Beyond Exports: Rebuilding Local Markets
Schedule
Tue Jan 27 2026 at 09:00 am to 03:00 pm
UTC-06:00Location
Rochester Event Center | Rochester, MN
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On Tuesday, January 27 join Land Stewardship Project for our signature winter workshop. This year’s theme is “Beyond Exports: Rebuilding Local Markets”.The workshop will be held from 9am to 3pm at the Rochester International Event Center (7333 Airport View Dr SW, Rochester, MN 55902). Our morning keynote speaker is Martin Larsen, a farmer who is a founding member of the “oat mafia” in southeastern Minnesota. In the morning session, Martin will highlight the challenges and opportunities facing all farmers as they look beyond export load-out at the elevator and instead look to recreate the local markets that once served our farmers and consumers. He will share his journey establishing food grade oats and founding the “oat mafia” and the agronomic, economic, and market impacts it has made for his farm.
The afternoon keynote speaker will be Landon Plagge, the 2025 Leopold Conservation Award winner from Iowa and founder of Green Acres Milling, a farmer owned oat processing facility under construction in Albert Lea, MN. Landon will speak from his personal experience in organizing Green Acres Milling on how farmers can cooperate together to take back power from multi-national conglomerates and rebuild the local supply chains that once served each region.
Between the keynote addresses, there will be 2 breakout sessions with local experts and farmer-leaders:
Session 1: Economics of Diversifying Your Rotations
Session 2: Marketing Your Alternative Crops
Breakfast and a catered lunch will be provided.
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Where is it happening?
Rochester Event Center, 7333 Airport View Dr SW, Rochester, MN 55902-1847, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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