2023 PFI Annual Conference Photo Album
Thank you to 90+ speakers and 1,091 attendees who joined us at our 2023 annual conference. The record-breaking crowd embodied the PFI spirit of curiosity, creativity and community from the first cowbell to the final goodbye. See you again in 2024!
Donna Pearson McClish delivers her keynote address to a packed house. Sharing the story of Common Ground Producers Co-op and Mobile Market, she emphasized the importance of the long work and investment needed to re-build an equitable food system.
Sally Worley leads the crowd in a memoriam and “three cheers” for PFI co-founder Sharon Thompson, who died on Jan. 17, 2023.
The crowd at the PFI dinner explores and samples the Pickles & Preserves Potluck table. Thanks to the ISU Sustainable Agriculture Student Association for keeping the potluck tables organized and tidy!
Dean and Judy Henry, longtime owners of the Berry Patch Farm near Nevada, Iowa, receive PFI’s 2023 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award on Friday night before the keynote.
Erin Van Waus of Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation chats with an attendee in the exhibitor hall. Erin also participated in a panel discussion of conservation easements.
From left: Maggie Buscher, Beth Konen Buscher, Joe Lacina and Laurel Tuggle grab a standing breakfast on Saturday.
Wilbur De la Rosa (second from right) converses with Jennifer Ripp (right) over beers at the PFI dinner.
Dayna Burtness of Nettle Valley Farm presents about getting started with pastured pigs.
Jacob Bolson presents a 100-level session on successfully planting into cover crops.
A little taste of the offerings from the Pickles & Preserves Potluck that accompanied the PFI dinner on Friday night.
Throughout the conference, attendees were invited to share their stories and memories at the PFI Story Booth. Donna Prizgintas and Lonna Nachtigal of the DonnaLonna Kitchen Show served as hosts for this new conference experience.
DaQuan Campbell, of We Arose Co-op, shares how a tough market morning ultimately set him on the path to building a producer cooperative for his community in Waterloo, Iowa, during the PFI Storytelling session on Saturday afternoon.
Phil Brown (left) and Benson McClarren talk during the meal.
Roger Engstrom (left) and Shaffer Ridgeway (right) chat with a group about vegetable farming equipment during a roundtable.
Attendees enjoy lunch and conversation on Saturday.
Tom Wahl and Kathy Dice tell the story of their first U-pick customers at Red Fern Farm – a day that changed their farm forever.
Andrew Ronald Rosmann dreams his way through his first PFI annual conference (after a bit of light reading).