The theme for this year's PASA conference is "Healthy Farms, Healthy Communities." Brian Snyder, executive director of the association, says that theme was chosen because of the "tremendous disconnect" in society today.

"Most consumers don't know where food came from, who produced it, how it was produced, under what conditions," he says.

Snyder adds that while more farms in Pennsylvania are being sold to developers - especially now that property values are so high in the state. But some farmers are making the choice to
, says more farms are being sold to developers. But rather than selling out, some farmers are turning to sustainable agriculture and niche markets to make a profit, Snyder says.

"It is quite important that farmers and the public understand the importance of maintaining local markets and keeping smaller family farms alive and well," he says.

PASA members are guided by a combination of personal philosophy and economics, Snyder says.

"If the farm is not making a profit, eventually the farm will sell out to a corporate farm operation or a housing developer," he points out. "So economics is at the heart of the matter. But there is no question that whose who practice sustainable farming are also committed to a set of values that put people first, communities first, put the health of the environment first."

Kim Seeley is a third generation dairy farmer in Troy, Pennsylvania, near the New York border. Seeley has noticed that fewer community members know where their food comes from.

"For years, I've been trying to get people to attend the PASA conference," he says. "And this year, my friend and I finally succeeded. We got a local minister and accountant to attend --neither with direct ties to agriculture. But they see the enthusiasm between farms and communities and how it all ties together."

After attending a PASA conference eight years ago, Seeley gave away all his pesticides and antibiotics to his neighbors - many of whom thought he was crazy. But now, he says, the tide seems to be turning.

" We went back to different farm model, one with low people stress, low animal stress and tending to soil properly. Right now, we're at a crossroads. But the next 10 years will show a much more sustainable path."

Because he lives in a rural part of the state, Seeley says PASA conferences are particularly meaningful.

"We don't have the urban market and the urban energy of customers looking for these products as much," Seeley says. "We are still looked at skeptically in our own area. That's why PASA has become such a magnet for us. It allows me to get out of my county and brainstorm and share ideas."

About 1,000 people are expected to attend the PASA conference in State College this weekend.