2019 Conference Workshop Descriptions and Materials
Below are descriptions of all workshops at the 2019 National Farm Viability Conference. Some sessions had handouts or powerpoints; those are available via a link next to the session title.
ACCESSING CAPITAL FOR GROWTH
Capital Plus Business Assistance Equals Viability
Lead Facilitator: Charlene Andersen, New Hampshire Community Loan Fund
Securing the right kind of capital for a business is critical, but capital alone is not enough for business viability. This workshop will explore capital combined with business technical assistance strategies that prioritize long-term business viability and create economic opportunity. Using real case study examples, there will be a discussion of how coupling customized technical assistance and finance into a package adapted to the unique needs of each borrower has impacted business viability.
Mission Oriented Investment Capital Panel
Lead Facilitator: Jacob Israelow, Dirt Capital Partners, NY
This panel session will provide an overview of recent financing transactions that help meet social and ecological goals for diverse farmers using mission-oriented capital for targeted outcomes.
Lead Facilitator: Charlene Andersen, New Hampshire Community Loan Fund
Securing the right kind of capital for a business is critical, but capital alone is not enough for business viability. This workshop will explore capital combined with business technical assistance strategies that prioritize long-term business viability and create economic opportunity. Using real case study examples, there will be a discussion of how coupling customized technical assistance and finance into a package adapted to the unique needs of each borrower has impacted business viability.
Mission Oriented Investment Capital Panel
Lead Facilitator: Jacob Israelow, Dirt Capital Partners, NY
This panel session will provide an overview of recent financing transactions that help meet social and ecological goals for diverse farmers using mission-oriented capital for targeted outcomes.
EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE FOOD SYSTEM
Racial Equity: Intentional Partnering and Staffing
Lead Facilitator: Nathan Weller, California FarmLink, CA
Organizations that serve farmers and communities of color have an obligation to cultivate talent and leadership opportunities from within the communities they serve. Improving racial equity within our organizations is one step towards reaching and achieving greater impact among diverse farmers and ranchers. This session will moderate a conversation between California FarmLink's Director of Lending and a recent hire from one of the communities the organization serves. Through these distinct viewpoints between management and program staff, attendees will gain a realistic understanding of the rewards that a racial equity focus can have on your organization; how largely white-led organizations should be held accountable; and how applying a racial equity lens benefits the farmers and communities we serve.
Technical Assistance to Support more Viable Farms: What's Power Got to do With It?
Lead Facilitator: Jim Hafner, Land for Good, NH
This workshop session will dig deeply into the larger systemic sources of injustice and inequity within the farm and food sector. In what ways is work to support viable farms reaching and serving - and not - audiences who are historically marginalized or face unequal access to resources to pursue farming opportunity? What are the limits of technical assistance work when it comes to addressing and redressing the root causes of historical and systemic forms of injustice, inequity and exclusion? Panelists will discuss these tough questions while also exploring their historical roots, and will highlight a range of issues through the lens of contemporary barriers to access of land, capital, services, markets, etc. Attendees can expect to challenge, discuss, and provide ideas for how farm viability professionals understand their roles, limitations and potential to work more actively to promote social justice and equity through farm viability work as allies, employers, service providers, collaborators, and more.
Lead Facilitator: Nathan Weller, California FarmLink, CA
Organizations that serve farmers and communities of color have an obligation to cultivate talent and leadership opportunities from within the communities they serve. Improving racial equity within our organizations is one step towards reaching and achieving greater impact among diverse farmers and ranchers. This session will moderate a conversation between California FarmLink's Director of Lending and a recent hire from one of the communities the organization serves. Through these distinct viewpoints between management and program staff, attendees will gain a realistic understanding of the rewards that a racial equity focus can have on your organization; how largely white-led organizations should be held accountable; and how applying a racial equity lens benefits the farmers and communities we serve.
Technical Assistance to Support more Viable Farms: What's Power Got to do With It?
Lead Facilitator: Jim Hafner, Land for Good, NH
This workshop session will dig deeply into the larger systemic sources of injustice and inequity within the farm and food sector. In what ways is work to support viable farms reaching and serving - and not - audiences who are historically marginalized or face unequal access to resources to pursue farming opportunity? What are the limits of technical assistance work when it comes to addressing and redressing the root causes of historical and systemic forms of injustice, inequity and exclusion? Panelists will discuss these tough questions while also exploring their historical roots, and will highlight a range of issues through the lens of contemporary barriers to access of land, capital, services, markets, etc. Attendees can expect to challenge, discuss, and provide ideas for how farm viability professionals understand their roles, limitations and potential to work more actively to promote social justice and equity through farm viability work as allies, employers, service providers, collaborators, and more.
FINANCE AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Farm Business Planning 1: Assessing the Farm's Health
Lead Facilitator: Curtis Mahnken, Center for Farm Financial Management, MN
To truly move forward on farm businesses we need to understand the health of the farm so we can address weaknesses or create a business plan. Typically, we use farm financial statements and other assessments to identify strengths and weaknesses. Part 1 of Farm Business Planning will discuss how to assess and interpret the farm’s health and provide resources for assessing farm health and understanding how to move forward.
Farm Business Planning 2: Building Toward Success
Lead Facilitator: Kevin Channell, Intervale Center, VT
Once we know the health of the farm and what strengths or weaknesses we have, we can begin to prescribe a plan for the farm to move forward. In Part 2 of Farm Business Planning, we will discuss how a business planner can effectively address weaknesses, capitalize on strengths and identify resources that help you facilitate the completion of a solid farm business plan for your client. The process by which you build and sustain rapport with your client, empower them with financial literacy, and effectively motivate them to implement changes is just as important as the final plan you help them put into action. Attendees are welcome to share ideas as we discuss resources and engagement methods that are useful in the farm business planning process.
