AMES — Practical Farmers of Iowa is now accepting registrations for its 2013 annual conference, “Soil and Soul,” which will take place Jan. 10-12 at the Iowa State Center Scheman Building on the Iowa State University campus in Ames. All are welcome to attend.

This year’s event celebrates the vital role soil plays in sustaining life. Through sessions and networking, attendees will learn how different farming systems and practices help build the soil and the communities of plants, animals and people who depend on the soil.

“I really like attending Practical Farmers of Iowa’s annual conference because it re-motivates me — and that’s what winter is all about,” said Ellen Walsh-Rosmann, who farms with her husband Daniel and his parents near Harlan, and will attend her fifth conference this year. “Then I can do some farm planning and implement new ideas. And this year with the drought, and last year with floods in western Iowa, we really learned how valuable soil is for retaining water, and how important it is to rebuild the soil.”