2024 S.D. Local Food Conference Brings Together Producers and Industry Professionals
The 2024 S.D. Local Foods Conference proved an opportunity to bring together SD producers, educators, food industry professionals and policy makers. SDSPA provided a booth to share resources.
On Nov. 8th, S.D. producers, food system professionals, and foodies kicked off the annual S.D. Local Food Conference in Rapid City at the Journey Museum. During the two day conference, attendees took in 2 dynamic keynotes, 13 breakout sessions, 2 workshops, a tour, networking opportunities and of course eating locally sourced meals and beverages.
Friday’s first session had attendees choosing between SARE Sowing Opportunities for Youth Leadership, SD Farm to School and The Fungal Frontier. Tuesday morning’s Keynote was Mariah Gladstone, Piikuni (Blackfeet) and Tsalagi (Cherokee, presenting ‘A Recipe for Resilience.’ She spoke of indigenous foodways, impact of colonization on indigenous diets, and health and cultural benefits of reconnecting to our traditional foods.
Lunch was catered by the Green Chili Shack with products supplied by a SDSPA member, Bear Butte Gardens. After lunch, breakout sessions included Bear Butte Gardens Local Food Aggregation Model, S.D. Grasslands, Cultivating Community Through Agritourism and Building Resilience in S.D. Local Food. Two workshops were offered Friday afternoon: Native Tea Time and making Spiced Pumpkin-Fall Bouquet Class. A tour of the Farm to School Program at R.C. Catholic School was offered to round out the day with a social time to follow at Diamond E Collective, Downtown Rapid City.
Janelle Peterson, S.D. Dept. of Education shares information on Farm to School Programs during the S.D. Local Foods Conference.
Saturday event offerings did not disappoint. The morning’s first breakout session choices were Cooking Up Connections, Online Marketing and Introduction to Beekeeping. Followed at 10:30 with sessions on Dakota Food Rx: Connecting Local Foods, SARE Panel: Reducing Tillage on S.D. Vegetables and Wild & Indigenous Foods.
There were youth offerings throughout the day on Sensory Local Foods, Local Foods & Garden Moves, and a Creative Hour. Lunch was an offering of soups, meat pies and vegetables. Friday’s after lunch keynote was Celebrity Chef Justin Warner, season 8 winner of Food Network Star and owner and operator of Bokujo Ramen and BB’s Natural in Rapid City. He presented ‘Everything You Wanted To Know About Food Television But Were Afraid To Ask.’ Warner entertained the audience while giving an overview of food TV and how the show would highlight local food options and sources.
The conference proved to be an outstanding opportunity to bring together S.D. producers, educators, food industry professionals and policy makers not only through the educational opportunities provided by the keynotes, breakout sessions and tour but through the networking and social interactions provided by the vendors, sponsor booths, social night, and by visiting the snack area stocked with local offerings and coffee. Throughout the two day conference, many connections were made and plans were developed to support local food systems and make S.D. products more available to S.D. people. Many great things are going to happen this year in local foods. Check out the SD Local Foods website at for updates on next year’s S.D. Local Foods Conference.