BS! WTF? (The Balance Sheet! What's the Fuss?)
Lead Facilitator: Julia Shanks, Julia Shanks Food Consulting, MA
The balance sheet provides a wealth of information about a business and is woefully under-appreciated by most farmers/entrepreneurs. It can quickly clarify many details of a business: 1) The accuracy of the bookkeeping system. 2) Cash flow. 3) Can you get a loan? and 4) The long-term health of you business. In this session, we will use examples of actual farm balance sheets and discuss how the "secrets" of the balance sheet will tell your clients exactly what is going on in their business. Workshop attendees will gain a better understanding of the balance sheet and why it's such an important management tool; how the balance sheet can help farmers manage their cash flow; the nuances between cash flow and profitability; and how the balance sheet can clarify how farmers can build wealth and equity.
Getting Financially Naked: A Case Study of Four Farms
Lead Facilitator: Ted LeBow, Kitchen Table Consultants, PA
In entrepreneurial development, there's nothing more valuable than an organized group of peers being brutally honest about their operations and sharing their shortcomings and successes. This session will highlight The Financial Roundtable Program designed by Kitchen Table Consultants, which enrolls small groups of farm and food business owners into a collaborative, expert-led and financially focused business program structured around sharing real business numbers. This program supports participants with: practical tools they can immediately implement; new ideas from group discussion and case studies on achieving financial decision-making clarity through opportunity assessment protocols; and a subject matter expert workshop on a topic of the group's choice. Ted and Rebecca from Kitchen Table Consultants will walk attendees through the program in a case study format, illustrating the process of how bench-marking key ratios across business evokes an engaging financial conversation and problem solving.
Lead Facilitator: Curtis Mahnken, Center for Farm Financial Management, MN
To truly move forward on farm businesses we need to understand the health of the farm so we can address weaknesses or create a business plan. Typically, we use farm financial statements and other assessments to identify strengths and weaknesses. Part 1 of Farm Business Planning will discuss how to assess and interpret the farm’s health and provide resources for assessing farm health and understanding how to move forward.
Farm Business Planning 2: Building Toward Success
Lead Facilitator: Kevin Channell, Intervale Center, VT
Once we know the health of the farm and what strengths or weaknesses we have, we can begin to prescribe a plan for the farm to move forward. In Part 2 of Farm Business Planning, we will discuss how a business planner can effectively address weaknesses, capitalize on strengths and identify resources that help you facilitate the completion of a solid farm business plan for your client. The process by which you build and sustain rapport with your client, empower them with financial literacy, and effectively motivate them to implement changes is just as important as the final plan you help them put into action. Attendees are welcome to share ideas as we discuss resources and engagement methods that are useful in the farm business planning process.
BS! WTF? (The Balance Sheet! What's the Fuss?)
Lead Facilitator: Julia Shanks, Julia Shanks Food Consulting, MA
The balance sheet provides a wealth of information about a business and is woefully under-appreciated by most farmers/entrepreneurs. It can quickly clarify many details of a business: 1) The accuracy of the bookkeeping system. 2) Cash flow. 3) Can you get a loan? and 4) The long-term health of you business. In this session, we will use examples of actual farm balance sheets and discuss how the "secrets" of the balance sheet will tell your clients exactly what is going on in their business. Workshop attendees will gain a better understanding of the balance sheet and why it's such an important management tool; how the balance sheet can help farmers manage their cash flow; the nuances between cash flow and profitability; and how the balance sheet can clarify how farmers can build wealth and equity.
Getting Financially Naked: A Case Study of Four Farms
Lead Facilitator: Ted LeBow, Kitchen Table Consultants, PA
In entrepreneurial development, there's nothing more valuable than an organized group of peers being brutally honest about their operations and sharing their shortcomings and successes. This session will highlight The Financial Roundtable Program designed by Kitchen Table Consultants, which enrolls small groups of farm and food business owners into a collaborative, expert-led and financially focused business program structured around sharing real business numbers. This program supports participants with: practical tools they can immediately implement; new ideas from group discussion and case studies on achieving financial decision-making clarity through opportunity assessment protocols; and a subject matter expert workshop on a topic of the group's choice. Ted and Rebecca from Kitchen Table Consultants will walk attendees through the program in a case study format, illustrating the process of how bench-marking key ratios across business evokes an engaging financial conversation and problem solving.
Trouble Shooting QuickBooks
Lead Facilitator: Julia Shanks, Julia Shanks Food Consulting, MA
"Garbage in, garbage out." This is a concept that farmers appreciate -- the quality of their soil directly impacts the quality of their crops. The quality of their feed directly affects the quality of the meat. Low quality inputs almost guarantee low quality outputs. The same is true with bookkeeping. If farmers don't take care with their inputs (data entry), then the outputs (financial reports) won't give them the information they need about their business - how to improve profitability, manage cash flow, and make informed decisions about growth. Many farmers struggle with QuickBooks and as a result, they make decisions based on inaccurate reports. The goal of this workshop is to help consultants improve the accuracy of their clients' QuickBooks (and reports) so that they can improve decision-making and the coaching they provide.
