Roundtable Information

Thursday, November 2nd, 3:20 – 4:50pm
Friday, November 3rd, 2:40 – 4:10pm
*times subject to change

 

Participants will sign-up for their preferred roundtables next to the registration/check-in table at the conferenc. There are 10-12 roundtables to choose from each day, with a cap on each roundtable. Some roundtables will repeat on the second day. Refer to the map in the program to find the location of the roundtables you signed up for. 

See roundtable facilitators listed below, as well as the speakers, facilitators, volunteers and contributors. The goals of the roundtables are to:

  • build relationships between participants and speakers/contributors around topics they care about
  • learn from the wealth of knowledge and experience that everyone brings to the Regenerate Conference
  • deepen participants’ understanding of where they themselves and other people are coming from
  • interact with and ask questions of speakers/contributors
  • create momentum and inspire collective engagement

 

NEW! Unconference Experience

New this year to the Regenerate Conference is the Unconference Experience – which will be happening concurrently with all the other roundtables, but won’t be like your typical roundtable. The unconference experience will feature an open space-style facilitation wherein participants work together to build their own roundtable(s) – you can come and pitch a topic idea or come and experience some great pitches and then vote amongst yourselves to have the conversations you’re most interested in having. This is a great opportunity for anyone with an interest in learning new facilitation, collaboration and participatory processes.  There is no cap to the number of participants.

 

Roundtable Topics and Facilitators

Regenerative Ranching at Scale (Nov 2 and 3)
Facilitated by HMI’s Executive Director, Wayne Knight. Speakers include Brittany Cole Bush, Elena Miller-ter-Kuile, Enrique Guerrero

We know that Regenerative Ranching practices can improve land health, animal welfare, wildlife and pollinator habitat, and business profitability as well as provide a host of ecosystem services. But, many examples of this type of ranching are small scale, creating a false belief that these practices can never be scaled to address large landscape needs, particularly in arid environments. Join the conversation on how to scale these practices.

Carbon Credit Opportunities and Challenges (Nov 2 and 3)
Facilitated by Deborah Clark, HMI Certified Educator and Rancher working with Grassroots Carbon. Speakers include Jeanne Carver of Shaniko Wool

There are numerous carbon credit companies recruiting producers to join the voluntary carbon market. Learn more about these opportunities and challenges from the perspective of the aggregator and the producer and share your perspective of what is important to you in this emerging market. 

Value-Added Marketing (Nov 2 only)
Facilitated by AGA’s Executive Director Carrie Balkcom. Speakers include Angela Faughtenberry and John Arbuckle 

Value-added marketing is an opportunity for producers to capture more of the marketing pie. There are many challenges and opportunities that come with engaging this part of the value chain. Join this conversation to share your experiences with value-added marketing or ask questions of those who have been able to take their businesses to the next level and learn about what helped them be successful.

Land and Water Access – Challenges and Leadership in the Farming Community (Nov 2 only)
Facilitated by National Young Farmers Coalition’s Evanne Caviness and Speaker Alicia Thompson

Farming and ranching in the West present producers with an array of unique challenges, particularly when it comes to accessing affordable land with the necessary water resources to sustain production. Join us for an interactive roundtable facilitated by farmers and ranchers from Colorado and New Mexico who have stepped into positions of leadership in their communities to implement creative solutions to address their own struggles to attain land and water. Participants will be encouraged to share their own journeys in farming in the drought-ridden West, and can expect to learn how others facing similar challenges have become advocates for innovative land and water access solutions.

Effective Business and Succession Planning (Nov 2 and 3)
Facilitated by University of New Hampshire Extension Educator Seth Wilner (Nov 2) and HMI Educator Kelly Sidoryk from Canada (Nov 3). Speakers include Joe and Jenn Wheeling of the James Ranch.   

For many producers effective business planning, and particularly succession planning, is hard to fit into a busy day of getting all the farm and ranch chores done. Learn how to add in simple business practices to increase the effectiveness of your business as well as improve quality of life. Share the challenges you face with succession planning and what would help you be part of a successful transition.

