Free Online Beginning Farmers Conference – Growing for the Future

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Growing for the Future 2016 – A Free Online Beginning Farmers Conference from the National Farmers Union

The National Farmers Union is excited to announce  “Growing for the Future,” a free conference for beginning farmers and ranchers that will be held completely online! We’re proud to have lined up a number of high-profile presenters, farmer-to-farmer webinars, live Q&A, a discussion board, a resource center, and free giveaways throughout this three-day event.

Our goal is to continue to grow the movement of new farmers and continue to grow our food system. The conference will focus on a number of beginning farmer and rancher issues that I think folks in your network could gain great insight on, including: mentorship, business planning, USDA programs, student loans, land tenure, food safety, women and veterans in farming, conservation, and much more! Here is a link to the outline and registration page. Some content will be pre-recorded and some sessions will be live. All content will be available for one month after the conference!

Tentative Agenda for the Free Online Beginning Farmers Conference – Growing for the Future

December 5th
Tom Driscoll – Grant Writing 101
Paul Goeringer – Managing Legal Risk on the Farm
Harrison Topp – Less Than or Equal To: Turning Mentor Relationships into Healthy Business Partnerships
Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Program – Farm Labor Live Discussion

December 6th
Barbara Patterson – Farm Bill Breakdown
Sarah Campbell – NAP: How it Benefits Beginning Farmers
Michael Kovach – Sticking With It: Surviving the ‘Seven Year Itch
Brian Massey (Interview) – Urban Farming as a Beginning Farmer

December 7th
Bridget Holcomb – Managing Your Farm/Businesses/Nonprofit: It All Comes Down to Communication
Michael O’Gorman – Beginning Farmer Needs for Veterans
FarmHer – Live Q&A, 7:00PM EST
Lisa Kivirist – How She Does It: Women Farmers Generating Income through Diversification

December 8th
Bill Stevenson – Co-Ops 101
Ben Dye – Technology and Farming, FarmLink
JoAnn Baumgartner – Biodiversity on the Farm
Tom Giessel – Farmers Union Progressive