2018 Speakers

Kathy Ruhf

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Kathy has taught, presented, consulted, and written about agricultural land access, tenure and transfer for over 30 years. Over this time she has also focused on educating and advocating for beginning farmers in New England and beyond. Kathy co-directed the New England Small Farm Institute for 17 years. Since 2004 she has held several positions at Land For Good, including executive director. She served on, and chaired, the USDA Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers and, through LFG, has advised and presented on land access and transfer nationally. Kathy holds a M.Ed. in administration and a M.S. in natural resource management. She lives in western Massachusetts.

Land Access and Transfer: Regenerating Farms and Ranches for the Next Generation

In this plenary, with Jennie Stephens, and Kathy will talk about how land access, secure tenure and inter-generational transfer are essential to a regenerative agriculture. She will address farming opportunity and legacy (entry and exit) from a systems perspective, and explore the challenges in acquiring and transferring farms and ranches. Kathy will also touch on land tenure as a sustainable relationship between owner and user.

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Highlights from last year’s event.

We invite you to enjoy videos from our 2017 Conference here. The annual Quivira Conference is internationally renowned for bringing together leaders, innovators, and stewards of the land for three days of provocative plenary presentations, roundtable discussions, and networking with diverse attendees from across the southwest, the country, and globe. The conference creates a unique environment where ideas are sown, exchanged, and grown. Quivira’s outstanding speakers and attendees contribute expertise in ranching, farming, conservation, community, and all things soil, which is the key to it all. Every attendee brings something unique to the table, and each departs with inspiration, new connections, broader perspectives, and the tools necessary to effect change.

2017 Conference Speaker Videos

The Quivira Coalition documents its conference every year. We love to share the content of this event with those who were not able to join us in person. You can also view the 2017 videos, along with past years, on the Quivira You Tube page.

2017 filming by Crash Roll Films and editing by Downstream Media Maven.

Rio Grande Water Fund Panel

Rio Grande Water Fund Panel - Fire and Rain: Economic, Ecological and Community Resilience Sandra Postel, Laura McCarthy, Katherine Kuhas, Toner Mitchell This panel of experts will discuss the Rio Grande Water Fund, an innovative project created to invest in the long...

Allen Williams – Restore Soil and Ecosystem Health with Adaptive Grazing

Allen Williams Restore Soil and Ecosystem Health with Adaptive Grazing Allen Williams will speak on adaptive grazing, which produces positive compounding effects that can significantly benefit soil health, plant species complexity and diversity, insect and pollinator...

Rick Danvir – Comparing Effects of Time-Controlled Grazing…

Rick Danvir Comparing Effects of Time-Controlled Grazing, Traditional Management, and Rest on Vegetative Covers For centuries, apprenticeship has been the means of passing on the skills of many trades, from engravers and silversmiths in the middle ages, to...