AHF – Agave Talks and Tastings
Drop-in Panels and Mezcal Tastings: 11:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Panels – All Ages, Tasting -21+| FREE
Explore the cultural, agricultural, and market potential of agave in this interactive, drop-in series. Featuring expert-led panels, mezcal tastings from our amazing partners Raices Imports and Origen Raíz del Espíritu and sponsor showcases, this session highlights sustainable agriculture, cross-border collaboration, and creative innovations shaping the future of agave.
**11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Beyond Distillates: Agave’s Legacy in Art, Food, and Fiber**
– Ryan Kashanipour (University of Arizona) as moderator
– Angelica Afanador Pujol (Arizona State University)
– Valeria Canedo (Polinizador Social para la Conservación y Empoderamiento Rural)
**12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Rooted Across Borders: Sustainable Agave Cultivation**
– Leonela Baez (Centro de Colaboración para la Ciencia y Cultura) as moderator
– Rachel Burke (Bat Conservation International)
– Francesca Claverie (Borderlands Restoration Network)
– Julie Figueras (The Lost Explorer)
**1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Partner Tabling and Tasting Break**
**2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: From the Ground Up: Community Building for Agave Collaboration**
– Francisco Terrazas (Raices Imports, Tequila Interchange Project) as moderator
– Misty Kalkofen (Siembra Spirits, Liquid Productions)
– Niki Nakazawa (Neta Spirits)
– Bildo Saravia (Origen Raiz Del Espiritu)
**3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Living Landscapes: Agave Conservation for Ecological and Desert Resilience**
– Caitlyn Hall (Agave Heritage Festival, Next Generation of Sonoran Desert Researchers) as moderator
– Marsella Macias (University of New Mexico, Chelenzo Farms)
– Chava Rosales Trejo (Tequila Cascahuin)
– Randy Young (La Tierra del Jaguar)
RSVP today! Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with experts, taste regional agave spirits, and explore agave’s role in sustainability and cultural resilience!
This year’s panel event is presented in partnership with Mezcalistas
**EVENT SPONSORS: SOUTHWEST FOLKLIFE ALLIANCE | UA COLLEGE OF SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES | UA FRANKE HONORS COLLEGE**