Resilience Through Catastrophe: Preparation for and Recovery from Climate Disasters (Nov 2 and 3)
Facilitated by Brian Wehlburg, Speakers include Brian Wehlburg, Paula Garcia and Torri Estrada

Fire, drought, flooding, and a host of other natural and human disasters are increasing with regularity and challenging agriculturalists around the world. How do you prepare for the inevitable? How do you recover? Join the conversation on what you have learned and ask questions about what support there is for creating greater resilience on the land and in your community.

Supporting Mental Health in Regenerative Agriculture (Nov 2 and 3)
Facilitated by Chad Reznicek. Speaker is Bobby Wilson

The agricultural profession is among the most stressful careers in the US. With constant pressure, often from factors outside of their control, America’s agricultural community is suffering from skyrocketing rates of suicide, substance abuse, and other behavioral health struggles. Join us in a round table discussion on the stressors facing today’s farmers and ranchers, as well as a collaborative conversation around how to best build grassroots networks of support for this important population. 

Practical Naturopathic Approaches to Animal Health (Nov 2)
Facilitator Kathryn Bedell. Speaker is Dr. Hubert Karreman

The animals are always telling us how they are, but do we know what they’re saying? Join this discussion on learning from animals, practical modes of natural treatments for livestock, such as botanicals, biologics, and homeopathics. We want to hear your experiences, successes and challenges of working with animals in more holistic ways. Bring your questions and get some ideas for treatments.

Regenerative Research (Nov 2 and 3)
Facilitated by HMI Certified Educator Linda Pechin-Long from Kansas. Potential participants are Casey Wade of Dixon Water Foundation and Hugh Aljoe of Noble Foundation if they end up being an exhibitor. Featuring speaker Dr. Aidee Guzman

Research on the effectiveness of regenerative agriculture is quickly helping to prove not only the environmental benefits these practices provide, but also the potential profitability it can offer the producers using these practices. Key to research on regenerative practices is on-farm/on-ranch research as well as successful collaborations between research institutions and producers who need to understand the potential ramifications of these practices to make effective management decisions. Come prepared to share your own research efforts and challenges to help others learn from your successes and learnings. Also be prepared to discuss what types of research problems we still need research institutions to still tackle for us to take regenerative agriculture to the next level.

Addressing the Meat Processing Logjam (Nov 3 only)
Facilitated by Carrie Balkcom. 

Join us for a discussion about the obstacles in accessing or developing meat processing plants, as well as accessing USDA grants, loans and other resources to expand meat and poultry system in the United States. We want to hear about your challenges, successes, and everything in between, and how you envision our future of regeneratively grown meat. 

Apart From to A Part Of: creating connection in rural ag communities (Nov 3 only)
Facilitated by Quivira’s NAP Mentors Julie Sullivan and Luka Samson. Contributors include New Agrarian Program Apprentices Alumni

Rural communities often benefit from enthusiastic newcomers arriving to help out on farms and ranches, thus revitalizing land and society. Yet newcomers often feel unwelcome or unsure of how to become part of their new place. Beginning agrarians often relocate frequently for years; what helps build community in spite of transiency? Locals usually want to see a person stick around a few years before investing in them, while newcomers want to share their ideas and skills right away. Join us as we explore what NAP alumni and apprentices have tried in their various communities, share your own ideas, and consider what locals could do to better support new agrarians eager to become part of, and contribute to, their new home town.

So you think you’re Regenerative? Coupling the word with actual practices within food supply chains (Nov 3 only)
Facilitated by Hannah Tikalsky, OpenTEAM, Dr. Chelsea Carey, Point Blue Conservation, and Dr. Jessica Chiartas, RegenScore

For the first time – thanks to years of incredible efforts – food company interest in regenerative may be on pace with farmer and rancher interest. Regenerative supply chains offer myriad benefits – and yet very few food companies have started the process to truly regenerate. All of us have connections with food companies, farmers/ranchers, or both. Please join this roundtable discussion on regenerating supply chains to hasten the food system we all seek.

Unconference Experience (Nov 2 and 3)
Facilitated by Kyler Grandkoski, CJ Ames and Marie VonAncken

Not your average roundtable! The unconference experience will feature an open space-style facilitation wherein participants work together to build their own roundtable(s) – you can come and pitch a topic idea or come and experience some great pitches and then vote amongst yourselves to have the conversations you’re most interested in having. This is a great opportunity for anyone with an interest in learning new facilitation, collaboration and participatory processes.  There is no cap to the number of participants.