**MEDIA RELEASE**

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

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Please include the following in your Calendar Listings and PSAS, and
consider running a feature on this exciting event. We can provide
photos, and a spokesperson is available for press, radio, and TV
interviews. *For all media inquiries, please contact Laurence Hauben at
(805)259-7229, or e-mail LMHAUBEN@MSN.COM*

**What:** 19th California Farm Conference

**Theme:** \"Traditions and Innovations in a Changing World\"

**When:** November 13 - 15, 2005

**Where:** Ventura Beach Marriott Hotel, Ventura, CA

**The exciting California Farm Conference program will feature over 40
workshops, short courses and farm tours, and thought-provoking
speakers.**

> **The Farm Conference offers to farmers, farmers market managers,
> students, and others interested in the future of family farming a
> unique opportunity to improve business by bringing together a wealth
> of information and expertise, and the opportunity to network.**
>
> **"***I got an overall sense of the need for continued and more
> cooperativeness between small farmers. That was very encouraging, and
> good networking opportunities,"* writes a past attendee.

**Cost:** \$175 Savings package includes registration fee, tasting
reception, two lunches and the banquet; Registration only (before
October 10), \$100; Registration only (after October 10), \$125; Short
Courses and Tours (\$45 - \$50 each); Tasting Reception, \$25; Meals,
\$20-\$30.

**Scholarships are available, call or visit the web site for an
application.**

**Information and Registration:** phone, (530) 756-8518, ext. 38

E-mail: info@californiafarmconference.com

Web site:
[www.californiafarmconference.com](http://www.californiafarmconference.com/)
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**HIGHLIGHTS**

**This year's Conference theme: "Traditions and Innovations in a
Changing World," recognizes the rapidly evolving nature of the
marketplace, and the challenges and opportunities this creates for
family farms. Together we will explore the various ways in which small
farms can draw on the wisdom of the past, and use creative new
approaches in order to achieve increased market share and thriving
success.**

***Note: Spanish and Hmong translation will be offered throughout the
Conference.***

**The Conference will begin on the morning of Sunday November 13 with**
**Farm Tours** that will visit such varied holdings as an olive grove
and mill, organic herb and vegetable farm, citrus orchard, coastal
blueberry grower, tropical fruit orchard, and local wineries.

**Short Courses are offered on Sunday as well:** Learn about Berry
Culture, Communications and Strategic Marketing for Farmers' Market
Managers, Computer Basics, Small Farms and Financial Management, and The
Future of Food.

**This will be followed in the afternoon by** **a fabulous tasting
reception** where many talented chefs will be paired with local farmers
and wineries to prepare seasonal delights showcasing the wealth of fresh
agricultural products our beautiful region offers.

**Special guest speakers: John Ikerd, Michael Ableman, and Larry Yee.
Three exciting speakers you don't want to miss!** (See next page for
details)

**Workshop will be held Monday November 14 and Tuesday November 15.
Topics** **will include** business and financial planning, community
issues, sustainable production practices, success at farmers\' markets,
farm labor issues, policy, marketing and promotion, crop diversification
and specialty crops, new paradigms for food systems, and more.

**For details please visit our website,**
[www.californiafarmconference.com](http://www.californiafarmconference.com/)
or e-mail us at <info@californiafarmconference.com> to receive a
brochure.

(Continued)

**For all media inquiries, please contact Laurence Hauben at
(805)259-7229 or e-mail: lmhauben@msn.com.**

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**FEATURED SPEAKERS**

> **"*Our common sense tells us it is not a sacrifice to care for others
> nor is it a sacrifice to care for the earth, because these things
> contribute to our own quality of life. \[...\]  Our enlightened
> self-interest is in doing for others, of both present and the future,
> as we would have them do for us." John Ikerd***
>
> **John Ikerd**, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics at the
> University of Missouri, is a brilliant thinker and speaker. Mr. Ikerd
> was raised on a small dairy farm in southwest Missouri and he received
> his BS, MS, and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Missouri. He
> worked in private industry for a time and spent thirty years is
> various professorial positions at four major state universities. Since
> retiring in 2000, he spends most of his time writing and speaking on
> issues relate to the sustainability of agriculture. He is author of
> *Sustainable Capitalism: Matter of Common Sense*, forthcoming from
> Kumarian Press.
>
> **Michael Ableman** was among the first to proclaim the importance of
> preserving farmland from suburban development. He is the executive
> director of the Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens, a
> national model for small scale and urban agriculture, hosting as many
> as 5000 people per year for tours, classes, festivals, and
> apprenticeships. Ableman has lectured extensively throughout the U.S.
> and in Europe, and his work has been featured in *National
> Geographic*, and other prominent publications. An award-winning film
> about Ableman's work, *Beyond Organic*, narrated by Meryl Streep,
> aired nationally on PBS in 2001. Ableman is currently farming a small
> piece of land on an island in British Columbia. His new book, "*Fields
> of Plenty*," profiling innovative farmers across North America, is
> scheduled for release this fall.
>
> **Larry Yee** is the director of the Ventura County office of the
> University of California Cooperative Extension. He is also the
> director of the UC Hansen Trust, whose purpose is to sustain
> agriculture in Ventura County through research and education. He was
> appointed National Program Leader for Food Marketing Systems
> Innovations at USDA where he explored and developed the Association of
> Family Farms, a new national organization designed to create a
> market-based solution to saving family farms. He is a board member of
> the California Roots of Change (ROC) Council, the Food Alliance, and a
> member of the Ag-of-the-Middle National Task Force. He has an MBA in
> agribusiness from the University of Santa Clara and was a fellow at
> the Resources for the Future Institute in Washington DC.

**California Farm Conference Sponsors include:** California Department
of Food and Agriculture California Women for Agriculture; Community
Alliance with Family Farmers; Federation of Certified Farmers\' Markets;
Golden Gate Farmers\' Market Association; Pacific Coast Farmers\' Market
Association; Slow Food USA; SMP Ministries; USDA Farm Service Agency;
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service California; USDA Risk
Management Agency; USDA Rural Development; University of California
Small Farm Center.

**For all media inquiries, please contact Laurence Hauben at
(805)259-7229 or e-mail: lmhauben@msn.com.**