2025 Keynote Bios

Jon Jackson

Jon Jackson is a distinguished U.S. Army Airborne Ranger and the current Executive Director of Stag Vets Inc. He is also the founder of Comfort Farms, established in memory of his Ranger comrade, CPT Kyle A. Comfort, who tragically lost his life in action on May 8, 2010.

At Comfort Farms, Jon oversees a regenerative agricultural operation that emphasizes multi-species livestock and heirloom vegetables. His mission is to empower veterans by helping them reconnect with their communities through the medium of agriculture.

Recently, Jon was honored with the Georgia State Conservationist of the Year award, the National Conservationist of the Year award, and has been inducted into the Georgia Conservationist Hall of Fame.

In addition to his professional commitments, Jon travels worldwide to explore various seeds and cuisines from the African Diaspora, immersing himself in the wisdom of native and indigenous cultures, which he passionately shares with his community.

His significant contributions have attracted international attention, leading to appearances on multiple media platforms, including “Bizarre Foods” with celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern, “Man Fire Food” with chef Roger Mooking, an episode of “Wife Swap” featuring the Jackson vs. Greene family, Critter Fixers, and the documentary “Comfort Farms.” He is also slated to appear in an upcoming Netflix docudrama that follows his journey to Africa to connect with his ancestral roots.

Jon has collaborated with the Heirloom Collard Green Association and the Edna Lewis Foundation, and he serves on the South Eastern Board of the Slow Food Ark of Taste. In 2019, he introduced one of the world’s rarest okras, which he named Motherland Okra, sourced from his mother’s homeland in Liberia, West Africa.

Saturday Keynote

Harvesting Resilience: Cultivating People Through Cultivating Our Land

During this discussion Jon Jackson explores the profound connection between sustainable agriculture and community well-being. This enlightening journey highlights how nurturing the land not only fosters ecological health but also strengthens the bonds within communities. By embracing regenerative practices, we can cultivate not just crops, but also resilience, empowerment, and social cohesion.

Niaz Dorry

Credit: Paul Bilodeau, Gloucester Daily Times

As the Coordinating Director of the North American Marine Alliance (NAMA) and the Director of the National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC), Niaz Dorry has played a pivotal role in grassroots movement-building and steering federal legislation towards recognizing and supporting family-scale, community-based, and Indigenous fishing and farming communities. The shared leadership and close partnership between NAMA and NFFC, spearheaded by Niaz, has helped to bridge the gap between sea and land food systems, emphasizing the importance of including both in comprehensive food system discussions.

By advocating for policies that prioritize ecological sustainability and equity, she has helped to bridge the gap between land and sea food systems, emphasizing the importance of including seafood in comprehensive food system discussions. Her efforts to raise awareness about the critical role of small-scale, values-based fisheries in mitigating climate change and advancing gender and racial equity have inspired more sustainable practices within the restaurant industry. Dorry has been recognized as a “Hero for the Planet” by Time magazine. This year, Dorry was recognized as a 2024 James Beard Foundation Leadership Award recipient in the Policy Advocacy category.

Sunday Keynote

Celebrating Our InterDependence

In this keynote address, Niaz Dorry explores the question of what ‘interdependence’ really means, and why it proves critical at this juncture of the world’s history–especially when it comes to food systems. She will share deep learning from her “America the Bountiful” tour around the country, during which she met with the nation’s food producers and experienced firsthand the struggles and joys of frontline communities in the struggle for interdependence and community. Finally, she will lead an inclusive, participatory process for audience members to contribute to an emerging document and tool for social change, “The Declaration of InterDependence,” so come with an open mind ready to move in collective action!