Session 6 Workshops
Wednesday, May 24, 10:00-11:15am
Wednesday, May 24, 10:00-11:15am
Bringing Alternative Finance to Your Community
Room: 1A
Start-up costs for beginning farmers and access to appropriate small-scale financing are significant challenges for farmers across the country. In response to these challenges, the Community Food & Agriculture Coalition in Montana and the Farmer Veteran Coalition (nationwide) have developed multiple tools to address financing gaps. Learn about alternative finance tools including mini-grants developed with Specialty Crop Block Grant funds (up to $5,000), 0% interest, no-fee Kiva loans (up to $10,000), and the Farmer Veteran Coalition Fellowship Fund (up to $5,000).
Annie Heuscher, Community Food & Agriculture Coalition, MT
Book Smart: Using Benchmarking and Performance Indicators for Better Bottom-Line Management
Room: 2B
Once the books are in order, it’s time to stop working IN your business and start working ON your business. This interactive workshop demonstrates how food businesses can use their financial statements to examine key performance indicators and identify opportunities as well as problem areas. Come with your real-world challenges, and leave ready to build your own financial performance dashboard. Whether you’re a food business owner or a service provider, this workshop will provide the skills necessary to use benchmarking and analysis effectively to improve business performance.
Erin Pirro, Farm Credit East, CT
Gary Matteson, Farm Credit Council, DC
Growing Agricultural Economic Connections through Local Government and Cooperative Extension
Room: 2A
Local governments, Extension agents, farmers and ranchers are all coming together across the country to strengthen their food systems through agricultural economic development initiatives. Come learn from two Growing Food Connections Communities of Opportunity who are growing food and farm economic connections through local government planning, partnerships and support.
Julia Freedgood, American Farmland Trust, MA
Katelyn Walley-Stoll , Cornell Cooperative Extension, NY
Dawn Jordan, Polk County Agricultural Economic Development, NC
Food Law Challenges & Solutions: Identifying Issues and Accessing Services
Room: 1B
Complying with a complex, confusing and sometimes conflicting body of law and regulations is a constant challenge for farmers. Simultaneously, understanding the unique legal needs of the farm community is critical for their lawyers. This session will cover both the structural design of food law programs addressing the legal issues facing farmers and the legal areas that are necessary for both service providers and clients to identify to ensure compliance and success on and off the farm.
Jonathan Brown, Food Law Clinic at the Elizabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, NY
Jennifer Grossman, New York Regional Food Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, NY
Annie Lemelin, Conservation Law Foundation, MA
Jack Hornickel, FARMroots, GrowNYC, NY
Helping Farmers Stay Competitive in a Maturing Market
Room: 2C
As the local foods market matures and competition increases, it’s becoming harder for experienced farmers to maintain market share and new farmers to break in. Meal kits, delivery services, CSA saturation and other trends are changing consumer habits and perceptions, and the internet and social media are constantly evolving and affecting how farmers communicate with customers. Learn how to use tools and techniques of market research and online marketing to help farmers understand their market and adapt their strategies to stay relevant and competitive.
Myrna Greenfield, Good Egg Marketing, MA
Rose Wilson, Rosalie Wilson Business Development Services, VT
Leadership that Comes from the Communities we Serve
Room: CR
This session will be a facilitated discussion between leaders that come from and reflect the communities we serve (e.g. agricultural or family farming background, racial and gender diversity of farmers) who can share their lessons learned and their organizational paths, and for leaders that do not come from and reflect the communities they serve and want to share their challenges and get ideas and thoughts about how to instill this in their organizations/programs.
Anthony Chang, Kitchen Table Advisors, CA
Room: 1A
Start-up costs for beginning farmers and access to appropriate small-scale financing are significant challenges for farmers across the country. In response to these challenges, the Community Food & Agriculture Coalition in Montana and the Farmer Veteran Coalition (nationwide) have developed multiple tools to address financing gaps. Learn about alternative finance tools including mini-grants developed with Specialty Crop Block Grant funds (up to $5,000), 0% interest, no-fee Kiva loans (up to $10,000), and the Farmer Veteran Coalition Fellowship Fund (up to $5,000).
Annie Heuscher, Community Food & Agriculture Coalition, MT
Book Smart: Using Benchmarking and Performance Indicators for Better Bottom-Line Management
Room: 2B
Once the books are in order, it’s time to stop working IN your business and start working ON your business. This interactive workshop demonstrates how food businesses can use their financial statements to examine key performance indicators and identify opportunities as well as problem areas. Come with your real-world challenges, and leave ready to build your own financial performance dashboard. Whether you’re a food business owner or a service provider, this workshop will provide the skills necessary to use benchmarking and analysis effectively to improve business performance.
Erin Pirro, Farm Credit East, CT
Gary Matteson, Farm Credit Council, DC
Growing Agricultural Economic Connections through Local Government and Cooperative Extension
Room: 2A
Local governments, Extension agents, farmers and ranchers are all coming together across the country to strengthen their food systems through agricultural economic development initiatives. Come learn from two Growing Food Connections Communities of Opportunity who are growing food and farm economic connections through local government planning, partnerships and support.
Julia Freedgood, American Farmland Trust, MA
Katelyn Walley-Stoll , Cornell Cooperative Extension, NY
Dawn Jordan, Polk County Agricultural Economic Development, NC
Food Law Challenges & Solutions: Identifying Issues and Accessing Services
Room: 1B
Complying with a complex, confusing and sometimes conflicting body of law and regulations is a constant challenge for farmers. Simultaneously, understanding the unique legal needs of the farm community is critical for their lawyers. This session will cover both the structural design of food law programs addressing the legal issues facing farmers and the legal areas that are necessary for both service providers and clients to identify to ensure compliance and success on and off the farm.
Jonathan Brown, Food Law Clinic at the Elizabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, NY
Jennifer Grossman, New York Regional Food Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, NY
Annie Lemelin, Conservation Law Foundation, MA
Jack Hornickel, FARMroots, GrowNYC, NY
Helping Farmers Stay Competitive in a Maturing Market
Room: 2C
As the local foods market matures and competition increases, it’s becoming harder for experienced farmers to maintain market share and new farmers to break in. Meal kits, delivery services, CSA saturation and other trends are changing consumer habits and perceptions, and the internet and social media are constantly evolving and affecting how farmers communicate with customers. Learn how to use tools and techniques of market research and online marketing to help farmers understand their market and adapt their strategies to stay relevant and competitive.
Myrna Greenfield, Good Egg Marketing, MA
Rose Wilson, Rosalie Wilson Business Development Services, VT
Leadership that Comes from the Communities we Serve
Room: CR
This session will be a facilitated discussion between leaders that come from and reflect the communities we serve (e.g. agricultural or family farming background, racial and gender diversity of farmers) who can share their lessons learned and their organizational paths, and for leaders that do not come from and reflect the communities they serve and want to share their challenges and get ideas and thoughts about how to instill this in their organizations/programs.
Anthony Chang, Kitchen Table Advisors, CA