South Dakota Local Foods Conference

Save the Date!

On behalf of the South Dakota Local Foods Conference Planning Committee, we are excited to announce this year’s conference!

📅 Dates: November 8-9, 2024

📍 Location: The Journey Museum, Rapid City, SD

🌟 Theme: Cultivating Community Connections

Stay tuned for more information about registration, hotel blocks, sponsorship, and vendor opportunities.

2024 Announcement Statements

For over a decade, the South Dakota Local Foods Conference has been a pivotal platform for education and networking among producers and supporters of local foods. This ever-expanding conference is designed to enhance the local food system in South Dakota, celebrating the dedication of our farmers, consumers, and food system professionals who are committed to building resilient communities and equitable food systems through sustainable agriculture, strong partnerships, and community education.

The South Dakota Local Foods Conference aims to:

- Unite diverse voices to highlight and support the South Dakota local food system.

- Educate participants on the functioning of local and regional food systems.

- Support potential, beginning, and current producers to thrive on their farms and ranches.

- Expand access to and consumption of local and regional food across South Dakota.

- Increase recognition of the value of local food to South Dakota's communities, economies, and rural vitality.

- Highlight the role of Indigenous food systems and Tribal food sovereignty in our state.

- Amplify historically marginalized voices and showcase innovators in sustainable food production.

- Create opportunities for networking and community building within the local foods sector.

This annual event showcases the latest advancements in promoting and improving local foods within our state, connecting producers, consumers, retailers, restaurants, chefs, and resource providers from across South Dakota.

Conference attendees will have the opportunity to:

- Hear from nationally-renowned keynote speakers.

- Learn from local experts through a variety of breakout sessions.

- Tour farms and learn from innovative, environmentally conscious farmers.

- Develop new connections through networking opportunities at social events and the exhibitor fair.

- Celebrate locally-sourced foods by sharing meals together.

For questions concerning this year’s conference, please reach out to Geb at [email protected].

A special thank you to the coalition members on our planning committee: SDSU Extension, Dakota Rural Action, Cash Cow Co-op, Southeast Council of Governments, McCrory Gardens, USDA NRCS, North Central Regional Food Business Center, and Western Dakota Tech.

Host or Publisher South Dakota Local Foods Coalition