By CHRIS ALDRIDGE, Kentucky Agricultural News

Last year, the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group’s winter conference was moved from New Orleans to Louisville because of damage from Hurricane Katrina. The more than 900 producers, researchers, educators and sustainable agriculture advocates liked it so much, they decided to come back.

About 1,200 people from throughout the Southeast are expected to attend the 16th annual Practical Tools and Solutions for Sustaining Family Farms Conference Jan. 25-28 in Louisville. A Taste of Kentucky banquet, co-hosted by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, is scheduled Jan. 27.

“It’s an all-Kentucky Proud meal,” said Jake Schmitz, the KDA’s organic program coordinator. “We’ll have John Medley’s pork from [Happy Hollow Farms in] Springfield, lettuce from Au Naturel [Farm] in Smiths Grove, and organic vegetables from some Mennonite farmers.”

Schmitz will lead one of six field trips Jan. 26. The group will visit Joseph and Suzanne Brutto’s certified organic farm in Gravel Switch. The Bruttos live a sustainable lifestyle, weaving rugs that are sold at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. For food and for profit, they also raise chickens, engage in aquaculture, and grow small fruit, berries and garlic. The large house where they once lived and now do their weaving has no electricity – it is heated and lit by passive solar energy. Water that drains off the roof is collected in a cistern for drinking.

Schmitz’ field trip is one of more than 50 sessions facilitated by experts from throughout the U.S. Topics include sustainable and organic livestock and horticulture production, direct marketing strategies, community food systems and agriculture policies. There will also be intensive farm enterprise short courses, community food systems mini-courses, an on-farm experienced organic vegetable farmer exchange, a trade show and sustainable agriculture exhibits.

“It’s a huge deal,” said Schmitz. “It’s a great opportunity for our [Kentucky] farmers to attend.”

The conference is sponsored in part by the KDA, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Kentucky State University, Southern Region Risk Management Education Center and the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association.

For more information about the conference, visit www.ssawg.org.