Thank you and your team for a great conference! I really enjoyed the energy, the thoughtful sessions, and connection to this amazing community across the Southeast.
~Gini Knight, USDA SE Regional Coordinator
ATLANTA, Georgia -- A collaborative effort between Georgia Organics and Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE), the inaugural SOWTH conference held February 4-6 at the World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA excited and enriched various participants from day one, starting with the various urban farm and community food tours and intensive workshops. The second day maintained the exhilaration with the conference educational sessions, plenaries, expo hall, and youth program.
“Georgia Organics was honored to host the first of what we hope to be many more SOWTH conferences. It was an amazing collection of producers, academics, researchers, teachers, community organizers, and supporters. I am so grateful for all of the knowledge sharing, storytelling, and relationship building that occurred at SOWTH. I can't wait for the next one,” said Alexis Chase, Executive Director.
SSARE Southeastern Outreach Coordinator and SOWTH chairperson Brennan Washington welcomed the over nearly 1,400 attendees after breakfast, sharing the story about the five years it took to put a regional conference back together, and encouraged them about action items that demand innovation, collaboration, and collective resolve.
“When the Southeastern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG) ceased operating in 2019, it brought to an end the twenty-five-year run of its beloved regional sustainable agriculture conference. In the ensuing years, many farmers, ranchers and local food stakeholders expressed a desire to bring back a regional conference. Through the efforts of a group of determined people, the SOWTH conference was born,” said Washington.
Photo Credit: DaraMonifah© Cooper
On the last day during the closing dinner, he was surprised after the SOWTH awards with a presentation and award for himself by Najmah Thomas of the South Carolina Black Farmers Coalition for his various efforts and contributions over the decades.
“We don’t really recognize our heroes and true leaders unfortunately until they’re gone. I don’t think that’s right. I think we need to recognize people who have been doing Yeoman's work and make sure that we perpetuate that work, and that people know and tell those stories,” said Washington.
Washington said that he had an excellent steering committee with SOWTH which voted to establish two awards to honor those who have been working and mentoring in southern food systems. Ira Wallace and Shirley Sherrod both received the inaugural awards in their name along with a community-funded cash gift.
Photo Credit: DaraMonifah© Cooper
Managed by David Redhage, the program coordinator for Southern SARE Professional Development Program and Kerr Center President, the SSARE Professional Development Program provided travel scholarships which helped attendees from various locations participate in the conference.
Photo Credit: Jenna Shea Photojournalism
The keynote speaker, Clarenda “Farmer Cee” Stanley of Green Heffa Farms spoke passionately about brand, legacy, and advocating for yourself and your peers, educating, engaging, and masterfully entertaining. As a SSARE AC member, Cee serves on the Communications, Producer and Operations/Nominations committees, lending her marketing and other expertise to support diverse decision making on funding grants.
Another SSARE AC member and chair of the EPIC committee, Bonita Clemons of Diane’s Call presented about her non-profit FarmaSis and the work she is doing to encourage one million black women to grow their own food.
Photo Credit: Jenna Shea Photojournalism
Other board members attended or assisted in various ways including Tashel Martin, Dominique Villanueva, Tenisio Seanima, Charlie Jordan, Hope Ostane-Baucom, Julia Asherman, and Carrie Furman, who helped distribute educational resources along with SSARE Communication Specialist DaraMonifah Cooper and Brennan Washington.
Based on feedback during the conference, farmers felt positively encouraged with the entire event from the fellowship to the food. They engaged in meaningful discussions, significant networking, including an online tool that allows them to remain connected after the conference, along with knowledge-sharing and reinforcing the importance of collaboration in building resilient food systems.
A public post from the SOWTH steering committee expressed that the partnership between Georgia Organics and Southern SARE united two organizations committed to transforming agriculture through collaboration. Southern SARE’s contribution was described as helping to shape the future of farming, where we can build a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient agricultural system for generations to come.
"On behalf of the National Young Farmers Coalition, I'd like to thank everyone for the work that you've put in to make SOWTH such a success so far. Our network has been excited about SOWTH for some time now, and based on what feedback we are receiving, folks are not disappointed. I personally have been floored by sessions organized by subcommittees, and interactions with an amazing representation of the Southeast region!"
~Adolfo Alzuphar
Southern SARE is proud to have been a major sponsor of this inaugural SOWTH conference. SOWTH is anticipated to take place again in two years in Jackson, Mississippi. To learn more and remain connected for future events, visit www.sowth.org.
