Reviewing the Decade and Planning for the Millennium
By: Montana Organic Association
for Mountain West News
Nov. 26, 2012
The Montana Organic Association is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a conference to remember that begins Nov. 29 and runs through Dec. 1 in Helena.
The conference, which will be held at the Holiday Inn at 22 North Last Chance Gulch in Helena, begins with a preconference event on Thursday evening at 7 o'clock with a social hour, followed at 8 p.m. with a screening of the documentary In Organic We Trust, "which explores the content beneath the label and the truth behind the marketing."
On Friday, registration will begin at 8 a.m. along with a complimentary breakfast.
- Jeff Moyer, Farm Manager at the Rodale Institute;
- Gary Zimmer, world renown consultant on farming practices; and
- Atina Diffley, organic educator and speaker.
One of the Montana Organic Association's strongest advocates, Ron De Yong, Director of the Montana Department of Agriculture, will be our speaker at lunch.
The sessions on Friday afternoon will focus on the nuts and bolts of what it takes to stay competitive in today's markets.
Friday will end with great fun and organic food, keynote speaker, Jeff Moyer and our world famous auctions.
Saturday's session begins bright and early with a panel that gives us the inside scoop on being an inspector, including:
- Margaret Scoles, IOIA;
- Sean Mulla, Montana Department of Agriculture;
- Wendy Paulsen, Independent Inspector, Wisconsin; and
- Jack Reams, Global Organic Alliance
After that, the Organic Trade Association will make a presentation on its push to create a check-off program for organics.
A members meeting will be held during lunch on Saturday, with an update on how the organization is doing and a board election will be held.
Saturday afternoon there will be sessions on Bees and Other Pollinators, Marketing Organic Products and Soil Balancing from Gardens to Grain Fields.