(Ankeny, Iowa) The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) is excited to announce the keynote speaker for the 79th SWCS International Annual Conference is Clarenda "Farmer Cee" Stanley. She will deliver the Pritchard Keynote Lecture, "Rising Together: Collaborative Conservation for All." Farmer Cee is the CEO of Green Heffa Farms, a flourishing medicinal plant and herb farm in Liberty, North Carolina, just three and a half hours from the conference. She's also the country's first Black-owned farm to earn Certified B Corp status. As if that wasn't enough, Farmer Cee utilizes her knowledge and expertise to bring opportunities to aspiring farmers around the world, truly encompassing this year's conference theme, "Rising Together: Collaborative Conservation for All." Farmer Cee's active social media following expands the way people view farmers and farming and offers lessons on how farmers can market their products. Be inspired by her incredible journey from an internationally recognized Certified Fund Raising Executive to a successful farmer. Open your mind to how farming looks. Leave inspired and informed to be part of an exciting revolution in agriculture as professionals whose work advances conservation and farming across the globe. The future of farming is now.
The SWCS 79th International Annual Conference, to be held July 21-24, 2024, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, will assemble a diverse, multigenerational conservation network of researchers, practitioners, industry leaders, farmers, and students from around the world and feature the latest conservation ideas, technologies, and practices and foster dialogue around their adoption.
This year's conference theme, "Rising Together: Collaborative Conservation for All," challenges all conservationists to rise to the great challenges and opportunities ahead of us together. At this year's event, we will share successes and embrace lessons learned to move toward our natural resource goals with greater speed, efficiency, effectiveness, and inclusivity. We will navigate the capacity, innovation, and partnerships needed to regenerate our land, water, and other natural resources.
Additional sessions to look forward to:
- A South Carolinian and SWCS member, Dale Threatt-Taylor, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy South Carolina Chapter, will open us up on Sunday during the Local Forum and Flavor. Attendees will have an opportunity to network with one another and take part in outdoor activities during this time as well.
- USDA NRCS Chief Cosby and USDA ARS Deputy Administrator over the Natural Resources and Sustainable Agricultural Systems (NRSAS) program area Marlen Eve.
- SWCS leaders and experts will take part in an interactive session on science-based strategies, federal policies, and equitable practices for advancing conservation across urban and rural landscapes.
In addition to hearing from leaders in conservation, attendees will also learn about cutting-edge research and practice developments in soil health, water quality, and resource management through various workshops, sessions, symposia, tours, exhibits, and demonstrations.
To learn more about activities at the SWCS International Annual Conference and to register, visit swcs.org/24AC. Early bird registration is open through June 3, 2024. Late registration is open through July 3, 2024.
###
About SWCS
With more than 2,000 members around the world, the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization that serves as an advocate for conservation professionals and for science-based conservation practice, programs, and policy.
The SWCS's mission is to foster the science and art of natural resource conservation. We work to discover, develop, implement, and constantly improve conservation practices and systems that sustain the productive capacity of the land while protecting environmental quality.
We pursue our mission through a combination of research, education, and advocacy aimed at promoting state-of-the-art conservation practices and science-based conservation policy.
For More Information:
Contact events@swcs.org for more information.