Building Resilience Through Cash Flow Monitoring
Lead Facilitator: Anjali Oberoi, Bernoulli Finance, NY
The goal of this workshop session is to help small food businesses build resiliency by learning to surf the choppy waters of cash flow. We will review techniques to project different types of revenues and expenses, and to calculate key indicators such as minimum cash in hand, need-based coverage ratios, and cash runway. We will also discuss how to factor in expansion ideas like hiring staff or buying equipment to create different business scenarios that can be compared based on cash flow. At the end of the session, attendees will feel confident about their ability to measure the true level of risk associated with business viability, and to make decisions in a way that will prepare them best for unexpected cash crunches.
Using the Farm or Ranch Business Health Assessment Tool in Your Training Program - powerpoint presentation; excel workbook for current owner; excel workbook for potential new owner
Lead Facilitator: Poppy Davis, consultant, CA
This session will explore several different uses for the Farm and Ranch Business Health Assessment (BHA) and the companion tools which include the Farm and Ranch Business Readiness Assessment for people not yet in business; the Farm and Ranch Business Skills Self-Assessment for Trainers; and the Farm and Ranch Business Skills Curriculum Guide. The BHA and related resources are divided into eight sections covering business entities, land tenure and environmental regulations, accounting, taxation, labor and contractors, regulatory and accounting issues related to production and marketing, credit, insurance, and business planning and continuing education. Hear from Consultant Poppy Davis along with representatives from the National Farmers Union and Farm Credit Council on how these resources relate to local lending programs for young and beginning farmers and ranchers.
State Programs That Support Farm Viability
Lead Facilitator: David Weinand, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
This panel will discuss opportunities for public funding that can support farm viability, using examples from New York, Vermont and Minnesota. Attendees will gain a better understanding of how these funds work, how they can utilize these funds to enhance farm viability in their state and how to obtain these funds. Panelists will also discuss some of the challenges in administering public funds.
Training the Next Generation of Business Advisors Roundtable
Lead Facilitator: Greg Padget, Practical Farmers of Iowa
Most communities have small business support networks, from small business development centers to community banks, that provide business support in general terms. Most want to support the farming industry but don’t understand the nuances of agriculture as it relates to business development. In this roundtable discussion, we what to hear how you articulate farm businesses are different from other industries and how you build community partners who want to support the farmers in their communities. This interactive round table will allow all participants to learn from each other’s success and not-so successes.
Business and Financial Tool-Share Roundtable
Lead Facilitator: Olivia Tincani, Olivia Tincani & Co, LLC, CA
In this roundtable discussion, four facilitators will briefly present unique tools used in their financial and business planning work as service providers. We will compare and discuss each tool’s utility and features, and then launch a discussion on tool sourcing and sharing. Attendees are invited to come prepared to share a tool or two of their own in this open source, collaborative discussion.
Sharing and Discussing Legal Resources for Farmers
Lead Facilitator: Seth Wilner, University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension
This discussion-based session will increase attendee's awareness of resources to help farmers understand legal topics impacting their operations, including: on-line courses, state specific fact sheets, templates, and general legal publications. The conversation will identify gaps in legal resources and strategies to fill them, along with major legal risks facing farms. Attendees are encouraged to share and discuss legal resources they’ve used and their preferred format of such resources.
Lead Facilitator: Julia Shanks, Julia Shanks Food Consulting, MA
"Garbage in, garbage out." This is a concept that farmers appreciate -- the quality of their soil directly impacts the quality of their crops. The quality of their feed directly affects the quality of the meat. Low quality inputs almost guarantee low quality outputs. The same is true with bookkeeping. If farmers don't take care with their inputs (data entry), then the outputs (financial reports) won't give them the information they need about their business - how to improve profitability, manage cash flow, and make informed decisions about growth. Many farmers struggle with QuickBooks and as a result, they make decisions based on inaccurate reports. The goal of this workshop is to help consultants improve the accuracy of their clients' QuickBooks (and reports) so that they can improve decision-making and the coaching they provide.
Building Resilience Through Cash Flow Monitoring
Lead Facilitator: Anjali Oberoi, Bernoulli Finance, NY
The goal of this workshop session is to help small food businesses build resiliency by learning to surf the choppy waters of cash flow. We will review techniques to project different types of revenues and expenses, and to calculate key indicators such as minimum cash in hand, need-based coverage ratios, and cash runway. We will also discuss how to factor in expansion ideas like hiring staff or buying equipment to create different business scenarios that can be compared based on cash flow. At the end of the session, attendees will feel confident about their ability to measure the true level of risk associated with business viability, and to make decisions in a way that will prepare them best for unexpected cash crunches.
Using the Farm or Ranch Business Health Assessment Tool in Your Training Program - powerpoint presentation; excel workbook for current owner; excel workbook for potential new owner
Lead Facilitator: Poppy Davis, consultant, CA
This session will explore several different uses for the Farm and Ranch Business Health Assessment (BHA) and the companion tools which include the Farm and Ranch Business Readiness Assessment for people not yet in business; the Farm and Ranch Business Skills Self-Assessment for Trainers; and the Farm and Ranch Business Skills Curriculum Guide. The BHA and related resources are divided into eight sections covering business entities, land tenure and environmental regulations, accounting, taxation, labor and contractors, regulatory and accounting issues related to production and marketing, credit, insurance, and business planning and continuing education. Hear from Consultant Poppy Davis along with representatives from the National Farmers Union and Farm Credit Council on how these resources relate to local lending programs for young and beginning farmers and ranchers.
State Programs That Support Farm Viability
Lead Facilitator: David Weinand, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
This panel will discuss opportunities for public funding that can support farm viability, using examples from New York, Vermont and Minnesota. Attendees will gain a better understanding of how these funds work, how they can utilize these funds to enhance farm viability in their state and how to obtain these funds. Panelists will also discuss some of the challenges in administering public funds.
