San Juan Islands Agricultural Summit

WSU San Juan Extension and the Ag Summit Steering Committee would like to send a HUGE thank you out to everyone who contributed to making 2024 SJI AG Summit a success. Over 40 speakers shared their knowledge and experience with more than 200 attendees on topics ranging from agroforestry, biochar, and climate resiliency to soil health, traditional foodways, water rights, and much more. If you missed this year’s Summit, be sure to sign up for the Summit mailing list and be the first to know what’s happening for the 13th Annual SJI Ag Summit which will be on Lopez Island in 2025.

12th Annual San Juan Islands Agricultural Summit

Friday March 8 and Saturday March 9, 2024! 

This year’s event will be held on Orcas Island and will consist of in-person workshops and other opportunities to gather around the island on Friday, and an in-person conference day on Saturday at Camp Orkila. We will be looking through the lens of carbon to understand soil health, fertility, land stewardship, and climate resiliency with the theme It’s All About the Carbon!

By centering our discussions around carbon, we aim to explore its crucial role in supporting ecological services such as nutrient cycling, water filtration, and habitat provision, thus emphasizing the interconnectedness between carbon management and sustainable agricultural practices. Join us as we explore the intricate relationship between carbon and agriculture, and discover how a deeper understanding of the carbon cycle can inform our efforts to work collaboratively with nature, fostering resilient and sustainable food systems for generations to come.

Summit Details:

• Housing will be available for Thursday and Friday evenings of the conference
• Online pre-registration is required for all paid events
• Scholarship applications are now closed. Please email sji.agsummit@wsu.edu if you have any questions.
• Childcare: [Saturday, 3/9 Only]:
  •  Childcare for the Summit will be offered by Kaleidoscope Preschool and Childcare Center in Eastsound. For more information and to sign up, text Shebly at (317)908-5811 or email sssanders1026@outlook.com.
• Shuttle: [Saturday, 3/9 Only]:
  • There will be a van shuttle departing the ferry landing at approximately 7:25am to Camp Orkila.
  • There will be a van shuttle departing Camp Orkila at approximately 5:40pm, to return to the ferry landing.

To learn more details and to register for the Summit, visit the Summit Eventbrite page. 

Author and agroecologist Liz Carlisle will give a keynote address titled “Climate Solutions in Agriculture: Building a Collective Movement through Diverse Strategies” to start the day on Saturday.

Liz Carlisle is an Associate Professor in the Environmental Studies Program at UC Santa Barbara, where she teaches courses on food and farming. Born and raised in Montana, she got hooked on agriculture while working as an aide to organic farmer and U.S. Senator Jon Tester, which led to a decade of research and writing collaborations with farmers in her home state. She has written three books about regenerative farming and agroecology: Lentil Underground (2015), Grain by Grain (2019, with co-author Bob Quinn), and most recently, Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming (2022). She is also a frequent contributor to both academic journals and popular media outlets, focusing on food and farm policy, incentivizing soil health practices, and supporting new entry farmers. She holds a Ph.D. in Geography from UC Berkeley and a B.A. in Folklore and Mythology from Harvard University. Prior to her career as a writer and academic she spent several years touring rural America as a country singer.

Doors at 5pm

5:30-6:30pm [FREE]: Germinating Ideas: Lightning Talks on Climate, Carbon, and Agriculture in SJC. A dynamic evening facilitated by Liz Carlisle, author of Healing Grounds and 2024 Ag Summit Keynote Speaker.

Immerse yourself in the excitement and hope surrounding the regenerative farming practices taking root in SJC. This unique gathering fosters peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange, offering inspiration and practical ideas that have been tested right here on our islands. Let’s cultivate a future of innovation and resilience together!

6:30-9pm: Dinner, no-host bar, socializing. Locally sourced meal by The Kitchen.

Sliding Scale Tickets for Dinner: $30, $40, $50 – Choose your level of support

The San Juan Islands Agriculture Summit is a valued annual event that provides a unique opportunity for the food and agricultural community from across the islands, and beyond, to gather. Designed as a space for inspiration, education, and comradery, the Ag Summit features keynotes, hands-on workshops, presentations by farmers and regional specialists, panel discussions, meals and social events.

Started in 2013 by representatives of Washington State University Extension, San Juan County Agricultural Resources Committee, San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild and San Juan Island Grange #966, this event has rotated between San Juan, Orcas and Lopez every year, except 2021 when we adapted to an online program. Each year the program is developed by a collaboration of local agricultural organizations with the guidance of a steering committee representing partners and stakeholders.

Funding for the Ag Summit comes from San Juan County WSU Extension, generous donors, business sponsors, in-kind contributions from partner organizations and ticket sales.

To join the Summit mailing list click here.

Follow us on Facebook: @sjcwsuextension and on Instagram: @wsuextension_sjc

Please note, you will be redirected to WSU’s online giving page which will instruct you to give to the San Juan County Extension Excellence Fund. This is correct. By clicking on this specific link, you will contribute to the Ag Summit Fund, which is housed within the San Juan County Extension Excellence Fund.