2022 Conference Speakers
Check back often, as we'll be adding many more speakers!
August 7-9, 2022 | San Marcos, Texas
2022 KEYNOTE
REGINALDO HASLETT-MARROQUIN
REGINALDO HASLETT-MARROQUIN has long been inspired by regenerative agriculture, beginning with his upbringing as the son of farmers in rural Guatemala. His father's success in raising diverse crops, rather than mimicking the monoculture crops that surrounded them, inspired his life's journey.
Today Regi is president of the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance, a Minnesota-based organization that creates partnerships within agricultural supply chains, with a focus on regenerative practices and ecosystem management. But he is perhaps best known as founder of the Regenerative Poultry Cooperative which includes 22 small-scale farmers in Southern Minnesota and Iowa who work together to successfully compete against factory-farm size chicken operations.
The co-op incorporates Regi's free-range model of feeding chickens natural diets in small forests and processing them in a cooperatively shared processing facility, then selling them as "Tree Range Chicken" to stores and restaurants. In short, all of Regi's work reflects his commitment to building regenerative food and agriculture systems that deliver social, economic, and ecological benefits.
He is also the author of the book In the Shadow of Green Man; My Journey from Poverty and Hunger to Food Security and Hope. In it, he tells the stories of his upbringing in revolution-torn Guatemala and shares a vision of a regenerative form of farming that uplifts people.
ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS
KAY BELL
KAY BELL is a certified herbalist, a root-ologist, and a tea-ologist. Devoted to all of nature and earth, Kay, runs a farm in Waco, Texas, where she grows herbs to sell. She currently sells her teas in two grocery stores in Waco and at two farmers markets.
Kay is the president of Texas National Women in Agricultural Association and the founder of Global Revive, an organization created to inspire people to grow their own gardens and to eat from the earth.
Kay is the membership chairperson for the Landowner Association of Texas and travel coordinator for the Waco Rose Society.
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JOSHUA COLEMAN
JOSHUA COLEMAN serves as the State Outreach Coordinator for Farm Service Agency in Texas. In this role, he is responsible for program planning, implementation, and development of policies and procedures necessary to deliver the outreach and communications programs.
He has worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency for four years. Joshua earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in Agricultural Economics from Alcorn State University in his native state of Mississippi.
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BECKY HUME
BECKY HUME is the owner/operator of VRDNT Farm, a diversified vegetable farm in Bastrop, Texas, and is the commercial rep with Johnny's Seeds for Texas, connecting growers with the best seeds and varieties for this region. Becky knew farming was her life's work after completing her first farm apprenticeship at the age of 16.
She earned a degree in agriculture from Cornell University and has spent the last 12 years working in various sectors of the agricultural industry. She worked on several cut flower and vegetable farms in the U.S. and abroad before moving to Texas in 2014.
Since then, Becky has managed a 200-acre organic vegetable farm, an aquaponic facility, and a regional microgreens operation.
PATTY LOVERA
PATTY LOVERA is a food policy consultant who serves as the policy advisor for the Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment, a coalition of state and national groups working to fight factory farms. Previously, Patty helped start and grow Food & Water Watch, serving as their Food and Water Program Director for 14 years.
Before joining Food & Water Watch, Patty was the deputy director of the energy and environment program at Public Citizen and a researcher at the Center for Health, Environment and Justice.
Patty has a bachelor's in environmental science from Lehigh University and a master's in environmental policy from the University of Michigan.
JASMIUNE MATTHEWS
JASMIUNE MATTHEWS, aka, Chef JazzyJ, is a Culinary Institute of America graduate with a bachelor's degree in Business Management and a concentration in Farm to Table. She has a successful business called JazzyJ's Creations, in which she creates and manufactures innovative value-added foods for consumers to use in a fun and easy way.
As a chef in the Houston area, Jasmiune had specific goals in launching JazzyJ's: to transfer as much food knowledge as possible to consumers to aid in making better life choices and a cleaner environment.
Jasmiune also hopes to create happiness and memories through the joy of food and to use her business to build relationships and create unity within local communities.
JARRED MAXWELL
JARRED MAXWELL is a partner and co-founder of Foodshed Investors, providing funding and assistance for small local sustainable food & agriculture entrepreneurs. His path -- from the technology sector, to rural real estate and eventually ag finance -- allows him to bring a unique perspective to his advisory work with small to medium size food system companies around the country.
Jarred has served as a local leader for Slow Money Austin, and has been an active angel investor in more than a dozen local socially responsible companies. In 2010, he founded The Happy Land Company, specializing in acquisition, restoration, and preservation of rural land. A lifelong Texan, Jarred is also a rancher, managing 400-plus acres of family ranch outside Lampasas.
JUDITH McGEARY
JUDITH McGEARY, the founder and Executive Director of FARFA and the Council for Healthy Food Systems, is an attorney, activist, and sustainable farmer. After earning a bachelor's from Stanford University and a law degree from the University of Texas, she clerked for a Federal Appeals Court before going into private practice. She and her husband became passionate advocates of sustainable agriculture and established their own livestock farm.
She founded Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance in 2006 to promote common-sense policies for local, diversified agricultural systems. Judith previously served as the Vice Chair of the U.S. Secretary's Advisory Committee on Animal Health and has been active with the Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, the Weston A. Price Foundation, and the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund.