Training the Next Generation of Business Advisors Roundtable
Lead Facilitator: Greg Padget, Practical Farmers of Iowa
Most communities have small business support networks, from small business development centers to community banks, that provide business support in general terms. Most want to support the farming industry but don’t understand the nuances of agriculture as it relates to business development. In this roundtable discussion, we what to hear how you articulate farm businesses are different from other industries and how you build community partners who want to support the farmers in their communities. This interactive round table will allow all participants to learn from each other’s success and not-so successes.
Business and Financial Tool-Share Roundtable
Lead Facilitator: Olivia Tincani, Olivia Tincani & Co, LLC, CA
In this roundtable discussion, four facilitators will briefly present unique tools used in their financial and business planning work as service providers. We will compare and discuss each tool’s utility and features, and then launch a discussion on tool sourcing and sharing. Attendees are invited to come prepared to share a tool or two of their own in this open source, collaborative discussion.
Sharing and Discussing Legal Resources for Farmers
Lead Facilitator: Seth Wilner, University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension
This discussion-based session will increase attendee's awareness of resources to help farmers understand legal topics impacting their operations, including: on-line courses, state specific fact sheets, templates, and general legal publications. The conversation will identify gaps in legal resources and strategies to fill them, along with major legal risks facing farms. Attendees are encouraged to share and discuss legal resources they’ve used and their preferred format of such resources.
FOOD AND FARM MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
Helping Farmers Align Marketing Tactics to Their Business Goals
Lead Facilitator: Myrna Greenfield, Good Egg Marketing, MA
Which is more effective, Instagram or holding an event? It depends on your goals. Farmers often have difficulty focusing on the most effective marketing tactics for achieving their business goals. This interactive workshop session will provide a framework to help farmers make the best use of their marketing time and money. Attendees should come prepared to share their biggest challenges and successes in helping farmers with marketing.
Making Cooperatives Work for Specialty Meat and Dairy Markets
Lead Facilitator: John Fisk, Wallace Center at Winrock International, VA
Cooperatives have long supported farmers to reach their goals by sharing knowledge, distributing risk and helping move new products to markets. As a result, cooperatives have played an essential role in helping farms advance regenerative practices and address infrastructure issues to meet consumer demand. In this session, attendees will learn how cooperatives work on different scales to support meat and dairy producers hoping to access specialty markets interested in local, grass-fed, or organic products. Presenters will include three livestock-based coops operating on different scales: collective direct marketing, regional wholesale, and national wholesale.
Wholesale: Succeeding in a Competitive, Commoditized Environment
Lead Facilitator: Rose Wilson, Rose Wilson Consulting LLC, VT
This session will present a summary of findings from the recent NOFA Local Food Wholesale Market Assessment and Industry Update, including the evolution of local food sales from direct-to-consumer to direct-to-retail and increasingly to wholesale sourcing through traditional distributor supply chains. Attendees will learn about the status of local food in the wholesale market channel, how distribution margins really work, what impact wholesale is having on local food producers, and what you can do about it.
Filling the Truck to Reach New Markets
Lead Facilitator: Thomas Nelson, Kitchen Table Advisors, CA
Regional food systems rooted in viable small and mid-scale farms are growing. Hear from three leading market connectors about the role food hubs and accelerator programs play to efficiently connect small and mid-scale farms with new market channels. The session will share cutting edge work happening in Wisconsin, Oregon, and California to build viable regional food systems that link farmers with values-aligned customers. Panelists will discuss logistics and transportation issues and their work directly with farmers to scale.
Lead Facilitator: Myrna Greenfield, Good Egg Marketing, MA
Which is more effective, Instagram or holding an event? It depends on your goals. Farmers often have difficulty focusing on the most effective marketing tactics for achieving their business goals. This interactive workshop session will provide a framework to help farmers make the best use of their marketing time and money. Attendees should come prepared to share their biggest challenges and successes in helping farmers with marketing.
Making Cooperatives Work for Specialty Meat and Dairy Markets
Lead Facilitator: John Fisk, Wallace Center at Winrock International, VA
Cooperatives have long supported farmers to reach their goals by sharing knowledge, distributing risk and helping move new products to markets. As a result, cooperatives have played an essential role in helping farms advance regenerative practices and address infrastructure issues to meet consumer demand. In this session, attendees will learn how cooperatives work on different scales to support meat and dairy producers hoping to access specialty markets interested in local, grass-fed, or organic products. Presenters will include three livestock-based coops operating on different scales: collective direct marketing, regional wholesale, and national wholesale.
Wholesale: Succeeding in a Competitive, Commoditized Environment
Lead Facilitator: Rose Wilson, Rose Wilson Consulting LLC, VT
This session will present a summary of findings from the recent NOFA Local Food Wholesale Market Assessment and Industry Update, including the evolution of local food sales from direct-to-consumer to direct-to-retail and increasingly to wholesale sourcing through traditional distributor supply chains. Attendees will learn about the status of local food in the wholesale market channel, how distribution margins really work, what impact wholesale is having on local food producers, and what you can do about it.
Filling the Truck to Reach New Markets
Lead Facilitator: Thomas Nelson, Kitchen Table Advisors, CA
Regional food systems rooted in viable small and mid-scale farms are growing. Hear from three leading market connectors about the role food hubs and accelerator programs play to efficiently connect small and mid-scale farms with new market channels. The session will share cutting edge work happening in Wisconsin, Oregon, and California to build viable regional food systems that link farmers with values-aligned customers. Panelists will discuss logistics and transportation issues and their work directly with farmers to scale.
