Re-strategizing with advanced BF’s: Supporting scale-up and farm investment decision-making, Oct 27th – 29th, 2014 in Albany, NY
Workshop Topics and Speakers
Credit Readiness – What are the traits and key measurements that make BF’s credit worthy and how can you help them avoid common missteps? Learn to design outreach and educational programs that prepare BF’s for accessing credit for new farm investments as they look to scale up.
Gary Matteson- Vice President for Young, Beginning, Small Farmer Programs and Outreach, Farm Credit Council, Washington, DC
Benneth Phelps- Loan and Outreach Coordinator, Carrot Project, Somerville, MA
Farm Financial Analysis – What key farm financial indicators should BF’s use to best analyze their business progress and success? What numbers are most important, how do you measure them, and how can they be applied to make farm investment decisions? Learn to better support BF’s to monitor these indicators and identify the tools and resources that will help guide business decision making.
Gary Matteson- Vice President for Young, Beginning, Small Farmer Programs and Outreach, Farm Credit Council, Washington, DC
Benneth Phelps- Loan and Outreach Coordinator, Carrot Project, Somerville, MA
Labor and Equipment Decision-Making – How can you support BF’s to make informed decisions around labor management and investing in new equipment? Learn different methods for tracking and extrapolating labor and how to apply labor data in multiple ways to consider operational investments. Learn how to support BF’s in budget analysis and avoid decision-making pitfalls to help them make well-informed investment decisions.
Chris Blanchard- Flying Rutabaga Works, Decorah, IA
Marketing through Wholesale Channels – How can you help BF’s decide on and take steps to entering a wholesale market? Learn the structure of existing and emerging channels, how to navigate wholesale relationships and pricing, and the latest resources available to help you prepare BF’s for new markets as their enterprises grow.
Bob Weybright- Agricultural Development Specialist, Cornell University, Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program
Chris Blanchard- Flying Rutabaga Works, Decorah, IA
Whole Farm Decision Making – How can you support BF’s in making farm decisions with consideration of both short and long-term goals? Learn the key questions to ask and tools available using a whole farm planning approach and help guide your BF’s in decision making that meets production, environmental, and lifestyle goals.
Erica Frenay- Cornell Small Farms Program and the NE Beginning Farmers Project
Phil Metzger- Consultant, NRCS Conservationist-Retired
Elizabeth Marks- USDA-NRCS, Ghent, NY
Building Cultural Competency – How do you engage minority and other underserved communities with your agricultural programs and BF services? Learn strategies for connecting with and building relationships with military veterans, Latinos, and new immigrants to extend the reach of your BF trainings.
Eduardo Gonzalez, Statewide Diversity Specialist, CCE-NYC
Chris Wayne, New Farmer Development Project, FarmRoots NYC
Norm Conrad, NE Regional Director-National Center for Apppropriate Technology, Armed to Farm Program
Sarah Bostick, Cultivating Community, Portland, ME