Ranchers, meat processors, butchers and agricultural industry partners from across the West are invited to gather in Siskiyou County on Oct. 15-16 for the North Fork California Meat Summit, the first meat summit to be held on the West Coast.
“Any rancher, especially those interested in selling direct – from shipping individual cuts to wholesale to cooperative models – is welcome to attend,” said Grace Woodmansee, UC Cooperative Extension livestock and natural resources advisor for Siskiyou County.
Organizers say the event will bring together producers and industry partners for two days of hands-on learning, networking and conversations about the opportunities and challenges shaping the Western meat industry.
The North Fork Summit is part of a multi-state effort that began in North Carolina several years ago and is supported by the National Meat Summits Steering Committee.
“These educational summits encourage networking and collaboration along the meat supply chain, thus supporting new market opportunities, fostering innovation and enhancing understanding about the realities of bringing meat from farm to fork,” Woodmansee said.
“This will be the first time a meat summit has been hosted in California,” she said, “and we’re excited to bring the concept to our region in a smaller-scale format and with a particular focus on ranchers and the realities of doing business here.”
“For example, some ranchers are navigating the challenge of not having access to a nearby processing facility, others with business planning and getting a new enterprise off the ground, and some communities have long-wondered about whether or not a rancher-led co-op is the right fit for them,” Woodmansee said. “Our event addresses these questions with a great line up of speakers who themselves are direct-market ranchers with real world experience navigating complex challenges. Our challenges are more complex than just needing additional USDA processing facilities. There certainly isn't a silver-bullet solution, but by sharing experiences and lessons learned from ranchers, processors, buyers and distributors, we can take a step closer to achieving local goals and strengthening Northern California's regional meat supply chain as a whole. This matters for ranchers, rural communities, consumers and decisionmakers and all are welcome to join us on Oct 15-16."
In partnership with the Siskiyou Economic Development Council, the summit will include tours of Marble Mountain Meats processing facility, Jenner Family Ranch, and StarHarvest processing facility, in addition to educational sessions with agricultural experts and a Q&A with Mary and Brian Heffernan of Five Marys Ranch. The event also features a trade show, networking hour and cutting demonstration.
The summit will culminate in a limited-ticket ranch-to-table dinner on Oct. 15 in Etna, where guests can experience the character, hospitality and agricultural heritage of Siskiyou County.
Set against the landscape of the Scott Valley, the evening will feature locally raised meat, regional ingredients and a memorable gathering at one of the area's working ranches.
“This summit is about creating stronger connections across our entire meat supply chain – from the ranch to the processor to the customer,” said Woodmansee, who is also director of UC Cooperative Extension in Siskiyou County. “By bringing the North Fork Meat Summit to Northern California, we’re creating a space for producers and industry partners to learn from one another, build relationships and explore ways to strengthen our regional meat supply chain. The ranch dinner also invites guests to experience the beauty and hospitality of Siskiyou County firsthand.”
Registration is $150 and includes tours, transportation, educational sessions, networking opportunities and meals. There are 20 complimentary tickets available for eligible ranchers, including 10 tickets reserved for beginning farmers and ranchers. Look for details on the registration page.
A limited number of dinner-only tickets are available and the general public is welcome to join.
For additional information or to view the full agenda of events, visit the North Fork Meat Summit website at https://www.northforkmeatsummit.com.