2026 Southeastern Grain Gathering
Making Diversified Grain Systems Work
🗓️ September 13-14, 2026
📍Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill | Harrodsburg, KY
FOUR WAYS TO EXPERIENCE SEGG
The entire grain value chain. Four unforgettable ways.
TALK
EAT
TALK: The best ideas don’t happen in isolation. Hear from farmers, researchers, millers, maltsters, bakers, brewers, distillers, chefs, and entrepreneurs who are building regional value chains that work. Explore the conversations around production, markets, sustainability, pricing, infrastructure, flavor, and the future of regional agriculture. From keynote talks to group discussions, every session is designed to encourage honest conversation and meaningful collaboration.
EAT: Taste the difference regional grains make. Enjoy meals that celebrate the incredible diversity of southern grains, from artisan breads and fresh pasta to biscuits and pastries made with locally grown wheat and rye. Food is a core part of the gathering. Every meal tells the story of the farmers, millers, and craftspeople who bring it to the table.
DRINK: Experience grain in the glass. Sample carefully curated bourbon, beer, and barley tea while learning how grain variety, terroir, and production practices influence flavor. Meet the distillers and brewers working directly with regional farmers to create products that couldn’t be made anywhere else. These tastings connect the field to the finished product in ways that only SEGG can.
MAKE: Roll up your sleeves. Participate in live demonstrations and hands-on labs that bring grain to life. Learn from artisan bakers during an interactive bread lab. Watch practical demonstrations like the NRCS rainfall simulator. Explore techniques, tools, and traditions that connect science, craftsmanship, and agriculture. The best way to understand regional grain systems is to experience them.
WHY THIS GATHERING MATTERS
Regional grain economies don't build themselves. They require farmers willing to diversify, researchers willing to ask new questions, processors willing to invest, buyers willing to source locally, and consumers who value quality and place. The Southeastern Grain Gathering brings those communities together.
This year's theme, Making Diversified Grain Systems Work, explores how research, farming, processing, markets, and investment can work together to reward stewardship, strengthen rural communities, and create lasting economic opportunity. Throughout the gathering, you'll explore these ideas through the lens of people, planet, and profit.
FEATURED EXPERIENCES
Highlights of the 2026 Gathering include:
Opening Farm-to-Table Dinner at Meadow View Barn
Keynote presentation by Don Guerra, founder of Barrio Bread
Interactive baking and pasta making labs
Full series of sessions highlighting the Initiative to Bring Rye Back to Kentucky
Bourbon, beer, and barley tea tastings
Live demonstrations and hands-on learning
Conversations with farmers, bakers, brewers, distillers, researchers, and entrepreneurs
Networking throughout historic Shaker Village
PAST GATHERINGS
This work has evolved intentionally. Each gathering has built on the last, deepening relationships, clarifying shared priorities, and expanding public recognition. The 2026 convening continues that trajectory while advancing the structural work required for long-term durability.
2019 | Establishing the Foundation
Held at the University of Kentucky’s South Farm, the inaugural gathering convened farmers, millers, bakers, researchers, and regional partners to begin reconnecting field and finished product. It established the relationships and shared language that continue to anchor this work.
2024 | From Field to Flavor
The 2024 gathering expanded the conversation to sustainability and regionally advantaged grains, drawing broader public attention across agricultural and university media. It clarified the structural questions now shaping implementation — markets, pricing, infrastructure, and long-term viability.
DRINK
