Sustainable Christian Agriculture Conference
October 1-4, 2026
A gathering of Christian farmers, nonprofit leaders, church-based initiatives, scholars, and practitioners working at the intersection of faith, ecology, and regenerative agriculture. USA session at Hungry World Farm. (European session details here.)
Part 1: Agriculture and Worldviews Intersectional Workshop: Monday 21st September 2026 – Tuesday 22nd September 2026: University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (view Details here.)
Part 2: Sustainable Christian Agriculture Conference: Thursday 1st October 2026 – Sunday 4th October 2026: Hungry World Farm, Tiskilwa, Illinois, USA
Across the United States, rural communities face interconnected economic, ecological, and cultural challenges. Industrial agriculture has strained ecosystems and local livelihoods, while public conversations often overlook the diversity, creativity, and theological depth present within rural Christian communities.
More than 200 Sustainable Christian Agricultural Initiatives (SCAIs) are responding to these challenges through regenerative farming, hospitality ministries, food justice work, education, and community outreach. Yet many operate in isolation, with limited visibility and few opportunities to learn from one another.
This conference seeks to strengthen collaboration among SCAIs, build connections with scholars and policymakers, and explore how Christian communities are renewing relationships with land, food, and one another. Informed by insights from the Basel workshop, the gathering also facilitates international dialogue by linking U.S.-based practitioners with European scholars and students, fostering mutual learning across contexts.
SCAI (USA): Oct 1-4, 2026 What to expect!
A PEACEFUL RETREAT
(1) Conversations on faith, agriculture, ecology, and rural renewal. (2) Hands-on farm workshops and field-based learning. (3) Shared meals, worship, and community-building. (4) Networking with other Sustainable Christian organizations. (5) Restoration on the living classroom of Hungry World Farm.
PRIVATE & SHARED LODGING on the farm in Apartments & Yurt-style Glamping Tents is available. Limited Availability! If you are even considering attending, please RSVP here to help us plan and to receive discount on registration fee.
🌿 Ray Archelta
Ray Archuleta is one of the most dynamic and sought-after voices in regenerative agriculture today. A former USDA soil scientist and co-founder of Understanding Ag and the Soil Health Academy, Ray brings decades of hands-on experience helping farmers restore soil function and profitability. His engaging, no-nonsense teaching style has inspired thousands to rethink how land stewardship really works. Don’t miss the chance to learn directly from a pioneer in the soil health movement. Learn more: https://understandingag.com
🌿 David P. Warners & Gail Heffner (Experts on Reconciliation Ecology, Calvin University, MI)
David P. Warners and Gail Heffner of Calvin University are at the forefront of reconciliation ecology—restoring biodiversity in the places we live, work, and farm. Their work blends rigorous science with practical application, showing how everyday landscapes can become thriving ecosystems. Together, they offer actionable strategies for integrating ecological restoration into real-world contexts. Join them to discover how restoration can happen right where you are. Learn more: https://calvin.edu
🌿 Laurel Kearns (Professor, Drew Theological School)
Dr. Laurel Kearns is a leading scholar in ecotheology and a compelling voice on the role of faith in addressing today’s environmental challenges. As a professor at Drew Theological School, she explores how religious communities can become powerful agents of ecological change. Her work connects deep theological insight with real-world environmental action. Come be challenged and inspired to think differently about faith and the future of our planet. Learn more: https://drew.edu
🌿 Raymond Epp (Japan’s leading figure in Christian Regenerative Agriculture)
Raymond Epp is a leading force in bringing regenerative agriculture to Japan, where he is cultivating both land and a growing movement. Farming in Hokkaido, he integrates agroecology, Christian faith, and community-based food systems in a uniquely global context. His cross-cultural perspective and lived experience offer rare insight into how regenerative principles translate across continents. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from a true international pioneer. Learn more: https://apjjf.org (profile/interview)
🌿 Rev. Sarah Macias & Brent Barry (Founder, Sister Grove Farm, TX)
Rev. Sarah Wells Macias, founder of Sister Grove Farm in Texas, brings a rare and compelling integration of regenerative agriculture and theological insight. Blending pastoral leadership with hands-on land stewardship, she invites audiences to see farming as both ecological restoration and spiritual practice. Her work resonates deeply with those seeking purpose-driven agriculture and faith-rooted environmental action. Come hear a powerful voice at the intersection of land, faith, and calling. Learn more: https://www.sistergrovefarm.com
Conference Experience
Spend four days immersed in a dynamic blend of keynote talks, panels, hands-on workshops, and meaningful conversations—all set within the living landscape of Hungry World Farm.
