2024 Agenda
This at-a-glance conference schedule is *subject to change*. Check back here for updated information on specific sessions and speakers as we get closer to the event!
Tuesday December 10, 2024
| Vendor Load In | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Main Hall |
| Registration Open | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Main Hall |
| Lunch | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Main Hall |
| Farm Tours: Montana Speciality Mills Transportation Not Provided. Meet @ Convention Center | 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM | Off site |
| Montana Organic Commodities Advisory Council | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Main Hall |
| Montana Organic Producer Co-Op Meeting | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Gibson Room |
| Cocktail Hour | 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM | Main Hall |
| Welcome Reception with Music, Food, & Drinks Music from Ben Larson & The Grownass Men | 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM | Main Hall |
Wednesday December 11, 2024
| Registration Open | 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Main Hall |
| Breakfast | 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM | Main Hall |
| Welcome Remarks | 8:00 AM – 8:15 AM | Main Hall |
| Silent Auction Opens | 8:00 AM | Main Hall |
| Opening Session: Organic Grain and Cattle Buyer Introductions | 8:15 AM – 9:00 AM | Main Hall |
| Vendor Appreciation Break | 9:00 AM – 9:20 AM | Main Hall |
| Conference Session – Comparative Impact of Organic Grass-fed & Conventional Feeding Systems on Beef and Human Postprandial Metabolomics Dr. Mary Miles, Montana State University | 9:20 AM – 10:00 AM | Main Hall |
| Keynote Session “Mindshift” – Succeeding in the future with agriculture requires us to see things through a different lens. Ron Rabou Owner, President, Rabou Farms, Inc. | 10:00 AM – 10:40 AM | Main Hall |
| Breakout Sessions – Dying to Eat Organic: The Superior Nutrition of Organic Food Dr. Jane Smith, Co-owner, Aspen Island, LLC – Increasing Tillering and Yield in Wheat and Other Montana Crops through the TB1 Gene Caleb Hale, PhD Student, Montana State University Brandon Tillet, Grad. Research Assistant, Montana State University | 10:40 AM – 11:20 AM | Main Hall Gibson Room |
| Conference Session – NRCS Programs for Organic Growers | 11:20 AM – 12:00 PM | Main Hall |
| Lunch | 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM | Main Hall |
| Vendor Appreciation Break | 12:45 PM – 1:00 PM | Main Hall |
| Breakout Sessions – Biological Control of Thistles Alan Dyer, Professor, Professor, Montana State University Dr. Jed Eberly, Associate Professor, Montana State University – “What About Potatoes” – Challenges facing the organic potato grower Nancy Beech, Owner/Operator, Mountain Spring Farms, LLC | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Main Hall Gibson Room |
| Conference Session – Solving the Farm Labor Challenge: How to guidance for transitional and organic producers Sandy Sands, Montana Dept. of Labor and Industry Ruth Smith, Peak Season Ag, LLC Ty O’Connor, Montana Legacy Ranch | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Main Hall |
| Vendor Appreciation Break | 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM | Main Hall |
| Breakout Sessions – Organic is Regenerative (RegenScore)- Let’s Put The Numbers To It Michael Deakin, Deakin Farms, Panelist Nate Powell-Palm, Cold Springs Organics, Moderator – Specialty Crop Marketing Panel Jan Tusick, Mission West Community Development Partners Dr. Zach Miller, Montana State University Michael Vetere, 2J’s Market, Great Falls, MT Ben Phillips, Western Montana Growers Co-op | 3:20 PM – 4:00 PM | Main Hall Gibson Room |
| Roundtable Discussions Multiple topics and discussions on organic production: Livestock, Grains, and Specialty Crops. Transitioning to Organic & More. | 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Main Hall |
| Cocktail Hour – History of Gruff Grits Brand Jody and Crystal Manuel, Gruff Grits | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Main Hall |
| Awards Presentation & Banquet Dinner | 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM | Main Hall |
| Live Auction | 7:45 PM – 8:45 PM | Main Hall |
Thursday December 12, 2024
| Registration Open | 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Main Hall |
| Breakfast & MOA Annual Business Meeting | 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM | Main Hall |
| Opening Remarks Tracey Dion, MOA Board Chair Christi Clark, Director, MDA Ed Tyanich, Organic Program Manager, MDA | 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM | Main Hall |
| Breakout Sessions – Precision Ag Update & MAES Overview Paul Nugent, Research Professor, Montana State University Dr. Darin Boss, Research Professor, Montana State University | 8:30 AM – 9:20 AM | Main Hall |
| Vendor Appreciation Break | 9:20 AM – 10:00 AM | Main Hall |
| Conference Session – Crop Insurance – Organic Production And Managing Risk For Transitional and Organic Growers Korey Fauque, KW Insurance | 10:00 AM – 10:40 AM | Main Hall |
| Conference Session – Benefits of Perennials, Soil Health, pH, & Economics of Crop Rotations Clain Jones, Montana State University Perry Miller, Montana State University Casey Bailey, Clearlake Organic Farm | 10:40 AM – 11:20 AM | Main Hall |
| Conference Session – FSA Presentation Bill Evans | 11:20 AM – 12:00 PM | Main Hall |
| Lunch | 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM | Main Hall |
| Silent Auction Ends | 12:00 PM | Main Hall |
| Closing Remarks Tracey Dion, MOA Board Chair | 12:45 PM – 1:00 PM | Main Hall |