Shannon Hayes

Lectures/​ Workshops
Shannon Hayes’ lecture fee works as follows:

Single lecture: $1500, plus expenses
Two events: $2000, plus expenses
Single Cooking Workshop: $2000, plus expenses
Full day of presentations (up to three workshops/​programs over one or two days): $2500, plus expenses

Topics include inspirational/​motivational speeches, discussions and workshops about ecological living, self-reliance, sustainable farming and sustainable cooking. Content varies based on current news and developments, and the overall goals for your event. Current programs are outlined in more detail, below.

Expenses include travel, meals, lodging and any associated fees. For ecological purposes, I prefer to travel by rail. If you contact me with the date and location of your event, I will come up with an estimated flat fee for my travel expenses. I reserve the right to negotiate concessions to these terms at my discretion. To schedule an event, please write to feedback@​shannonhayes.info.

CAN’T AFFORD THE FEE BUT WANT TO SCHEDULE AN EVENT?
Please write to me at feedback@​shannonhayes.info and use the subject heading “when you’re in town.” Let me know what kind of event you’d like to organize, and I’ll get back to you when another event brings me to your area. Depending on my associated expenses or time constraints, we can work together to come up with an arrangement that will suit us both.

CURRENT PROGRAM TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONS
Real Cows in a Parallel Universe: This is an inspirational/​motivational talk that draws on sustainable farming sensibilities and lighthearted story telling as a way to explore how we can move from an extractive economy to a life serving economy. The subject matter is quite wide, exploring everything from fear and aging to food, growing practices, health crises and healthcare. The content is heavy, but the tone is gentle, tender, and often light-hearted. 45-50 min. Audience size not limited. (Lecture fee applies)

Radical Homemakers Reading and Workshop: This program includes a reading from Radical Homemakers, accompanied by an animated, vivid powerpoint that features photos taken during my travels across country researching the book. The reading/​slideshow takes about 45-50 minutes and presents the basic premises of the book. The room is then opened up for workshop-style discussion. Typical run time is 1 hr 30 min, but can run up to 2 hrs with intense dialogue. Care is taken to keep the discussion inclusive, non-judgmental. Again, while the content is very serious, no one in the room is permitted to take themselves too seriously (Shannon included). (Lecture fee applies)

A Better World in a Bag of Bones: Examines the role that small-scale, grass-based livestock farming can have in restoring ecological and social health in the United States. This visually-rich lecture once more uses Hayes’ characteristic light-hearted agrarian story telling style to weave the connections between a prudently-managed local food system and a healthier, happier population. Lecture runs 45-50 minutes. (Lecture fee applies)

Tender, Delicious Grassfed Beef, from Farm to Plate: This lecture is intended for farmers and non-farmers alike, aimed at helping folks understand all the elements along the path of grassfed beef production that will impact flavor and quality. Using countless color photographs, we look at farms, fields, processing facilities, and culinary techniques. Indoor and outdoor cooking techniques are discussed and demonstrated using photographs. The actual lecture component usually runs 45-50 minutes, and then the room is opened up for Q&A, which often leads the program to run 1 hr 30 min. Audience size not limited. (Lecture fee applies)

Grassfed Grilling Outdoor Workshop: Outdoor workshop which demonstrates proper cooking techniques for cooking and serving several different cuts of grassfed beef and lamb and pastured pork. A lot of sampling is involved. I typically limit this program to 25 people; however, if bleacher-style seating and a hands-free sound system is provided, it can accomodate 100. 2 hr 30 min This program will have an additional materials fee as part of expenses to cover the cost of ingredients. (Workshop fee applies)

Grassfed Cooking Indoor Workshop: Indoor program requiring only a simple kitchen (oven and stovetop) to demonstrate cooking techniques for different cuts of grassfed beef. This also involves tasting and lots of Q&A. Program runs 2 hr. Space size is limited to what the kitchen facility can accomodate. This program will have an additional materials fee as part of expenses to cover the cost of ingredients. (Workshop fee applies)

Selected previous venues:

ACRES USA
American Dietetic Association National Conference, Philadelphia, PA
Citizens Alliance for Responsible Ecofarming, Lancaster, PA
Cornell University
Eno-Terra Restaurant, Kingston, NJ
GRAZE-Fest Alabama, U.S. Grassfed Society
JUST FOOD
Mansfield University
New York City Watershed Agricultural Council Farm to Market Conference
New York State Grasstravaganza Annual Conference
Northeast Organic Farmers Association-NY Annual Conference
Northeast Organic Farmers Association-VT Annual Conference
Organic Valley Kickapoo Country Fair
Rocky Mountain Sustainable Living Association
State University of New York at Albany
State University of New York at Cobleskill
State University of New York at Oneonta
Vermont Grassfarmers Annual Conference
Virginia Independent Farmers and Consumers Farm-Food Voices annual meeting
Whole Earth Center, Princeton New Jersey
Williams College
Wisconsin Graziers Annual Conference
Weston A Price Foundation