Introducing Keynote Speaker - Kayla Turner
Kayla Turner Thomas, a 2x Emmy nominee, has worked in local television for nearly 15 years. Raised on family land in the Mississippi Delta, Thomas is a proud product of Bolivar County public schools and studied filmmaking and journalism at Pace University, Westchester.
Her career in Louisiana and Mississippi markets has encompassed everything from serving as a showrunner, executive producer, media sales manager, and marketer to producing promotional materials, commercial ads, sponsored segments, and special-interest shows.
“Farming Freedom” is Thomas’s first documentary and was developed around an interview with her grandfather, Henry Harris, whom she initially recorded only to document their family story, but soon recognized the broader historical significance of Harris’s experiences.
Thomas is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Experience the Land : 1-5pm
We invite conference attendees to slow down and experience the land along the way to Columbia. Through regional farm visits across South Carolina, we’ll connect with the people, practices , and places that ground our work. Before the sessions begin, we take the scenic way, intentionally.
The Gathering at the Gardener's Outpost : 5-8pm
Hosted at Gardener’s Outpost and sponsored by Rodale Institute, this opening evening brings growers,buyers, and partners together in conversation to launch the SCBFC Conference. Throught an engaging grower/buyer discussion featuring representatives from a range of market channels, attendees will hear firsthand what different markets are looking for and what it takes to build lasting successful relationships. with locally sourced refreshments, we gather not just to listen, but to connect, ask questions, and strengthen the pathways from filed to market. om field to market.
Breakfast & Brew : 9:30am-12pm
Start your morning in reflection and fellowship at Breakfast & Brew featuring breakfast, coffee, tea, juice and refreshments while we enjoy the screening of Freedom Farming. This powerful film invites us to consider legacy, resilience, and collective action embedded in Black land stewardship. Together, we’ll gather not just to watch, but to listen, reflect, and carry stories into the work ahead.
Open Land - Lunch, Vendors Market, Explore : 12pm
After a morning rooted in story and stewardship, we’ll moved into Open Ground; A flexible midday gathering at the museum designed for connection, exploration and, rest. *Lunch begins at 12:30pm*
Visit vendors, exhibits, and explore the museum through a self-guided tour.
Open Land - Creative Corners : 1:00pm-2:30pm
Once you have been nourished, come connect and enjoy hands-on experiences through indigo painting, seed swapping, health and wellness vendors and our equipment demo.
The Table We Built : 6pm-11pm
At the heart of our gathering is The Table we Built, an evening of recognition, fellowship, and celebration. President Daryl Orage will offer opening remarks, followed by a shared dinner and an awards ceremony honoring farmers, partners and leaders whose work continues to expand opportunity across South Carolina.
