Each year, we host this conference and trade show for farmers and others interested in organic agriculture.
Mark your calendars for January 8-9, 2026, when we'll again feature:
- Inspiring keynote speakers
- Topical breakout sessions
- An 80-booth trade show
- Networking
- And more!
Whether you're an experienced producer or new to the field, don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to connect with Minnesota’s thriving organic community!
Who should attend?
- Organic farmers and those interested in transitioning to organic practices
- Agricultural professionals
- Buyers and makers looking to source or showcase organic products
- Students and researchers
- Organic farming advocates
2026 Featured Speakers
Joel Gruver
Joel Gruver grew up on a small, diversified farm in north central Maryland. He received his PhD in soil science from the North Carolina State University and has been a professor in the School of Agriculture at Western Illinois University (WIU) since 2007. He conducts applied research related to soil organic matter, conservation cropping systems, and organic grain production and is the director of the WIU Organic Research Program.
Ruth M. Buck
Ruth Buck and her husband Dennis milk 150 cows on their farm in Goodhue, Minn. They installed two Lely robots in 2015 and added a third robot in October 2025. The farm has been certified organic since September 2003 and began shipping milk to Organic Valley the following month. They operate 560 acres, growing most of their own crops. Their two sons, Austin and Justin, work full time on the farm, while their daughter Kaitlyn helps part-time. They also have three other children: Alicia, Kennedy, and Brooke, who are not involved in the farming operation.
Caroline Hegstrom
Caroline Hegstrom is the founder and farmer behind The Boreal Farm in northeastern Minnesota, where she grows certified organic vegetables, flowers, garlic, and native plants. She also runs Taiga Farm & Seed, a cold-climate seed company that helps northern gardeners grow food with confidence. As a mentor with the USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program, Caroline shares real-world experience and northern grit to guide farmers in building confidence and resilience in their organic growing practices.
Ben Penner
Ben Penner started his farm with the idea that local, organic wheat flour was a missing link in the sustainable food chain. His farm's mission is to inspire human flourishing through agriculture, and he fulfills that mission by developing local markets for organic products. He lives in Mankato, Minn., along with his three children: twins Grace and Lucia (15) and Eva (11). Ben consults under Aestiv LLC to accelerate the adoption of climate friendly crops.
Meg Moynihan
Meg Moynihan serves as Senior Advisor on Strategy and Partnerships at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), where she focuses on emerging issues, develops new projects and programs, and leads the agency’s work on farm stress. Old timers may remember a time when she managed the MDA’s organic program. She and husband Kevin also own and operate a diversified 70-cow organic dairy farm in Le Sueur County.
