Features keynote speaker Forrest Pritchard, New York Times bestselling author
OKLAHOMA CITY – Scissortail Park will host its inaugural Farmers Market Symposium on Feb. 12, 2025, at the Omni Oklahoma City Hotel from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event, themed “Bridging the Rural and Urban Agriculture Gap,” will feature keynote speaker Forrest Pritchard, a New York Times bestselling author and seventh-generation farmer. The symposium aims to connect farmers, ranchers, and agricultural professionals with resources to strengthen Oklahoma’s local food systems.
“Thanks to grant funding from the USDA, we have coordinated this incredible day of learning for Oklahoma farmers, ranchers, producers, and those interested in local food systems,” said Eric Himan, vice president of programming for Scissortail Park and Myriad Botanical Gardens. “We are thrilled to have Mr. Pritchard as our keynote speaker and look forward to hearing his insights on sustainable farming and the future of local agriculture.”
Pritchard, who operates Smith Meadows Farm, is a seventh-generation farmer and New York Times bestselling author. He holds a B.A. in English and a B.S. in Geology from the College of William & Mary. Raised in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, he grew up on his grandparents’ diversified farm and spent summers in the Appalachian highlands and the Ohio River Valley.
Chronicling his agricultural journey, Pritchard’s 2013 book “Gaining Ground: A Story of Farmers’ Markets, Local Food and Saving the Family Farm” was recognized as a top read by Publishers Weekly, The Washington Post, and NPR’s The Splendid Table and reached the New York Times Bestseller list. More information about his work is available at forrestpritchard.com.
Registration & Event Details
Registration for the one-day symposium is $60 per person and includes breakfast, lunch, workshops, vendor hall access, and a complimentary copy of “Gaining Ground” by Forrest Pritchard. Registration is now open at scissortailpark.org/farmersmarket.
Symposium Workshop Topics:
- Building Your Brand in Agriculture
- Social Media Strategies
- Ranching Smarter, Not Harder: Harnessing the Power of Technology in Regenerative Ranching
- Different Technologies in Soil Conservation
The Farmers Market at Scissortail Park will return to downtown Oklahoma City on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
“Scissortail Park is proud to be entering our sixth season as a premiere producer-only Farmers Market in downtown Oklahoma City, providing support and opportunities for our community of growers and producers in Oklahoma,” said Natasha Robinson, Farmers Market manager at Scissortail Park. “This season also marks the first time the Park will host two separate weekly markets. Beginning in April, we will welcome guests to the Upper Park on Saturdays through October, and in May, our Mid-Week Market will launch in the Lower Park on Wednesdays through September.”
About Scissortail Park
Scissortail Park is in the heart of a revitalized downtown Oklahoma City. The public green space provides a healthy and vibrant quality of life for our city while serving as an investment in the future for everyone. Every detail of the Park is designed for connection – with nature, neighbors, and ourselves. It is a place for play, culture, celebration, and inspiration.
The 36-acre Upper Park opened in September 2019 followed by the opening of the 32-acre Lower Park in September 2022.
The downtown oasis features a variety of engaging experiences ranging from ornamental gardens and woodlands to a lake and boathouse. Scissortail Park offers visitors walking and biking paths, a children’s playground, a Nature Play Area, a performance stage and great lawn, a seasonal outdoor roller rink, an enclosed dog park, interactive fountains, and sports courts including a turf soccer pitch, grass practice field, four pickleball courts, a futsal court, and two basketball courts. A grand promenade connects both sections of the Park via the Skydance Bridge providing guests with a walking and bike path extending all the way from downtown to the Oklahoma River trails.
Designed by one of the foremost landscape architecture planning firms in the world, Hargreaves Jones Associates, the Park is also a horticultural tapestry of native prairie grasses, lush flower gardens, and tree-lined walkways.
Scissortail Park is managed on behalf of the City of Oklahoma City by Scissortail Park Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Together we have created something spectacular. For everyone.