2009 Conference Overview
Click here for 2010 Conference Information.

"Down on the Farm" field trip participants visit the Lavender Wind Farm.

From the 2009 Conference: Experience America’s rural roots in our nation’s first historical reserve. The Reserve is a twenty-four square mile mosaic of working farms, iconic barns, trails, and hedgerows framing soils and historic structures of national significance. At its heart is the Town of Coupeville, tucked along the shores of Penn Cove. Ebey’s Reserve is an intricate patchwork of old and new — a community striving to protect its cultural heritage and quality of life while accommodating change. Ebey’s Reserve is managed by a local trust board representing a partnership between the Town of Coupeville, Island County, WA State Parks, and the National Park Service. Whether you are a local resident, visitor, or striving to make a difference in your own community, we hope this event provides tangible tools, inspiration and fun! The 2nd Ebey’s Forever Conference & Community Event features a new slate of behind-the-scenes field trips, hands-on workshops, music and a taste of Ebey’s — hosted by leading voices in agriculture, historic preservation and sustainability.

Friday, November 7: Experience Your Ebey’s – Field Trips
Our guided field trips will provide conference attendees the opportunity to experience the Reserve up close and personal. Morning and afternoon field
trips are offered. Get a rare inside tour of the Reserve.

Friday Night: Celebrate Rural Character(s) Reception
Celebrate the pioneer spirit in all of us!
A community potluck for all Reserve residents and friends at the historic
Crockett Barn. Some of the original visionaries who helped create the Reserve
are still with us, and many others have participated along the way. A night honoring these efforts with live skits, Ebey’s Reserve History Day documentary, live music by the “Prairie Ramblers,” a juried photo exhibition, and more.
Bring your favorite local dish.

Saturday, November 8: Ebey’s Forever Conference
Participants convene at Coupeville High School Performing Arts Center for a morning of keynote speakers, a lunch discussion in the Commons, and panels
and breakout sessions in the afternoon. Hosted by our partners, the panels
and sessions feature leading and compelling voices in historic preservation, sustainable agriculture, education, interpretation, and other disciplines.
An exhibit area will be open throughout the day.

Saturday Night: Barn Dance
Saturday evening will conclude the celebration with Coupeville’s own
“Johnny and the Bulldogs” raising the roof at the historic Smith Barn
for a traditional barn dance. Families welcome!

2009 Keynote Presentations

Program Schedule

Click here to download a PDF of the 2009 program schedule.

Click here to download the PDF reader

The 2009 Ebey's Forever Conference
was sponsored by:

Creative Collaborators
17 Working Farms of Ebey’s Reserve
Audubon Society Au Sable Institute Business Alliance for Local Living Economies Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce Coupeville Farmers Market Coupeville Historic Waterfront Association Coupeville Lions Club Coupeville School District Edward Jones Island County Historical Society Oystercatcher Restaurant Pacific Northwest Art School Port of Coupeville Swinomish Indian Nation Seattle Pacific University Skagit Valley Community College Transition Whidbey The Nature Conservancy The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation University of Oregon, School of Architecture WSU Extension Island County Whidbey Island Conservation District Whidbey SeaTac Shuttle Whidbey Sustainable Agriculture Committee
Washington State Arts Council

Need more information or have questions?

Please contact Emi Gunn at:
emi_gunn@partner.nps.gov

or 360.678.6084.

Interested in joining our mailing list?

Please call or email us with your contact information.
360.678.6084 or karen_hossfeld@partner.nps.gov