Southwest farm, ranch marketing conference is March 27 to 29
Untitled
Colorado
The Southwest Marketing Network is having its 4th annual conference in Grand Junction, March 27 to 29, at the DoubleTree Hotel, 743 Horizon Drive, just off Interstate 70. The Network is a collaboration of farm and food organizations, tribes and government agencies that promote building markets for farmers and ranchers in the Four Corner's States. Registration for the three-day conference, which includes five meals, is only $150.
The conference will feature:
--Four keynote speakers;
--24 informative sessions;
--A tour of agricultural businesses in the Grand Valley;
--A workshop on Farm to School and Cafeteria Marketing, to understand the business of placing healthful food in schools. (1:00 - 5:30, Monday).
--A workshop about alternative marketing specifically for Extension agents (1:00 - 5:00, Monday). Contact Jim Dyer at jadyer@frontier.net for an invitation.
Those interested in a tour of Grand Valley agricultural businesses can hop on the bus at 12:30 on Monday, March 27, leaving from the DoubleTree Hotel. The first stop will visit Talbot's Orchard, a large orchard, packinghouse, and value-adding processing operations. Then, at Rancho Durazo, participants will learn about marketing fruit and vegetables through farmers' markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Next, the Grand River Winery will present ideas about competition, collaboration, and sustainability in the wine business. Plus there will be some wine tasting! The final stop on the tour will be at the Campbell Hansmire sheep operation to learn about marketing through product differentiation.
The tour will return to the hotel in time for the Local Foods Reception at 6 p.m. The reception will present locally-grown foods and ample time to get to know the people who produced them.
Tuesday morning, keynote speakers will offer valuable perspectives to help participants in marketing of Western Colorado and Southwest products.
They include:
--Bill Buchanan, is the Director of the USDA Risk Management Agency Civil Rights and Community Outreach Program. He will discuss how his agency can partner with farmers and ranchers to improve their business outlook.
--Lou Swanson, a CSU Associate Dean and editor of "Challenges for Rural America in the 21st Century" will speak on New Settlers, Agricultural Legacies: Challenges and Opportunities.
--John Allen, director of the Western Rural Development Center at Utah State University, will speak on Rural Entrepreneurship.
--Brent Warner, is the Industry AgriTourism Specialist with the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture & Lands and authored the farmer's guide, "Marketing on the Edge." He will be speaking on Local Food for Local Good.
Educational sessions are designed to help the producer in many aspects of production and marketing. Topics include: Alternative Marketing; Local Markets, Nutrition, and Food Security; Business Planning and Skills; Increasing Local Production; and Policy. Several sessions will be held in each of these topic areas.
To register for the Southwest Marketing Network conference, call Le Adams with SWMN at 505-473-1004 or for information, call Ed Page with the Tri River Area Extension office: 970-249-3935 or go to www.swmarketing.ncat.org.
Date: 3/23/06
Agriculture News from HPJ - Your Ag News Source
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2008. High
Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing
of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives
or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or
comments you can reach us at
High Plains Journal
1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801
or call 1-800-452-7171. Email:
webmaster@hpj.com
|
|
