Upcoming Events
Advocacy Communications Training: Telling Your Story in a Changing Landscape
November 4, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Salem, Oregon
FREE to attend, but pre-registration is required. Email: info@cultivatenorthwest.com
As public conversations about food, farming, forestry and pesticide use continue to evolve, advocates need the skills and confidence to communicate effectively with policymakers, media, and the public. This interactive half-day training is designed to help farmers, foresters, industry leaders, and other advocates strengthen their communication and advocacy skills in today’s challenging issues environment.
Participants will gain practical tools for engaging with media, delivering compelling messages about modern agriculture, forestry and pesticide use, responding to difficult questions with confidence, and connecting with audiences through authentic storytelling. The session will explore current public sentiment surrounding pesticides, effective public speaking techniques, audience-specific messaging, and strategies for building trust and credibility in public conversations.
Through real-world examples and hands-on practice, attendees will learn how to move beyond facts and statistics alone, communicate their personal experiences, and advocate effectively for policies that support a productive and sustainable future. The training will also cover emerging communication tools, including social media and AI-powered resources, that can help make advocacy an ongoing part of everyday engagement.
Topics include:
- Media and public communications
- Communicating about pesticides and their use in food and fiber production
- Storytelling and message development
- Public speaking and audience engagement
- Understanding public opinion and policy trends
- Communicating with policymakers, regulators, and community members
- Social media and AI tools for advocacy
This session is ideal for anyone who wants to become a more effective advocate for Oregon’s natural resource sector and share the importance of modern farming and forestry with confidence and credibility.
FREE to attend
Pre-registration is required. Email: info@cultivatenorthwest.com
Willamette Valley Ag Expo
Cultivate Northwest will assist Oregonians for Food & Shelter at the WV Ag Expo in November 2026.
On Tuesday, November 17 and Thursday, November 19 there will be CORE pesticide credits available for FREE during the event.
10:30am – Rory Mc Donnell (Oregon State University) – Snail and Slug Management
11:30am – Vanessa Vassilaros (Oregon Department of Agriculture) – PPE and Worker Protection
~ LUNCH Break ~
1:30pm – Christy Tanner (Oregon State University) – Vole Management
2:30pm – Dalila Rendon (Oregon State University) – Integrated Pest Management
Receive 2 or 4 CORE Credits.
No registration required.
Same credits both days.
PAST EVENTS
Crop and Forestry Tour
Mid April 2026, Cultivate Northwest hosted a 3-day crop and forestry workshop and tour for regulators from federal agencies who are working on pesticide Endangered Species Act consultations. This work was funded through a grant from the Western IPM Center, with additional support from the Oregon Forest Industries Council. The workshops were developed to foster understanding of ESA-pesticide label implementation challenges and promote localized solutions (more details in our Q1 2026 newsletter).
Willamette Valley Ag Expo
Cultivate Northwest will assist Oregonians for Food & Shelter at the WV Ag Expo in November 2025.
There will be CORE pesticide credits available for FREE during the event.
Must be present for the entire 4 hours.
No registration required.
Same credits both days.
Wednesday November 12/Thursday November 13
10:30am – Air Blast Sprayer Calibration and Technologies to Maximize Application Efficiency
Brent Warneke, Oregon State University
11:30am – Integrated Weed Management
Oregon State University Weed Science Research Team
1:30pm – Pesticide Labels and Pollinator Protection
Matthew Bucy, Oregon Department of Agriculture
2:30pm – Staying on Target: Protecting Crops and the Environment
Dani Lightle, Cultivate Northwest
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