Carve Out Some Time This Winter for Learning and Reflection
Apply for a Conference Scholarship!
By Katherine Hoke, Humane Farming Program & Communications Associate
A sheep on Elizabeth Link's Farm in Oregon.
Somehow, we have already reached mid-autumn, which means it is nearly conference season! I’m sure it is hard to imagine now, when you are in the thick of it, but soon you’ll have time to dream and scheme about the future of your farm. Conferences and workshops are a great way to take a step back and get some perspective on your operation. You learn new skills, connect with other farmers, and get fired up for the season ahead.
Each year, FACT gives out 60-80 scholarships of up to $400 each to livestock and poultry farmers to attend conferences and workshops about humane animal management, business and farm finance, and/or value-added production processes. This could be a conference with sessions on humane livestock and/or poultry farming, a workshop at a local university on humane slaughter practices, or even an online course that will help you take your farm business to the next level.
Need Some Ideas?
Recommended conferences that we are currently accepting applications for:
Regenerate Conference - November 5-7, 2025, in Santa Fe, NM
Practical Farmers of Iowa Conference - January 9-10, 2026, in Des Moines, IA
APPPA Pasture Poultry Conference - January 30-31, 2026, in Kissimmee, FL
Grassworks Grazing Conference - January 22-24, 2026, in La Crosse, WI
Great conferences to have on your radar that have not yet opened registration:
Marbleseed Conference - February 26-28, 2026, in La Crosse, WI
Future Harvest Conference - January 22-23, 2026, in Silver Springs, MD
If you would like to attend a livestock-related event that is not listed above, please suggest it on your application. FACT staff members will review proposed conferences on a case-by-case basis and approve those deemed eligible.
Reflections from Recent Scholarship Recipients
Last month, scholarship recipient Tokie Morgan of Southern Sunny Acres in Winona, TX, attended the Noble Grazing Institute Grazing Essentials Workshop. Here is what she had to say about her experience:
“This conference/course was absolutely incredible, it was a perfect combination of classroom and hands-on activities. I was able to see the practices discussed (mob grazing, calculating capacity rates, stock densities for animals, and more) during the course. We moved animals to monitor their impact over the 3 days and discussed how soil health leads to nutrient dense forages for the animals for great health.”
In early October, scholarship recipient Elizabeth Link of Link Land and Livestock attended the Resilient Pasture and Forage Symposium put on by OSU. Here is what she had to say about her experience:
“This was the best conference I have been to in years. Excellent people, incredible producers, really well organized, nice breadth of industry from small scale to large dairy.”
We know it is hard to take time away from your farm, so we want to make these educational opportunities as accessible as possible. Our application process just takes a few minutes and can be found here.
Tokie and Ty of Southern Sunny Acres at the Noble Research Institute's "Grazing Essentials.”
"Cow checking out an automatic waterer at the Noble Research Institute's "Grazing Essentials."