Montana Organic Association Announces Annual Conference and Farm Tour
- Go to the Organic Farm Tour
- Go to the Organic Farm Conference
Fresh Roots Farm Tour – Polson, MT – September 11th
Montana Organic Association Annual Conference – Billings, MT – December 8th ‐ 9th
Montana Organic Association announces a re‐scheduled tour as participants are invited to visit the Fresh Roots Farm in Polson, and an in‐person Annual Conference in Billings.
ORGANIC FARM TOUR
Fresh Roots Farm founders Karl Sutton and Darci Jones invite you to their farm on Sunday,
September 11th, 2022. The tour starts at 10 am with a midday lunch and a wrap‐up around 2 pm.
Certified Organic since 2012, Fresh Roots Farm cultivates 5 acres of vegetable and flower seeds that
are grown on contract for multiple seed companies and ¾ of an acre of berries (strawberries, raspberries, currants and gooseberries), which are marketed through Western Montana Growers Cooperative. Additionally, Karl and Darci developed a value‐added enterprise, Flare Pops, that uses
the farm’s fruits and herbs to make delicious popsicle treats. They market their popsicles directly at
farmers markets and music festivals and wholesale at several retail outlets. Fresh Roots Farm is a
founding member of Triple Divide Organic Seeds, whose mission is to develop plant varieties that grow
well in Montana and other northern latitudes. This event is free (donations are encouraged to support
the Montana Organic Association) and open to the public.
Directions: Fresh Roots Farm is located at 41041 Mountain
View Rd, Polson, MT. From Polson at Hwy 35 and 93 intersections, 3.5 miles south on Hwy 93 (between mile markers 55 and 56 on Hwy 93), 3.0 miles east on Minesinger Trail, 0.9 miles south on Mountain View Rd.
MONTANA ORGANIC ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE
December 8th ‐ 9th, 2022
(MOA) will hold its first in‐person conference since 2019, at the Billings Convention Center. We are excited to welcome both new and current members from all corners of the state, as we discuss this uncertain, post‐pandemic, drought stressed, and volatile geopolitically world. These are particularly extraordinary times for organic agriculture, and the conference committee is lining up a diverse array of speakers ranging from hyper‐local to national interests, putting all of this into perspective as we go Back to the Roots— of organic farming, soil and food, and the organic community. It’s high time we resuscitate our members and our ties, strengthening our farms and our voices. For new attendees,
come armed with several questions, and for our legacy members, your own ideas to share with this organic community. The conference will carry on its usual tradition of serving Montana grown organic food, and offering entertaining live and silent auctions. Watch for updates and more details on our
website: www.montanaorganicassociation.org
Of special note to those who may be new to organic farming in the Great Plains, the National Center
for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) will hold its Beginning Farmer Training (less than 10 years of
experience), on December 6th ‐ 7th, also at the Billings Convention Center. Thirty scholarships will be
available providing financial assistance to new farmers, as mentors from both crop and livestock
operations will provide down‐to‐earth wisdom on the realities of organic farming. Contact Jeff
Schahczenski for more details. [email protected]
Organic Sponsors:
Montana Organic Association (MOA)
Organic Advisory and Education Council (OAEC)
Organic Montana (OM)
