Free Film, Speaker Panel on Regenerative Agriculture

This June, the UC Cooperative Extension will host a film program and panel discussion highlighting land stewardship and how it impacts the local food supply, with showings in Modoc, Lassen, and Siskiyou Counties. The “Cows to Carrots Onscreen” program will consist of a professionally-produced film program followed by a local panel of land stewards who will provide their perspective on the material in the film, talk about land stewardship, soil health, and our food supply, and answer questions from the audience. All members of the public who are interested in land management, agriculture, or the local food supply are encouraged to attend.

The program is free of charge and will be presented three times throughout the region with the same films and different local panelists. On June 11 it will be shown at the Niles Theater in Alturas, on June 12 at the Historic Susanville Railway Depot in Susanville, and on June 26 it will be presented at the Avery Theater in Etna. Each program will start at 5:00 and end by approximately 7:30.

“Livestock on the Land” from the Practical Farmers of Iowa was selected for showing by a panel of five local experts, and will be shown in its entirety. “Livestock on the Land” is a story about the ways that farmers are building a regenerative agricultural network by centering their operations around the animals they care for.

Short films and previews for upcoming screenings will also be featured. Previews include “You Just Can’t See Them From the Road” produced by the California Rangeland Trust, and “Roots So Deep”. “Roots So Deep” is a four-part documentary series that explores the world of adaptive cattle farmers and their conventional farming neighbors, and a team of scientists investigating the costs and benefits of grazing practices in harmony with nature versus those in conflict with it. Attendees will receive a voucher upon request that will give them streaming access to all four hour-long episodes of the “Roots So Deep” series.

The program is supported by funding from the Renewable Resources Extension Act through the University of California. “Healthy soil produces good grass and we know it’s important for production, biodiversity, and even to keep water on the land, but it’s also critical for the production of healthy local food” said UC Cooperative Extension Advisor Laurie Wayne. “This program will explore the connection between rangeland management and our region’s ability to feed itself, with science-based information presented in a way that’s interesting and entertaining to experience”.

The films and discussion will also address the social and economic benefits of land stewardship, connecting soil health to the health and resilience of small rural communities.

“This program is a regional community effort,” according to project coordinator Jenny Kapp of Cedarville. “Our amazing film selection committee and panel speakers come from across Modoc, Lassen, and Siskiyou Counties, and our venues are community-based nonprofit theaters”. Kapp explains that this is a rare chance for community members to see a film like these with their neighbors, and to be able to hear from experts about this important topic.

No tickets are required, though registration at https://link.ucanr.edu/CowsToCarrotsReg is requested to assist with venue set up. All members of the public are welcome, with or without registration. For more information, visit cowstocarrots.org or call the Modoc UC Extension office at (530) 233-6400.