KAT NEILSON
KAT NEILSON joined the Texas Department of Agriculture's grants team in 2018. She is the Texas state point-of-contact for the Specialty Crop Block Grant and Specialty Crop Multi-State program, the Young Farmer Grant, the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, the STAR Fund, the Agriculture and Research Development Program, and the State Trade Expansion Program.
Her 15 years of grant experience encompasses a diverse background in non-profits including higher education, foundations, and heritage and museum management. Her experience includes the entire life cycle of grants from writing and project implementation to new program creation.
Kat loves to travel and spends her time in the great outdoors camping, hiking, and exploring with her rescue pup, Buddy.
ELLEN POLISHUK
ELLEN POLISHUK is a farm consultant and workshop leader. She leverages her 35 years of biological vegetable farming experience to help growers across the U.S. achieve greater satisfaction and profitability from their farm businesses. Ellen was one of three owners of Potomac Vegetable Farms in Northern Virginia where she grew produce for seven farmers' markets, a 550-member CSA, and two roadside stands.
Ellen teaches growers around the country about soils, compost, labor management, and growing farm profits. Ellen is a co-author of the book Start Your Farm and writes the farmer-to-farmer profile column for Growing for Market magazine.
She lives in suburban Maryland with her husband, where she gardens like crazy.
SHAKERA RAYGOZA
SHAKERA RAYGOZA operates Terra Preta Farm, a 20-acre certified organic farm in Edinburg, Texas, where she and her husband grow vegetables and sell them through markets, a CSA, and wholesale. She is a registered nurse and mother of three children and has been farming for 10 years.
Earlier this year, as Technical Assistant at the National Young Farmers Coalition, Shakera testified in front of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture on the role that USDA programs can play in addressing climate change and the need for making these programs more accessible to young and BIPOC farmers. She spoke about her own experiences utilizing USDA programs to build resiliency on her farm and suggested ways these programs could be improved to serve more farmers.
PORK RHYNE
PORK RHYNE, the "Pork Evangelist," is recognized across the country and in East Africa for his work as a livestock educator and local meat marketing professional. As a former multi-species livestock and dairy farm manager with a bachelor's in agricultural education, Pork Rhyne's calling is to train and mentor new and beginner farmers and homesteaders on how NOT to make the same mistakes of countless others during their first three years of farming. He guides farmers to develop confidence, proficiency, and peace of mind in their production, business, and marketing techniques.
Currently he serves as a board adviser for the Niche Meat Processors Assistance Network & NC Choices (Niche Meat Initiative). He has been featured on ABC News' "Localish," PBS-NC's "Resilient Agriculture," and Leah Penniman's "Farming While Black." He has been a featured speaker for Homesteaders of America, Mother Earth News, and The Livestock Conservancy.
BEN AND MEGHAN ROBERTS
BEN AND MEGHAN ROBERTS are the self-titled "Soil Shepherds" at Elder Hill Farms in Driftwood, Texas. Their mission is to develop regenerative systems for semi-arid to arid regions adapted to cope with a changing climate. Although Ben was raised on a medium-sized cattle and nursery plant operation in Alberta, Canada, he rediscovered the passion for the land through his role as a leading Sommelier & Wine Educator in Texas. The study of the concept of terroir (sense of place found in wine) was enough to overcome the lure of corporate America and urban bliss.
Meghan's career in Fine Art and Design has also morphed into a personal calling to share her love of things that "grow and go" with families who have lost touch with each other, and the land. Together, with their four children, they now pour their heart and soul into a rocky little corner of Hill Country that is transforming into the Eden they know it can be.
JUSTIN TRAMMELL
JUSTIN TRAMMELL grew up in Canyon, Texas, spending time helping his dad out at feed yards and the Amarillo and Tulia livestock auctions, and with taking care of their wheat-pasture cattle. Justin grew up listening to grandparents on both sides of his family tell of their adventures running small farms in the early 1900s and became fascinated by the idea of having his own small farm. He earned a degree in wildlife biology from West Texas A&M, focusing primarily on the agriculture/wildlife conflict. In college he became involved with the Ogallala Commons, and through its support was able to attend the Quivera Coalition conference and other educational events.
Justin started his farm in 2014 producing chickens, later adding sheep and hogs, and finally partnering with his dad on cattle. He has been president of the Canyon Farmers Market since 2016, and in January opened a micro-processing facility with his dad and brother-in-law. He looks forward to helping provide other communities with a blueprint to begin to achieve food security
KRISZTIAN VARSA
KRISZTIAN VARSA is the Working Farms Fund Associate at The Conservation Fund. With a program that launched in 2021, he is supporting the transition of critically threatened farmland to next-generation farmers in Georgia. Employing a buy-protect-sell model, the Working Farms Fund works to protect our most threatened farmland while transitioning the land to the next generation, assisting them to develop infrastructure, access federal programs, and plan for transition to the generation after their own.
Krisztian has a decade of experience in conservation real estate transactions, farmer and farmland support, USDA program implementation, watershed restoration, and program development.
IVY WALLS
IVY WALLS is a budding farmer, community entrepreneur, and creative visionary from Houston. In 2015, Ivy launched Shop the Ivy Files, selling apparel that praises the essence of black and brown communities. Her passion for creating community led her to create social networks such as Undisputed Excellence, Jeeping While Black, and now Ivy Leaf Farms, a community farm in Houston that provides opportunities to grow and to access healthy and sustainable foods. Ivy hopes to continue nurturing her community while nurturing the world one initiative at a time.