19th annual Kneading Conference set for July in Skowhegan

The 19th annual Kneading Conference will return to Skowhegan this summer, bringing three days of workshops, demonstrations and grain-focused education to the central Maine town before culminating in a large public bread fair.

Hosted by the Maine Grain Alliance, the conference runs Wednesday, July 22 through Friday, July 24, with events spread across multiple venues in and around downtown Skowhegan. The weekend closes with the Maine Artisan Bread Fair on Saturday, July 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Skowhegan State Fairgrounds.

Tristan Noyes, executive director of the Maine Grain Alliance, said the organization is broadening its footprint in town this year. "We are expanding our presence in downtown Skowhegan to include dozens of venues across the town," Noyes said, noting that the conference is once again being staged in collaboration with local businesses.

The event typically draws around 250 attendees drawn from across the grain and baking world, including professional and home bakers, millers, maltsters, farmers, seed researchers, chefs, food entrepreneurs and oven builders. Noyes said he expects this year's turnout to be among the largest yet, citing the abundance of local food available to sample and purchase as a major draw. Saturday's bread fair alone could attract as many as 4,000 visitors, he predicted.

Workshop offerings span a wide range of specialized topics. Hands-on baking sessions include a pierogi workshop and a class on whole-grain cakes. Jim Franks, author of "Existential Bread," will lead a session on rye and maize alongside Kerry Hanney of Night Moves Bread in South Portland. Karen Bornarth, executive director of the Bread Bakers Guild of America, is teaching two classes of her own. For those interested in the business side of baking, the conference also includes tracks on scaling a business and working with copackers.

The keynote speaker this year is David Bauer, a miller, baker and seed collector who founded Farm and Sparrow in North Carolina. Bauer's Appalachian-based project focuses on collecting and milling American landrace grains and legumes.

Tickets for the conference are priced at $450 plus fees for non-members. Registration and additional details can be found at kneadingconference.com.