmed and foraged for food on this continent. Mariah practices many of those traditions today and teaches others how to incorporate indigenous foods into their contemporary diets. She will bring a variety of plants she has grown and foraged that have traditionally been used to make tea, such as cedar, yarrow and mint. She will make some teas for participants to sample, then work with them to create their own personalized teas to take home. Throughout this hands-on workshop, Mariah will also discuss traditional Native foodways, changes that took place with colonization, and what is happening with the Indigenous Food Movement today.

Registration required, limited to 30 attendees.

Flower Arranging Workshop: Spiced Pumpkin Fall Bouquet

Partake in this hands-on floral design class and create a fall centerpiece featuring a fresh pumpkin and dried flowers. Participants will make the arrangement during the workshop, which will be put on display during the second day of the conference. Participants can take their bouquets home after the conference! Space is limited to the first 20 people who register.

Jenny Behlings trained in floral design and greenhouse management at the University of Minnesota – Waseca then owned and operated a flower shop in Custer, SD for 35 years.  She is certified through the American Institute of Floral Design and the Society of American Florists. She has designed at the White House; for national, state, and local events; and many, many weddings!

Already registered for the conference, but want to add the flower workshop? No worries, you can purchase the workshop ticket separately.

Recap The 2023 Conference Through Video

Captured and Produced by 4Front Studios during the 2023 South Dakota Local Foods Conference.

Linda Black Elk – Growing Above & Beyond: What The Heck is A Kohlrabi?!
Nick Olson – Empowering the Next Generation of Local Farmers
Shannon Mutschelknaus & Matte Wilson – How to Apply for Grants (and Where to Look)
Kristine Lang – So You’re Thinking About Building a High Tunnel
Doug Pavel – Evaluating Organic & Conventional Integrated Weed Management