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- Opening session
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- Vendors getting ready for the reception
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- Sessions were arranged in themed tracks
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- Vendors networking with attendees
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- More vendors outside
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- Attendees sampling products
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- Unique, small plate appetizers
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- Fresh salads from local chefs
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- California Small Farm Conference President Karen Rich-Firestein opening the conference
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- Farmer Al from the bay area talked to attendees about soil composting
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- Irrigation design session
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- Local brewers showing off their products
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- More than 400 registered attendees in the audience for opening ceremony
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- More vendors outside
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- Packed room for the Marketing 101 session
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- Small bakeries sampling desserts
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- Products from Hawaii
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- San Diego Farm Bureau helped kick off the conference
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- Dozens of vendors at the tasting reception
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- Past CA Ag Secretary A.G. Kawamura spoke via Skype from Abu Dhabi
Showing small operations how to make farming successful is the focus of the California Small Farm Conference. Every year growers come to the conference to seek out marketing strategies, beginning farm tools and networking opportunities. This year’s conference was in San Diego, and a highlight of the event every year is the tasting reception that consists of the local products. Attendees can not only taste what the area has to offer, but also connect and exchange strategies with the vendors.
Interview with Conference President
AgNet West’s Taylor Hillman talked with USDA’s Business & Cooperative Program Director, and California Small Farm Conference President, Karen Rich-Firestein about what the conference offers, what the goal of their organization is and how small farming might be the answer to getting younger people into the agriculture industry.