Taproots Farm Hub

Taproots Farm Hub presents a one-day summit on Collaborative Agriculture Systems: a gathering focused on the future of farming in the rapidly growing Treasure Valley.

This summit will bring together farmers, landowners, city & county planners, attorneys, lenders, community leaders, and advocates to hear from local leaders and national innovators who are enacting alternatives to business as usual in the realms of long-term farmland preservation and access, agritourism, collaboration on direct-market organic agriculture, beginning farmer training, and so much more! 

When: Monday, September 28, 2026, 8:30am-4pm

Happy Hour 4-5pm

Where: Idaho State Historical Museum

Food by KIN.

$40 per person. Register now! 

As always, if cost is a barrier to you and you are invested and work in the local food system, we want you to attend, please email us at info[at]taprootsfarmhub[dot]org.

Keynote Address

Breakout Session 1 -- 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Breakout Session 2 -- 2:15pm - 3:15pm

3:15pm - BREAK & book signing with Sarah Mock

3:30pm - Closing activities & wrap-up

4:00pm - 5:00pm Happy Hour with no-host bar and appetizers by KIN

Speaker bios:

Casey O'Leary is an urban farmer passionate about the role agriculture can play in a resilient and nourishing community. She ran a direct-market farm in the Treasure Valley for almost 20 years, and taught horticulture at the College of Western Idaho to educate the next generation of urban land stewards. These roles have given Casey on-the-ground insight into the barriers facing beginning farmers. Casey has also learned the power of collaboration in agriculture through her work as a co-founder of the Snake River Seed Cooperative, which works with over 30 Intermountain West farmers to grow and market over 400 varieties of regionally-adapting seeds. 

Gwénaëlle d'Aumale is a doctoral candidate in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at Boise State University, studying the human dimensions of farmland loss and protection across Idaho's Snake River Plain, including the Treasure Valley. Through fieldwork and interviews with farming families, their research explores land use policy, farmers' adaptation to a changing landscape, and community-level solutions for farmland protection. A self-described food systems nerd, Gwénaëlle is committed to building resilient, equitable food systems for all Idahoans.

Shannon Porter serves as Idaho External Relations Manager for American Farmland Trust (AFT), where she leads donor engagement, strategic partnerships, communications, and stakeholder outreach to advance farmland protection, agricultural viability, and the future of farming in Idaho. She works closely with farmers, ranchers, community leaders, and conservation partners to strengthen the long-term resilience of Idaho's agricultural communities. At AFT, Shannon is passionate about connecting people, resources, and ideas to support thriving farms and ranches, successful farm transitions, and a resilient agricultural future for Idaho. 

Brad McIntyre is a 4th generation regenerative farmer from Caldwell, ID. He grew up on the family farm and has a passion for increasing soil life and improving the resource. He is married to Jill and they have 6 children. He works alongside his father and brothers and many other family members. They have been practicing no-till for the past 15 years and introduced cover crops and multi specie animals to aid soil health and increase nutrient density in their crops 13 years ago. Between raising all the protein sold at McIntyre Pastures they raise, clean, and sell seed for the cover crop industry along with other seeds for local growers. They also produce and mix all the grains and forage needed to feed all the animals on their farm. For the past 7 years, they've also been working hard establishing their new business McIntyre Family Farms selling pastured beef, pork, chicken, turkey, duck, and eggs. This has fulfilled their goals of providing nutrient dense food to their local community and beyond.

Dan Meyer started farming in 2010. As a first-generation landless farmer himself, Dan intimately knows the challenges facing beginning farmers as they try to secure stable land access. He now runs the Dry Creek Neighborhood Farm, where he also hires and mentors other beginning farmers. Dan is a current board member of Taproots Farm Hub.

Jennifer Riebe has spent her career in agriculture and has been self-employed as an independent crop advisor since 2011, focusing primarily on potatoes and tree fruits. With a concern for protecting agricultural land use, she served on Payette County's Planning and Zoning Commission from 2006 until 2022. During that time she spearheaded ordinance changes and contributed to two Comprehensive Plans. In 2022, she was appointed and subsequently elected Payette County Commissioner where she currently serves. Jennifer is also a board member of the Payette Soil and Water Conservation District, Southwest District Health, and the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. 

Sarah Mock is a food and agriculture writer and researcher, and has spent more than a decade working at the intersection of farm economics, sustainability, and social impact. She’s worked in and around agriculture across the country and around the globe, with nonprofits and foundations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Silicon Valley companies, the national news media, and directly with farms. 

Karla Nelson, AICP, serves as Principal Planner for Canyon County, Idaho, where she oversees land use applications and contributes to policy updates aligned with the county’s comprehensive plan. Throughout her 15-year planning career—which includes work in public health, municipal and county planning, and community development—Karla has consistently focused on bridging regulatory frameworks with local community needs. At this year's summit, she brings her experience in local government policy to facilitate a discussion on navigating agritourism opportunities.

Michaella Owens, AICP, is a Community and Regional Planner with Ada County Development Services, with eight years of experience in land use planning throughout the Treasure Valley. She currently serves as the staff liaison to the Ada County Agricultural Protection Area Commission, supporting efforts to preserve and protect agricultural lands in the county. Michaella grew up in a farming community in southern Idaho, giving her both professional and personal experience with the opportunities and challenges facing Idaho’s agricultural communities.

Wilder Jones is a micro dairy farmer at Wild Spaces Farm and is also Assistant Manager at King's Crown Organic Farm.

Gabby Treadwell (she/they) is employed directly under the Black Liberation Collective in collaboration with Club Community, to build the Seeds of Change Urban Teaching Garden.

Ben Trieu works at the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides as the Healthy Food and Farms Manager. He is focusing on ways to support sustainable food production: community gardens, local farms, regenerative agriculture, and indigenous foodways. 

Summit Sponsors