SPEAKERS

Keynote Speaker:

Leah Penniman

Founding Co-ED and Farm Director, Soul Fire Farm

Leah Penniman is a Black Kreyol farmer, author, mother, and food justice activist who has been tending the soil and organizing for an anti-racist food system for 25 years. She currently serves as founding co-ED and Farm Director of Soul Fire Farm in Grafton, New York, a Black & Brown led project that works toward food and land justice. Her books are Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm's Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land (2018) and Black Earth Wisdom: Soulful Conversations with Black Environmentalists (2023). Find out more about Leah’s work at www.soulfirefarm.org and follow her @soulfirefarm on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Keynote Speaker:

Valerie Segrest

Co-Founder, Tahoma Peak Solutions and Former Regional Director, Native Food and Knowledge Systems, Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF)

Valerie Segrest, an enrolled member of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, and works as a Native Nutrition Educator and is the Co-Founder of Tahoma Peak Solutions, a consulting company that specializes in strategic communications and food systems strategies that serve tribal communities. She has a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Health Sciences from Bastyr University and a Master of Arts in Environment and Community. Ms. Segrest has dedicated her work in the field of Native American Nutrition towards the efforts of the food sovereignty movement rooted in education, awareness and overcoming barriers to accessing traditional foods for tribal communities throughout North America. Ms. Segrest has co-authored several publications, including “Feeding Seven Generations: A Salish Cookbook” and “Indigenous Home Cooking: Menus Inspired by the Ancestors”.
 
Valerie aims to inspire and enlighten others about the importance of a nutrient-dense diet through a culturally appropriate, common sense approach to eating.

Keynote Speaker:

Instructor, College of Agricultural Sciences and Faculty Advisory, Organic Growers Club (Student Farm), Oregon State University

James Cassidy

James Cassidy has been an Instructor of Soil Science and sustainable agriculture at Oregon State University for over 20 years.  The introductory soils class now has over 100 students each term and is very popular.  James is also the faculty advisor for the wildly popular OSU Organic Growers Club - OSU's student farm.  Coming from a non-traditional background (music industry for over 40+ years) he is passionate about soil and is popular with students because of his dynamic speaking style.  The student farm project has over 300 student volunteers on it's list-serve and continues to grow.  The farm cultivates over 50 different fruit and vegetable crops and is just beginning it's 25th season.

Keynote Speaker:

Jennifer Tucker

Deputy Administrator – National Organic Program (USDA/AMS)

Jennifer Tucker, Ph.D., was named Deputy Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program on June 21, 2018. She served as Associate Deputy Administrator of the National Organic Program from 2011-2018. Before joining USDA, she served as a program manager and group facilitator, working primarily with scientific and technical government and non-profit organizations. She earned a B.A. in Environmental Science from Wesleyan University, an M.S. in Management from Purdue University, and a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Studies from Virginia Tech.

Keynote Speaker:

Brenna Davis

Chief Executive Officer, Organically Grown Company

Brenna Davis, M.S. is an organic food advocate, sustainable business expert, environmental scientist, and CEO of a mission-driven food company. Her work has been featured on every major news network, including live morning television.  She is the two-time #1 International Bestselling Author of She’s a Boss and Hello Success and was featured in Global Chorus: 365 Voices on the Future of the Planet. She is a sought out public speaker on national and international stages, including at the Obama White House, at international climate events, and on a panel facilitated by Vice President Al Gore.