"At the National Farm Viability Conference, I learned about a research study that will help inform a project I'm working on across the country. Familiarizing myself with this research, in an open setting of shared learning, helped me build on existing work rather than duplicating efforts." -2017 Conference Attendee
NEW AND BEGINNING FARMERS
The Evolution of Two Farm Incubators in a Changing Food System
Lead Facilitator: Kevin Cody, New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, MA
This discussion-based session examines how two incubator farmer training programs, New Entry Sustainable Farming Project and Viva Farms, have evolved to meet the needs of new and beginning farmers in a changing food system. Both Viva Farms and New Entry have established partnerships with institutions of higher education related to on-farm training in sustainable agriculture, and both are focused on market channel development with attention to wholesale and institutional outlets. Key questions for this session include: what are the challenges and opportunities in partnering with institutions of higher education? How do such partnerships influence recruitment and outreach and instructional delivery and design? How can incubator farms create learning opportunities for farmers when developing new market channels?
Beginning Farmer Technical Assistance: Local, Regional, and National Best Practices
Lead Facilitator: Cara Fraver, National Young Farmers Coalition, NY
The tools and resources used to educate previous generations of farmers may not be the most applicable for digital natives or other young people drawn to farming. This panel will provide a biosketch of young farmers and then dive deeper into how one-on-one projects, regional collaborations, and national coalitions provide resources to strengthen the business opportunities of a new generation of farmers. Panelists will include the Intervale Center (VT), the Beginning Farmer Resource Network of Maine, and the National Young Farmers Coalition.
Increasing Success in New Farmer Training
Lead Facilitator: Cameron Farlow, Organic Growers School, NC
Do you have a farmer-training program you want to take to the next level? This panel with Farm Beginnings® facilitators will discuss what makes this farmer-led program unique, and how individual organizations have tailored the Farm Beginnings curriculum to meet the needs of a diverse set of audiences. Attendees will also hear about the challenges and opportunities these organizations experience as they work to build social and racial justice into their farmer training programs and create the capacity to serve more diverse audiences.
Mentoring Programs that Build Effective and Meaningful Mentorships
Lead Facilitator: Greg Padget, Practical Farmers of Iowa
Beginning farmer programs have found ways to use mentoring programs to support beginning farmers by aiding in facilitating and matching mentors that align with each other’s farming vision and goals. Panelists in this session will share how they operate their mentoring programs, what lessons they have learned, and the successes they have realized.
Lead Facilitator: Kevin Cody, New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, MA
This discussion-based session examines how two incubator farmer training programs, New Entry Sustainable Farming Project and Viva Farms, have evolved to meet the needs of new and beginning farmers in a changing food system. Both Viva Farms and New Entry have established partnerships with institutions of higher education related to on-farm training in sustainable agriculture, and both are focused on market channel development with attention to wholesale and institutional outlets. Key questions for this session include: what are the challenges and opportunities in partnering with institutions of higher education? How do such partnerships influence recruitment and outreach and instructional delivery and design? How can incubator farms create learning opportunities for farmers when developing new market channels?
Beginning Farmer Technical Assistance: Local, Regional, and National Best Practices
Lead Facilitator: Cara Fraver, National Young Farmers Coalition, NY
The tools and resources used to educate previous generations of farmers may not be the most applicable for digital natives or other young people drawn to farming. This panel will provide a biosketch of young farmers and then dive deeper into how one-on-one projects, regional collaborations, and national coalitions provide resources to strengthen the business opportunities of a new generation of farmers. Panelists will include the Intervale Center (VT), the Beginning Farmer Resource Network of Maine, and the National Young Farmers Coalition.
Increasing Success in New Farmer Training
Lead Facilitator: Cameron Farlow, Organic Growers School, NC
Do you have a farmer-training program you want to take to the next level? This panel with Farm Beginnings® facilitators will discuss what makes this farmer-led program unique, and how individual organizations have tailored the Farm Beginnings curriculum to meet the needs of a diverse set of audiences. Attendees will also hear about the challenges and opportunities these organizations experience as they work to build social and racial justice into their farmer training programs and create the capacity to serve more diverse audiences.
Mentoring Programs that Build Effective and Meaningful Mentorships
Lead Facilitator: Greg Padget, Practical Farmers of Iowa
Beginning farmer programs have found ways to use mentoring programs to support beginning farmers by aiding in facilitating and matching mentors that align with each other’s farming vision and goals. Panelists in this session will share how they operate their mentoring programs, what lessons they have learned, and the successes they have realized.
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, FUNDING & DESIGN
How are We Defining Farm Viability in our Programs?
Lead Facilitators: Paige Phinney, Kitchen Table Advisors, CA
As we build, refine and measure our programs: what are our targets for success? What is the goal post for long term stability for a farm business, including and beyond economics? How do we define these goals, why are we choosing them, and how are we tracking them? This session will include time spent in large group, collectively identifying themes, as well as small group discussion time, with opportunity for reflection and sharing back to the larger group. This is meant to be a discussion among peers: those who are tasked with decision making in program design, but all are welcome to attend.
Accessing Food, Jobs & Health: The Windy City Harvest Model
Lead Facilitators: Paul Krysik and Lawrence Riley, Chicago Botanic Garden, IL
This workshop session will provide insight into farm apprenticeship and incubator farming programs through the lens of urban agriculture. The Windy City Harvest Program is located in the heart of Chicago, and works to provide a continuum of opportunity for returning citizens through transitional jobs, which lead to the apprenticeship, and then eventually to entrepreneurship at the program's incubator farm. Paul from the Chicago Botanic Garden will walk attendees through this unique, urban model, and Lawrence will share his story of accessing all parts of the Windy City Harvest pathway to farm viability.
