The 2024 Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference will be held in-person at the Holiday Inn Sloan Convention Center, in Bowling Green, KY, on Wednesday and Thursday, January 3 and 4, 2024. You may pre-register by mail (download the form here) or online (https://2024KYFruitVegConf.eventbrite.com).
The event will begin on Tuesday, January 2 with a pre-conference Farmers Market Short Course, Farm Food Safety Plan Writing Workshop, and a Bringing the Farm to School Grower Training followed by Vegetable and Tree and Small Fruit Round Table Discussions.
Conference sessions (full program here!) include Direct Marketing, Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Production, Organic Production, Protected Ag (High Tunnel) Production, Marketing and Business Management, a Cut Flower Short Course and more new educational tracks. We have many growers on the program as well as a number of excellent out-of-state speakers this year and our trade show will feature more than 60 exhibitors.
Note that registration includes the Exhibitor/Grower (Wednesday) and Conference (Thursday) Luncheons planned featuring Kentucky Proud products. A Trading Post bulletin board will be available to sell used equipment, so bring along any descriptions containing your name, phone number, and the equipment price for posting.
PLEASE make your room reservations directly with the hotel at 270-745-0088 using the block code FVC or using the group booking link. Our block of rooms will be held until December 15, 2023. After this date, room prices will be higher. Be sure to let the hotel know that you will be staying for the Kentucky Fruit & Vegetable Conference to obtain our special room rate for a single or double of $107.95. If you find that the block of rooms at our conference rate is full on or before December 15, please call Angela Price (270-393-8668) only to increase the number of rooms that we have blocked. The room cost includes an evening manager’s reception with drinks and two breakfast vouchers. We encourage growers to stay at the Holiday Inn adjacent to the Conference Center to help cover meeting overhead expenses.
The $50 meeting pre-registration fee or $75 registration on site includes a year’s membership in the KVGA, KSHS, or OAK and entrance into all educational sessions as well as lunch on both days. Pre-registration means your tickets and name tag will be ready for you at the registration table when you arrive at the meeting. Name badges will be required to enter meeting rooms. Pre-registration forms or online registrations need to be in our hands by Friday, December 15, 2023. After this date you may continue to register online or on-site at the conference at the $75 rate. Phone registrations will not be accepted.
NOTE: we strongly urge you to pre-register as on-site registration will be $75 and luncheon tickets may not be available.
If you would like to serve on the Kentucky Vegetable Growers Association (KVGA) or Kentucky State Horticultural Society (KSHS) boards of directors or would like to nominate another member, please designate this at registration.
If you are unable to attend and you would like to remain a member of the KVGA, KSHS, or OAK, please complete online registration or return the registration form with a check to KHC, PO Box 21736, Lexington, KY 40522-1736 to continue your association membership.
The entire planning team is committed to hosting a safe and enjoyable Conference, so please check the Conference website (https://kyhortcouncil.org/2024-ky-fruit-vegetable-conference/) for additional information about meeting precautions and any meeting updates.