Hear from leading voices like Raymond Epp and Sarah Macias, engage real-world challenges in farming and faith, and step into the field for practical learning. From guided foraging walks to honest discussions on theology, economics, and community, every moment is designed to connect ideas with lived experience. Come ready to learn, reflect, and be part of a growing movement.
🌿 Reconciliation Ecology Keynote
Hear from leading voices in Reconciliation Ecology as David P. Warners and Gail Heffner explore how healing the land is inseparable from healing communities. This keynote moves beyond theory into lived practice—revealing how farms, waterways, and neighborhoods can become places of restoration. If you care about the future of land and people, this session sets the foundation. Come rethink what it means to truly belong to a place.
🌿 Farming as Faithful Practice Panel
What does it actually look like to live out faith through farming—day in and day out? Practitioners from Hungry World Farm, Bethlehem Farm, and Catholic Worker farms share honest stories of calling, constraint, and perseverance. This is not idealism—it’s real life at the intersection of soil, sacrifice, and spiritual conviction. Expect candor, wisdom, and hard-earned insight you won’t hear anywhere else.
🌿 Hands-On Farm Workshops
Step out of the conference room and into the field. Choose from immersive workshops on soil health, livestock systems, and regenerative farm economics—designed for real-world application, not theory. Whether you’re a grower, educator, or supporter, you’ll leave with practical tools you can use immediately. This is where ideas become practice.
🌿 Guided Foraging & Ecology Walk
Slow down and experience the land in a new way. This guided walk through the woods of Hungry World Farm invites you into deeper ecological awareness—learning to see, harvest, and relate to the landscape with care and restraint. It’s part education, part reflection, and part rediscovery. Come reconnect with the rhythms and wisdom of place.
🌿 Plenary: Faith, Farming & the Long View
Join international regenerative pioneer Raymond Epp for a powerful reflection on what it means to farm with a long-term, faith-rooted vision. Drawing from his work in Japan, Epp brings a rare global perspective on resilience, patience, and stewardship. This session challenges short-term thinking and invites you into a deeper, more enduring way of seeing land and life. Expect to leave both grounded and inspired.
🌿 Farming as Ministry Keynote
Sarah Macias of Sister Grove Farm offers a compelling vision of agriculture as vocation and ministry. Blending theology, ecology, and lived experience, she explores how caring for land and watersheds becomes a form of spiritual leadership. This is a must-attend for anyone sensing a deeper calling in their work. Come explore what it means to serve both people and place.
🌿 Theology, Economy & Power Panel
Dive into the hard questions shaping the future of agriculture: Who has access to land? Who holds power? And what does justice look like in rural economies? This panel brings together scholars and practitioners for a candid, thought-provoking conversation at the intersection of faith, economics, and social systems. If you’re ready to engage complexity—not avoid it—this session is essential.
🌿 Young Women in Agriculture Roundtable
Step into a powerful, honest conversation about what it means to lead, farm, and build a future as a woman in agriculture. This facilitated roundtable creates space to explore vocation, barriers, leadership, and the realities of navigating land, community, and calling. This is a place for connection, courage, and clarity. If you’re seeking support, insight, or simply others who understand the journey—this is where you’ll find them.
Lodging, Directions, & Transportation
PRIVATE & SHARED LODGING on the farm in Apartments & Yurt-style Glamping Tents is available. Limited Availability! If you are even considering attending, please RSVP here to help us plan and to receive discount on registration fee.
TRANSPORTATION
Hungry World Farm is located at (19183 Plow Creek Rd, Tiskilwa, IL 61368) approx 2 hours west of Chicago just south of the I80. Airport Options include (in order of distance): Peoria, Quad Cities, Midway, and O'Hare. The Amtrak runs from Chicago to Princeton, IL and private transportation from there is available from Anna Knoll (815) 503-4241, or Todd Joiner (480) 250-5690.
🌿 Shared Apartments (Affordable)
Coming with friends or interested in making new ones? Stay in a private room in our retreat center or apartments. (Shared restroom, kitchen, living room of course.) Please RSVP here to indicate interest in this housing option.
🌿 Other Local Options
Other local options in Tiskilwa and Princeton, IL are available within a few minutes of Hungry World Farm. View them here on Airbnb.
175 ACRES OF REGENERATION