Building a Community of Practice
Lead Facilitator: Rich Schwartz, Alder Street Consulting, OR
The National Farm Viability Conference is a great place to meet your peers, share your ideas, learn new skills and build your professional network. Wouldn’t it be great if those activities could continue once the conference is over? In this session we will explore possibilities for building ongoing peer-to-peer support networks. In the first half of the session we will hear from representatives of The Blueprint Project on their efforts to create such a network among farm viability practitioners in the northeastern US, and from the Wallace Center on their experiences building a support network among food hub practitioners. The latter half of the session will feature an open discussion on ways we might build similar networks in other regions, or even a national network spanning the whole country.
Connect with Colleagues – Business Advising Roundtable
Lead Facilitators: Tanya Murray, Oregon Tilth and Ela Chapin, Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program
Do you run a program that provides business development training and support to farmers? This roundtable is a forum for program managers, farm business advisors and consultants to get to know how their colleagues from across the country provide business services to farmers. Program managers and business advisors will each introduce their work, and share what they feel they do well, and what their biggest challenges are. Attendees will be able to identify individuals that they want to connect with during networking opportunities at the conference, and beyond.
Tapping Into Federal Resources for Food System Development
Lead Facilitator: Debra Tropp, Debra Tropp Consulting, MD
This panel discussion will provide a deep dive into several Federally-sponsored grant programs and technical assistance services that are specifically designed to benefit small and mid-size agricultural producers; value-added manufacturers; food distributors; and other community stakeholders involved in strengthening local and regional food supply chains. The panel will share how these programs and services can be utilized to revitalize neighborhoods through food and agriculture-related investments.
Building Capacity for Program Evaluation: A Critical Conversation about the Meaning of Farmer “Success”
Lead Facilitator: Kim Niewolny, Virginia Tech
How do you define farmer success? What program outcomes are meaningful to you and your organization? What challenges do you face in designing and implementing an impactful program evaluation for your farmer audiences? This session is designed to help educators and trainers build program evaluation capacity by focusing on the tensions inherent in defining and measuring farmer success across a diversity of farmer audiences. The session will conclude with specific strategies for enhancing farmer program evaluations from a critical adult education perspective.
Lead Facilitators: Paige Phinney, Kitchen Table Advisors, CA
As we build, refine and measure our programs: what are our targets for success? What is the goal post for long term stability for a farm business, including and beyond economics? How do we define these goals, why are we choosing them, and how are we tracking them? This session will include time spent in large group, collectively identifying themes, as well as small group discussion time, with opportunity for reflection and sharing back to the larger group. This is meant to be a discussion among peers: those who are tasked with decision making in program design, but all are welcome to attend.
Accessing Food, Jobs & Health: The Windy City Harvest Model
Lead Facilitators: Paul Krysik and Lawrence Riley, Chicago Botanic Garden, IL
This workshop session will provide insight into farm apprenticeship and incubator farming programs through the lens of urban agriculture. The Windy City Harvest Program is located in the heart of Chicago, and works to provide a continuum of opportunity for returning citizens through transitional jobs, which lead to the apprenticeship, and then eventually to entrepreneurship at the program's incubator farm. Paul from the Chicago Botanic Garden will walk attendees through this unique, urban model, and Lawrence will share his story of accessing all parts of the Windy City Harvest pathway to farm viability.
Building a Community of Practice
Lead Facilitator: Rich Schwartz, Alder Street Consulting, OR
The National Farm Viability Conference is a great place to meet your peers, share your ideas, learn new skills and build your professional network. Wouldn’t it be great if those activities could continue once the conference is over? In this session we will explore possibilities for building ongoing peer-to-peer support networks. In the first half of the session we will hear from representatives of The Blueprint Project on their efforts to create such a network among farm viability practitioners in the northeastern US, and from the Wallace Center on their experiences building a support network among food hub practitioners. The latter half of the session will feature an open discussion on ways we might build similar networks in other regions, or even a national network spanning the whole country.
Connect with Colleagues – Business Advising Roundtable
Lead Facilitators: Tanya Murray, Oregon Tilth and Ela Chapin, Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program
Do you run a program that provides business development training and support to farmers? This roundtable is a forum for program managers, farm business advisors and consultants to get to know how their colleagues from across the country provide business services to farmers. Program managers and business advisors will each introduce their work, and share what they feel they do well, and what their biggest challenges are. Attendees will be able to identify individuals that they want to connect with during networking opportunities at the conference, and beyond.
Tapping Into Federal Resources for Food System Development
Lead Facilitator: Debra Tropp, Debra Tropp Consulting, MD
This panel discussion will provide a deep dive into several Federally-sponsored grant programs and technical assistance services that are specifically designed to benefit small and mid-size agricultural producers; value-added manufacturers; food distributors; and other community stakeholders involved in strengthening local and regional food supply chains. The panel will share how these programs and services can be utilized to revitalize neighborhoods through food and agriculture-related investments.
Building Capacity for Program Evaluation: A Critical Conversation about the Meaning of Farmer “Success”
Lead Facilitator: Kim Niewolny, Virginia Tech
How do you define farmer success? What program outcomes are meaningful to you and your organization? What challenges do you face in designing and implementing an impactful program evaluation for your farmer audiences? This session is designed to help educators and trainers build program evaluation capacity by focusing on the tensions inherent in defining and measuring farmer success across a diversity of farmer audiences. The session will conclude with specific strategies for enhancing farmer program evaluations from a critical adult education perspective.
