B.I.G. (Blackland Income Growth) Conference

The 56th annual Black Land Income Growth conference is held each year in Waco. The conference will be held this year at the Extraco Event Center. We will be welcoming visitors from a ten-county area. Our Master Gardeners take care of registration and collecting fees. The cost of the conference is $25 including lunch.

The sessions on Wednesday, January 10, are as follows:

• From 8-11:30 the choices will include Beef, Grain, and Rural Land Management.
• The Luncheon speaker will be Dr. Joe Outlaw speaking on the Farm Bill update.
• The afternoon choices from 1:00 -4:00 will include Cotton, Forage, Wildlife, and horse.

The next day Thursday, January 11 will offer:

• Horticulture ($25) from 8:00-11:30, Intro to Private Applicator Training ($75), and BIG Recertification Program ($70).
  The Horticulture topics will include: wine making, planting for insects, growing healthy, growing backyard fruit.

The Master Gardeners use about 40 to 45 volunteers to cover all of the sessions.
The main display area will be used for the 48th Mid-Tex Farm, Ranch and Garden Show which is free admission.