Journey to the 2025 Southern Regional Conference

Greetings,

We are reaching out to share updates regarding the 2025 Southern Regional Conference, which is being organized by Georgia Organics in collaboration with leaders in 12 sister states and two US territories. This conference will build on the legacy of past Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG) conferences, while envisioning a future which centers sustainable, organic, and regenerative small to mid-sized organic farmers, while weaving together themes of joy, renewal and diversity.

As we embark on the journey to make the 2025 Southern Regional Conference an unforgettable event, we want to keep you informed of our progress and invite your active participation. Please see below for updates regarding the conference and how you can be involved:

1. Steering Committee and Network Partners - Our planning process is supported by two vital groups, a smaller Steering Committee and a larger group of Network Partners. In the long term, our goal is for the network to grow and evolve to serve the unique needs of our region and our farmers. 

  • The Steering Committee is composed of one representative from each state and territory, who are tasked with guiding our decisions regarding conference themes, tracks, speakers, etc. They will meet on the third Wednesday of each month until the conference to make key decisions.  

  • Our Network Partners, which you are a member of, are composed of a broader group of individuals/organizations who want to be informed regarding the conference. We encourage your insights and recommendations throughout the planning process. You are welcome to sit-in on the steering committee meetings as well; however, we will share monthly updates following each meeting.

2. Updates from the September Steering Committee Meeting - We had our first official Steering Committee meeting on Wednesday, September 20th. Below are some highlights from our discussion:

  • Themes: Based on earlier conversations, we selected four guiding values to prioritize when planning the conference - farmer prosperity, education, environmental stewardship and inclusivity. The Steering Committee engaged in a discussion that included potential track ideas for each value, as well as key audiences to engage and meaningful context to consider when planning each track.

  • Date & Venue: Our Event Manager has identified two potential locations for the conference. The Georgia International Convention Center and the Georgia World Congress Center were selected considering factors such as capacity, available dates, food sourcing, and location. While the exact date will depend on the venue’s availability, our ideal date is between January, 22 and February 13, 2025.

  • Naming Process: We created an online form to gather name suggestions for the conference. Committee members were encouraged to share this form throughout their networks so we can begin to develop a brand identity for the conference.

3. Your Feedback & Involvement - We value your input and welcome your collective wisdom throughout this process. Here are some ways you can contribute to our progress:

  • Review our Master Contact List, which is sorted alphabetically by state. One tab has the contact information for our Steering Committee members and the other tab lists our Network Partners. You are welcome to identify the Steering Committee member who is the representative for your state and begin to cultivate a relationship with them to support their conference outreach efforts. Please email me the contact info of any colleagues who are members of local farming and sustainable agricultural organizations that you think would like to be added to our broader Network Partner communications.

  • Please complete this online form to submit feedback regarding a name for the 2025 Southern Regional Conference. We encourage you to share this form throughout your networks so we can tap into the collective creativity throughout our region.

  • Stay tuned for more updates following next month's Steering Committee meeting on Wednesday, October 18 at 11 am EST. If you would like to sit in on the meeting, please respond to this email and I will share the calendar invite with you.

We are excited about our progress and look forward to your continued involvement in our goal to uplift farmers in our community, as well as create a more inclusive and connected regional food system. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any other questions or suggestions regarding the 2025 Southern Regional Conference.

Thank you,

Tasha Wei, Southern Region Network Facilitator, Georgia Organics

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