SUCCESSION PLANNING AND LAND TRANSFER
Farm Succession Planning 101
Lead Facilitator: Sam Smith, Intervale Center, VT
Farm business planning can be complex and challenging, especially when it comes to succession planning. This introductory session will provide an overview of the transfer planning process while highlighting key concepts – such as feasibility, timeline, and transactional consideration – as well as common mistakes. Attendees hoping to engage in this rewarding work will be provided the framework, resources, and encouragement needed to do so.
Farmland for the Next Generation: A Skills-based Educational Introduction to Land Access - powerpoint presentation
Lead Facilitator: Julia Freedgood, American Farmland Trust, MA
This introductory land access session is a unique opportunity for agricultural service providers to learn how to use American Farmland Trust’s Land Access Trainer (LAT) Curriculum, which provides a skills-based educational approach to help beginning farmers and ranchers tackle the complex and multi-faceted process of finding and securing suitable land to start or expand their operations.
Legal and Practical Overview of Farm & Ranch Succession Planning: Preparing your Clients - powerpoint presentation
Lead Facilitator: Susan Stokes, Lind Jensen Sullivan & Peterson, MN
This session will examine three different aspects of working with farmers and ranchers on succession and transition planning: the legal framework; a self-assessment tool; and on-the-ground perspectives. The session will open with an overview of the farm succession process from a legal perspective and provide guidance on how to assist farm or ranch business owners in preparing to meet with their attorney. The second part of the session will focus on a self-assessment tool that is designed to help existing farm or ranch business owners evaluate their needs for structures and procedures to ensure their business can continue during either a short term absence or permanent departure of the primary operator. Finally, this session will examine the experiences of a practitioner in working one-on-one with farm and ranch families and the evolution of her methodology away from a one-on-one model and towards a group/cohort model.
Communicating Across Generations - powerpoint presentation
Lead Facilitator: Tori Jackson, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, ME
Ensuring good communication across generations matters whether you're buying, selling, leasing, or expanding a farm business. Being able to articulate your vision can be challenging. This workshop will answer the question, "What types of skills does a farmer need to describe their farm vision in a clear, compelling way, no matter who they are interacting with?" Participants will gain a better understanding of farmer typology and learn about typical characteristics of generations and their preferred communication styles.
Collaboration is Key to Successful Farm Transitions: Minnesota Examples of Work on the Ground
Lead Facilitators: Megan Roberts, University of Minnesota Extension and Karen Stettler, Land Stewardship Project, MN
When it comes to farm transitions, collaboration is positively affecting Midwestern farm families. How do collaborations happen? What is necessary to keep the collaboration going and healthy? Attendees of this panel discussion will hear from different Minnesota organizations using a variety of approaches to assist in the transition and estate planning process, and are invited to come prepared to interact and ask critical questions.
Something's Gotta Happen Somehow...Addressing Farm Transfer Challenges - powerpoint presentation
Lead Facilitator: Mike Ghia, Land for Good, VT
Even the best farmers can come up against hurdles to a smooth farm business transfer. In this advanced level workshop, we will address some common issues a service provider may encounter when trying to help a farm business transition from one generation to another. Presenters will touch on topics including assessing and developing capacity of potential successors, business valuation, and how to address non-farming heirs within the context of the financial, legal and tax implications of these complex transitions.
Creative Adaptations of Land Access Models
Lead Facilitator: Susan Erem, Sustainable Iowa Land Trust
How do various land access models play out on the ground? Or in different parts of the country? This session provides case studies from a wide variety of organizations adapting different models to help farmers gain access to land. The Sustainable Iowa Land Trust, Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust, Renewing the Countryside and the Latino Economic Development Center will tell their stories of adopting a model and then adapting it to their circumstances.
Lead Facilitator: Sam Smith, Intervale Center, VT
Farm business planning can be complex and challenging, especially when it comes to succession planning. This introductory session will provide an overview of the transfer planning process while highlighting key concepts – such as feasibility, timeline, and transactional consideration – as well as common mistakes. Attendees hoping to engage in this rewarding work will be provided the framework, resources, and encouragement needed to do so.
Farmland for the Next Generation: A Skills-based Educational Introduction to Land Access - powerpoint presentation
Lead Facilitator: Julia Freedgood, American Farmland Trust, MA
This introductory land access session is a unique opportunity for agricultural service providers to learn how to use American Farmland Trust’s Land Access Trainer (LAT) Curriculum, which provides a skills-based educational approach to help beginning farmers and ranchers tackle the complex and multi-faceted process of finding and securing suitable land to start or expand their operations.
Legal and Practical Overview of Farm & Ranch Succession Planning: Preparing your Clients - powerpoint presentation
Lead Facilitator: Susan Stokes, Lind Jensen Sullivan & Peterson, MN
This session will examine three different aspects of working with farmers and ranchers on succession and transition planning: the legal framework; a self-assessment tool; and on-the-ground perspectives. The session will open with an overview of the farm succession process from a legal perspective and provide guidance on how to assist farm or ranch business owners in preparing to meet with their attorney. The second part of the session will focus on a self-assessment tool that is designed to help existing farm or ranch business owners evaluate their needs for structures and procedures to ensure their business can continue during either a short term absence or permanent departure of the primary operator. Finally, this session will examine the experiences of a practitioner in working one-on-one with farm and ranch families and the evolution of her methodology away from a one-on-one model and towards a group/cohort model.
