Vivian Howard to Keynote Conservation in Action Tour Banquet June 3
CTIC News, Featured
CTIC’s two-day celebration of conservation agriculture features award-winning “A Chef’s Life” creator and host, author, chef, restaurateur, and farm kid from Deep Run, N.C.
The Conservation in Action Tour, America’s premier on-farm experience, is proud to welcome Vivian Howard to deliver the keynote address at the opening banquet on June 3 in Raleigh, N.C. Howard is passionate about food, farming, and North Carolina culture, perfecting many of her recipes from the rural roots that called her home after working in some of the best restaurants in New York.
Vivian is an award-winning cookbook author, TV personality, chef, restaurateur, and a farm kid from Deep Run, N.C. Her first cookbook, Deep Run Roots: Stories & Recipes from My Corner of the South (2016), is a New York Times bestseller and was named Cookbook of the Year by the International Association of Culinary Professionals. She created and stars in public television shows Somewhere South and A Chef’s Life, for which she has won Peabody, Emmy and James Beard awards. Vivian runs the restaurants Chef & the Farmer in Kinston, N.C., and Handy & Hot and Lenoir in Charleston, S.C. In October 2020, Vivian released her second cookbook, This Will Make It Taste Good: A New Path to Simple Cooking.
The Conservation in Action Tour is a two-day celebration of sustainable agriculture and is open to everyone. It begins June 3 with behind-the-scenes industry tours and an opening banquet that features a sustainably sourced menu and keynote speaker. A full-day, multiple-stop farm tour continues on June 4 and concludes with a cocktail reception and CTIC Hall of Fame recognitions. The flagship event unites farmers, agriculture professionals, and conservation leaders to experience production systems that improve soil health, water quality, ecosystems, productivity, and profitability. From immersive on-farm demonstrations to VIP tours, attendees experience the full spectrum of conservation innovation.
Did we mention the food? Vivian will be putting her personal stamp on the banquet menu to ensure attendees can enjoy traditional North Carolina dishes that celebrate the state’s farming families and agricultural heritage. The banquet menu and other details will be announced as final preparations are made.
See the preliminary agenda and more about the 2026 Conservation in Action Tour on our Tour Page.
Get the latest: Vivian’s new PBS show is now streaming! Kitchen Curious with Vivian Howard is a one-of-a-kind food variety show that unpacks the everyday questions we confront when we find ourselves in the kitchen. With her expertise as a chef, a farmer’s daughter’s rural sensibility, and a mom’s no-nonsense approach, Vivian serves up answers to your burning kitchen questions — all with a generous side of humor. Whether you’re a kitchen novice, a seasoned cook, or a microwave magician, you’ll walk away with simple recipes, smarter (nutritionist-approved!) shopping tips, and the kind of knowledge that makes you a more interesting dinner party guest.
Or, see how it all started with the title sequence for her award-winning series A Chef’s Life:
Why North Carolina? The rotating Conservation in Action Tour highlights diverse production systems and regions, and North Carolina’s varied topography, climate, and food production makes it critically important to the nation’s agriculture economy. North Carolina ranks first in the U.S. in sweet potato production, second in Christmas trees, turkeys, and trout, and third in hogs and pigs and cucumbers.
North Carolina was also home to Hugh Hammond Bennett, the foremost expert and advocate for soil conservation of the 20th century. His efforts drove the establishment of what is now the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in 1935, and his home county is part of the Brown Creek Soil and Water Conservation District, the first SWCD in the country that set the stage for more than 3,000 nationwide.
Early registration for the Conservation in Action Tour is open through March 17 at a discounted rate of $349. Space is limited. Register today to reserve your seat at the table!
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June 2026 | Raleigh, North Carolina
Conservation in Action Tour | America’s Premier On-Farm Experience
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