Growing Together: From Vision to Vitality 2026 Food Solutions Summit

Join us for the Rogue Valley Community Food Solutions Summit on January 15–16, 2026, at the Event Center at Bigham Knoll in Jacksonville, Oregon. This year, we’re expanding opportunities to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the work transforming our regional food system.

We’ll begin with three fun field trips (space limited) Thursday, January 15th at 12 PM followed by the Connection Reception on Thursday evening from 4:30 – 6:30 PM — a relaxed evening to settle in with friends and colleagues over local bites and brews. Enjoy locally sourced appetizers and one complimentary drink, included with your registration.

Then, join us for the full Summit on Friday, January 16th, from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, where we’ll roll up our sleeves to advance the shared vision and action plans guiding our region’s food future. 

We’ll dive into how our region can ensure access to healthy food for everyone, strengthen our local food and farm economy, build healthy soils and protect the water that sustains us, and reduce food waste through collective innovation and collaboration. 

 It’s All on the Farm– Troon Vineyard , Applegate. 

What are all the different ways of using and cultivating the many resources on a farm? Come explore the benefits, opportunities and challenges of utilizing all that a farm might have to offer, from value-added production, to by-product utilization to soil management and development. Special guests Mama Terra Creamery and Applegoat Dairy!- Value added production, soil development, closed loop systems

January 15th 12:00-4:00

 It’s All on the Plate – Jefferson Farm Kitchen, Jacksonville. 

Sourcing local ingredients for restaurants, value-added products and institutions isn’t always easy, but it has enormous benefits, both for your business and your soul, as well as for the community. Come experience a local food cooking class with Chef Deanna at Jefferson Farm Kitchen, make a delicious dish with your friends and colleagues and talk about the challenges and rewards of local sourcing.- local sourcing, distribution 

January 15th 12:00-4:00

The Whole Hog (well Cow) – Rusted Gate Farm, Central Point. 

How do we utilize our cattle, pig, and other meats as effectively and efficiently as possible?  Rusted Gate Farm is marketing value added beef products, and other producers are finding ways of going beyond the standard cuts. Rusted Gate Farm and Montgomery Meats took the huge step to develop a local USDA slaughter facility. From the field to the kitchen, learn more about the challenges, rewards, and opportunities of local meat production. - Value end products, meat production

January 15th 12:00-4:00