Communicating Across Generations - powerpoint presentation
Lead Facilitator: Tori Jackson, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, ME
Ensuring good communication across generations matters whether you're buying, selling, leasing, or expanding a farm business. Being able to articulate your vision can be challenging. This workshop will answer the question, "What types of skills does a farmer need to describe their farm vision in a clear, compelling way, no matter who they are interacting with?" Participants will gain a better understanding of farmer typology and learn about typical characteristics of generations and their preferred communication styles.
Collaboration is Key to Successful Farm Transitions: Minnesota Examples of Work on the Ground
Lead Facilitators: Megan Roberts, University of Minnesota Extension and Karen Stettler, Land Stewardship Project, MN
When it comes to farm transitions, collaboration is positively affecting Midwestern farm families. How do collaborations happen? What is necessary to keep the collaboration going and healthy? Attendees of this panel discussion will hear from different Minnesota organizations using a variety of approaches to assist in the transition and estate planning process, and are invited to come prepared to interact and ask critical questions.
Something's Gotta Happen Somehow...Addressing Farm Transfer Challenges - powerpoint presentation
Lead Facilitator: Mike Ghia, Land for Good, VT
Even the best farmers can come up against hurdles to a smooth farm business transfer. In this advanced level workshop, we will address some common issues a service provider may encounter when trying to help a farm business transition from one generation to another. Presenters will touch on topics including assessing and developing capacity of potential successors, business valuation, and how to address non-farming heirs within the context of the financial, legal and tax implications of these complex transitions.
Creative Adaptations of Land Access Models
Lead Facilitator: Susan Erem, Sustainable Iowa Land Trust
How do various land access models play out on the ground? Or in different parts of the country? This session provides case studies from a wide variety of organizations adapting different models to help farmers gain access to land. The Sustainable Iowa Land Trust, Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust, Renewing the Countryside and the Latino Economic Development Center will tell their stories of adopting a model and then adapting it to their circumstances.
SOFT SKILLS, STRESS & MENTAL HEALTH
Farmer Mental Health -- Being a Supportive Service Provider
Lead Facilitator: Caitlin Arnold, National Young Farmers Coalition, NY
Organizations that work directly with farmers need to be aware of the issue of mental health and how farmers are uniquely impacted. In this facilitated discussion, attendees will get an overview of the work that is happening around the country, federal policy in relation to farmer stress and mental health, and discuss how we can better serve our farmers in relation to mental health.
Down on the Farm
Lead Facilitator: Judy Barka, AgCentric-Northern Center of Agricultural Excellence, MN
Stress factors in farming are on the rise. Down on the Farm is a professional development workshop designed for those working with farmers during tough times. It explores the financial and other factors that contribute to farmer stress, describes the warning signs and symptoms of people in crisis, and explores how strategies like active listening can de-escalate stressful situations and help people in stress move forward. This training was originally created by a psychologist who works with Minnesota farmers, the Minnesota Farm Service Agency, and the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association, led by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Attendees of this session will be introduced to Down on the Farm curriculum and will learn how to use this curriculum in their own communities.
Adoption of Innovative Climate Strategies: Barriers, Opportunities & Business Viability
Lead Facilitator: Connor Stedman , Terra Genesis International
As the impacts of climate change intensify and both carbon sequestration and climate adaptation grow as agricultural policy priorities, the number of producers attempting to adopt innovative, biologically intensive on-farm strategies and production systems is increasing across the country. These carbon farming and climate adaptive systems, however, face significant barriers to adoption and challenges to successful incorporation into business models. This panel will share stories from the field of some of the greatest challenges faced and opportunities discovered by producers working at the leading edge of the industry's biological, environmental, and climate adaptive practices. We will focus on how service providers can best support producers seeking to transition beyond standard best practices into these systematically beneficial, yet often seemingly higher-risk systems.
Lead Facilitator: Caitlin Arnold, National Young Farmers Coalition, NY
Organizations that work directly with farmers need to be aware of the issue of mental health and how farmers are uniquely impacted. In this facilitated discussion, attendees will get an overview of the work that is happening around the country, federal policy in relation to farmer stress and mental health, and discuss how we can better serve our farmers in relation to mental health.
Down on the Farm
Lead Facilitator: Judy Barka, AgCentric-Northern Center of Agricultural Excellence, MN
Stress factors in farming are on the rise. Down on the Farm is a professional development workshop designed for those working with farmers during tough times. It explores the financial and other factors that contribute to farmer stress, describes the warning signs and symptoms of people in crisis, and explores how strategies like active listening can de-escalate stressful situations and help people in stress move forward. This training was originally created by a psychologist who works with Minnesota farmers, the Minnesota Farm Service Agency, and the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association, led by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Attendees of this session will be introduced to Down on the Farm curriculum and will learn how to use this curriculum in their own communities.
Adoption of Innovative Climate Strategies: Barriers, Opportunities & Business Viability
Lead Facilitator: Connor Stedman , Terra Genesis International
As the impacts of climate change intensify and both carbon sequestration and climate adaptation grow as agricultural policy priorities, the number of producers attempting to adopt innovative, biologically intensive on-farm strategies and production systems is increasing across the country. These carbon farming and climate adaptive systems, however, face significant barriers to adoption and challenges to successful incorporation into business models. This panel will share stories from the field of some of the greatest challenges faced and opportunities discovered by producers working at the leading edge of the industry's biological, environmental, and climate adaptive practices. We will focus on how service providers can best support producers seeking to transition beyond standard best practices into these systematically beneficial, yet often seemingly higher-risk systems.
