The Food Works Southern Illinois Farming Alliance Conference focuses on sustainable agriculture in Southern Illinois, bringing together farmers, homesteaders, agriculture educators, students, and food system advocates from across Southern Illinois.

This half-day event is scheduled for Saturday, January 17, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the John A. Logan College Conference Center and offers an afternoon of learning and networking. Attendees will have the chance to engage with expert speakers, discover resources to support your farm or homestead, and explore innovative practices in sustainable agriculture and local food systems. The conference will cover various topics related to growing long-term farming networks that foster healthy soils, healthy food, and healthy communities.

Network with organizations from across the state

Educational talks from local experts, farm panels, and more

Locally-sourced lunch provided

Update on Food Works programs

Meet the Speakers

The Startup Track

Speaker: Trisha Nieder (Nieder Farms)

Topic: From Overwhelmed to Organized: A Practical Startup Guide to Regenerative Farming

Description: A session dedicated to the business and operational side of starting a regenerative farm, moving from chaos to clarity.

The Soil Health Panel

Speakers: Ann Carnes (Wild Pansy Farm), Logan Karcher (Burnt Hill Cattle Co.)

Topic: Soil Health & Composting Panel

Description: A deep dive into soil amendments. Ann covers the microbiome and marketplace pitfalls of creating quality compost.

Featured Presentation

Speaker: Cynthia Flores
Title: Athletes in Overalls: Movement Health and Injury Risk Management in Farming

Bio/Description:

"Cynthia Flores brings 20 years of farming experience in western Maine to her work as a personal trainer and functional movement specialist. This session focuses on body mechanics and movement health specifically for farmers, helping to decrease musculoskeletal injuries and extend career longevity."

The North Central Region-Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

Farmers Forum

The North Central Region-Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) Farmers Forum is a traveling annual event giving farmers, ranchers, researchers and others the chance to share information about sustainable agriculture practices with a national audience.

These presentations focus on research, demonstration, and education projects that promote profitable practices that are good for the environment and community. The projects highlighted in these presentations and the Farmers Forum are funded by grants from NCR-SARE, a USDA funded program that supports and promotes sustainable farming and ranching by offering competitive grants and educational opportunities.

For more information about NCR-SARE, see: www.northcentral.sare.org or contact NCR-SARE by email: ncrsare@umn.edu, or phone 612-626-3113.

Online Registration is Closed – Walk-Ins Welcome!

Online registration for the SIFA 2026 Conference is now closed, but we would still love to see you! You are welcome to register at the door tomorrow.

Admission: Free

Meals: Please note that lunch is reserved for pre-registered attendees only. We recommend eating before you arrive or bringing a snack.

Location: John A. Logan College Conference Center (F Wing Entrance) 700 Logan College Drive Carterville, IL 62918 (Please note: The main West Lobby entrance is under construction. Please park in the Gold or Blue lots and enter through the F Wing.)

Attending Organizations

This conference is brought to you by:

Click here to visit our 2025 SIFA Conference that was held at The Pavilion in Marion on January 14th, 2025!