The North Fork California Meat Summit, which UC Cooperative Extension, Siskiyou County is co-hosting with the Siskiyou Economic Development Council. The Summit will bring together all sectors of the regional meat supply chain—including ranchers, processors, distributors, and buyers—to share knowledge and build connections.

The North Fork Summit is part of a multi-state effort that began in North Carolina several years ago and is supported by the National Meat Summits Steering Committee. These educational summits encourage networking and collaboration along the meat supply chain, thus supporting new market opportunities, fostering innovation, and enhancing understanding about the realities of bringing meat from farm to fork. This will be the first time a Summit has been hosted in California, and we’re excited to bring the concept to our region in a smaller-scale format and with a particular focus on ranchers and the realities of doing business here.

We aimed to develop an agenda that would appeal to a broad range of ranchers, regardless of their level of experience or the direct sales model they are interested in. Program highlights:

– Ranch and processing facility tours

– Business planning session co-led by Dan Macon, UCCE Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor, and Dr. Kasey DeAtley, Professor of Animal & Range Sciences, CSU Chico College of Ag

– Tradeshow featuring local DTC ranchers and resources for the ranching community

– Networking cocktail hour

– On-ranch dinner featuring Siskiyou producers

– Panel discussion exploring rancher-led co-ops: featuring Cody Hopkins, Grass Roots Farmers’ Cooperative, and Morgan Doran, Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor

Registration is $150 and includes tours, transportation, educational sessions, networking opportunities and meals. Thanks to the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and the California Cattle Council, 20 sponsored registrations are available for qualifying ranchers (see registration page for details)! Dinner-only tickets, which include access to the tradeshow, networking hour, and panel discussion, are also available.