In just a few weeks I'm hopping a plane to Dallas for the 12th annual Wise Traditions conference, and the theme this year is “Myth Busters”. It's only my third year attending, but I've been a Weston A. Price groupie for almost eight years now. After I went the first year I was hooked.
You wouldn't believe how fun it is, this is a typical day at the conference:
- Wake up to…what's that noise? Oh yeah, it's silence in my nice peaceful hotel room.
- Go grab a coffee with other fellow foodie freaks who think talking about things like sprouting grains, soaking grains or avoiding grains is riveting.
- Say hi to Sally Fallon as I walk by her table or see her in the hall.
- Go chit chat with my sponsors, who are also my friends, and try some of their yummy food samples. I love hearing about what new projects they might be working on.
- Meet up with other blogging friends in our gathering spot to post some Twitter and Facebook updates.
- On the way to the first session of the day, say hi to Dr. Kaayla Daniel or Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride or Mark McAfee or… You get the idea – there are all sorts of ‘cool people' sightings throughout the weekend!
- Attend various sessions and take notes for posts, Twitter or Facebook updates, to keep all of you in the loop who weren't able to come.
- Head over to lunch and find friends to sit with or meet some new weirdos like me. Drool over the delicious food, and thank God that I don't have to worry about what it might be fried in and whether or not I'll end up in the bathroom all afternoon.
- Attend more sessions, and learn an amazing amount of new information, take notes like crazy so I don't forget a bit of what I want to share with my readers.
- Dinner! Take it all in while my amazement is renewed at how delicious REAL FOOD is.
- Hang out with bloggers and readers and sponsors, and all the fun friends who I only get to see once a year, but thanks to the internet, it doesn't feel like that at all! Have some wine in the hotel bar, kick back, possibly talk about something non-food related, but most likely end up talking about fermented foods, the benefits of pastured meats, or some other highly exciting topic…to us anyway. 🙂
Even MORE exciting:
This year, the company that first sponsored my blog long ago is also now my exclusive Dallas trip sponsor for the conference:
One of my favorite products they sell is rendered beef tallow from pastured cows. I priced it and if you buy the big pail then it's even cheaper than rendering it yourself! I use it for guilt-free frying and making things like homemade French fries, chicken tenders or fish, onion rings, etc. After all the years of being told 
that these good fats will kill me, I feel like I've won the lottery every time I eat that stuff and know that it's actually good for me.
Below is a video with John Wood, founder of U.S. Wellness Meats. If you're not convinced of the benefits of grass-fed meat and animal fats, you will be after watching it. First though, Check out the online store – click “Sale Items” on the left and you'll see their weekly specials. The gourmet steak package caught my eye because it's $25 off and it's a good deal for that many grass-fedsteaks. Also on their sale page: white chocolate! Who knew?
photo credit, Creative Commons. 2.0
Karen says
Hi Kelly, I’m new to real foods and will be ordering from US Wellness Meats for the first time. Are you an affiliate with them? They’re not linked on your resource page. Can you send me a link so you can get credit for the referral?
KitchenKop says
Well aren’t you a big sweetheart for asking that. They’re not on my resources page now, but I’m hoping they will be again soon. They sponsored my whole trip to Dallas over the weekend, and the links in this post are part of that. Thank you so much for asking!
Kelly
Soli @ I Believe In Butter says
I’m another one who wishes she were going, but the money simply is not there. Just gotta live vicariously through all of you. 😉
Emmy (Wine and Butter) says
I WISH I could go!! Saving up for the UK one!
What I wish even more was that I coudl reach more young women my age with the WAPF message. I live in London and my peers are the worst for eating real food – which seems so contradictory when they are some of the smartest people I know. Im hoping my blog can make a difference with that but Im worried that at the moment it just looks weird to them! 🙂
HAVE FUN! xox
KitchenKop says
Keep being weird, and then when their icky diets make them sick, you can be that good friend to show them the way to better health. 🙂
Jami says
I wish I could go! With my husband in seminary, it’s impossible for us to afford it. Next year for sure! I will be listening in on the recordings though. 🙂
Have fun, Kelly!
Jami says
Wow! I am so excited. I just got called about a volunteer position this afternoon, so it looks like I will be going after all. I can’t wait to meet everyone.
KitchenKop says
FUN!!!
Stanley Fishman says
I encourage everybody who can go, to do it. It is so wonderful to be around so many healthy people. So many friendly, loving people. If you have never seen a baby raised on WAPF principles, you are in for a treat. And some of the best information on earth. And a chance to meet Kelly in person!
KitchenKop says
You’re so sweet, Stan, are you going I hope???????
Margaret Auld-Louie says
Wish I could go to the conference but can’t afford it :(. I do listen to the conference recordings each year. That’s so cool that US Wellness Meats is sponsoring you. I buy their beef tallow, too, and cook with it every day.
KitchenKop says
I know, I’m so thankful for them!
Bethany W says
I’ll join the chorus of jealous folks who can’t make it this year (bed rest for pre-term labor and a plane ride somehow don’t correlate). So will you give us the play-by-play like they do at tech conferences? 😉
KitchenKop says
Oh yeah, just watch my Twitter/FB and I’ll be posting on it, too. 🙂
Beth says
I’ll be the one staring in through the windows at the sessions and being carted away for loitering! Can’t swing the attendance but am so happy and thrilled that it’s going on and for those of you who can go and keep real food going. Oh, and can’t wait to hear about any info you get regarding the dreaded topic of grains!!
Really? Their tallow comes out cheaper than doing it yourself? I’ve been trying to get fat from our source but their cattle is so lean that there really isn’t much for me to buy (same problem regarding pork fat). I’m hoping they’ll have a promo for your readers during the conference days for online (hint, hint for US Wellness).
Take care and have a safe trip… Oh, and if you have a chance to see the church Blessed Sacrament it is soooo gorgeous and inspiring – the Tabernacle is front and center as you kneel by the altar. Not sure if they are always open but here’s the link:
https://www.bsdallas.org/
Beth
KitchenKop says
You may be able to visit the vendors for free, you might call and check on that.
Is Blessed Sacrament fairly close to the conference hotel? Thanks for the scoop on that! Any chance you’re nearby and would want to pick me up for Mass Sunday morning??? If not, no biggy, we can take a cab, but thought I’d try anyway. I always go with Kathy from the WAPF office.
Kel
Stacy says
Sign up for US Wellness Meats newsletter. They send a promo code almost every Sunday. I love their stuff 🙂
Susan says
I will be there. Have been looking forward to it ever since I heard it would be in Dallas. I will be one of the blogger session volunteers too.
KitchenKop says
I’ll for sure see you there, then, be sure to say hi!
Nicole says
Hi Kelly! Look forward to meeting you in my hometown! Hopefully we’ll have some nice Dallas weather- but it should def be warmer than MI ! – I saw a pic of you and my friend Bethany at your last WAP meeting- too cool!
KitchenKop says
Aren’t you lucky that it’s in your hometown?!
Deb says
Can’t wait to meet you! My first WAPF conference!
Debbie
KitchenKop says
You’ll love it, don’t forget to say hi if you see me!!
Meagan says
I’m going Kelly (along with my mom)! I’ll see you there 🙂
KitchenKop says
Oh good, be sure to find me to say hi!