CEFS to hold 20-year anniversary events, Oct. 17-18
Media Contact: Lisa Forehand, 919.513.0954 or lisa_forehand@ncsu.edu
The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), one of the nation’s foremost centers for research, extension and education in sustainable agriculture and local food systems, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2014 with a SOILbration in Goldsboro on Oct. 17 and speakers and a reunion dinner in Raleigh Oct. 18.
On Oct. 17, CEFS will partner with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NCRS) and the N.C. Agricultural Foundation, Inc. to host a day of soil-related educational activities at its 2,000-acre Goldsboro research farm. SOILbration: Healthy Soils, Healthy Farms, Healthy Food will feature speakers including current and former CEFS researchers, Ray Archuleta and Steve Woodruff of NRCS and Fred Kirschenmann, Distinguished Fellow at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and president of Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture.The SOILbration will also feature demonstrations including a rainfall simulator, cover crop demonstrations, field tours, exhibitors, a poster session and lunch.
On Oct. 18 at 5 pm, Kirschenmann will deliver a lecture entitled “The Future of Food and Agriculture” at Witherspoon Theatre on NC State University campus, followed by a reunion dinner and “CEFS Talks” by former students and faculty. Faculty, former students, interns, faculty and friends of CEFS are invited to the festivities.
A long-time national and international leader in sustainable agriculture, Kirschenmann is a professor in the Iowa State University Department of Religion and Philosophy and holds a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Chicago. He has held numerous appointments, serving on the USDA’s National Organic Standards Board and the National Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production. He also continues to manage his family’s 1,800-acre certified organic farm in south central North Dakota.
For more information on CEFS’ 20th anniversary special events and to register, visit go.ncsu.edu/cefsanniversary or contact Lisa Forehand, CEFS extension and outreach coordinator, at 919.513.0954 or lisa_forehand@ncsu.edu. Please note that you must register separately for the Kirschenmann lecture and dinner.
The Center for Environmental Farming Systems is a partnership of North Carolina State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. CEFS’ mission is to develop and promote just and equitable food and farming systems that conserve natural resources, strengthen communities, improve health outcomes, and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond. For more information about CEFS please visit www.cefs.ncsu.edu.
