November 9-10, 2009 at the Sheraton Richmond West Hotel
Virginia State University’s Small Farm Outreach, Training and Technical Assistance Program has scheduled its seventh annual Small Farm Family Conference on Monday, Nov. 9 through Tuesday, Nov. 10 at the Sheraton Richmond West Hotel located at 6624 West Broad Street, Richmond.
Jane Eckert, proprietor of Eckert AgriMarketing, Inc., and a published author with six books on agri-tourism and agri-marketing to her credit, is one of the conference’s keynote speakers. She will talk about agriculture tourism opportunities that can enable farm families to generate more income than could ever be earned growing and selling crops and livestock. She will also discuss agri-tourism marketing strategies with a focus on consumer demand, website design and effective publicity for marketing farms and maximizing profits.
Will Allen, chief executive officer of Growing Power, an organization dedicated to developing Community Food Systems, will deliver a keynote message about “Linking Urban and Rural Communities.”
Other conference sessions include:
• Business and market planning essentials for the small farmer.
• Urban forestry.
• Preserving the farm for future generations.
• Educating kids about agriculture.
• Small farm liability and legal issues associated with marketing directly to the public.
• Selling to restaurants.
• Workplace farmers markets and community supported agriculture; and
• Urban farming for profit.
Special program features include a USDA panel session on fundingopportunities and incentives for small, limited resource andsocially-disadvantaged farmers; livestock, aquaculture and horticulturetours; and a children’s program.
A registration fee of $25 per person (adult or child) covers conference materials, dinner on Monday, and lunch on Tuesday. To register, call Carol Streetman, VSU administrative specialist, at (804)524-5960 or e-mail cstreetman@vsu.edu.
For more information on the conference, call Fidelis Okpebholo, coordinator of VSU’s Small Farm Outreach, Training and Technical Assistance Program, at (804) 524-5662 or e-mail fokpebholo@vsu.edu. Anyone needing special services or accommodations in order to participate should call by Nov. 2 to discuss arrangements.