The 25^th Annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference, sponsored by Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA), happening Dec. 3-5, 2010 in Winston-Salem, NC, is an unparalleled opportunity to learn from national experts in organic farming. This year, we are excited to announce scholarships to attend the conference for beginning farmers and ranchers in North and South Carolina.

The Sustainable Ag. Conference is the largest event of its kind in the Carolinas and is the leading forum for networking and education on organic agriculture in the region.  It features special programming for beginning farmers on: basic farm planning, marketing, how to avoid common startup pitfalls, and applying for grants and loans.
In addition to over 60 workshops taught by local and national experts on organic weed and pest control, plant diseases, soil fertility, and pastured, heritage livestock, there will also be workshops on farmer business issues, food safety and processing, farm policy, and farmers’ markets.
Please visit carolinafarmstewards.org/sac10.shtml for more information about the conference and to download a copy of the conference brochure.
The Beginning Farmer and Rancher scholarship is designed to give new and beginning farmers and ranchers a low-cost opportunity to participate in the Sustainable Ag. Conference.  For the purposes of this scholarship, beginning farmers are defined as individuals who have:
- operated a farm or ranch for less than 10 consecutive years and
- will materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch.
For details and to download the scholarship application, visit carolinafarmstewards.org/sac10_scholarship.html.  The deadline is Nov. 12, 2010.