BEGINNING FARMER FORUM
Wednesday March 13, 2002
Royalton Academy, Route 14, Royalton Vermont

 
This is an opportunity for beginning farmers and agricultural service providers to learn from each other about the challenges of getting started in farming as well as the resources available to beginning farmers. By the end of the day specific follow-up actions will be identified (for which funding and collaborations can be pursued) to help Vermont's beginning farmers succeed.

There is no registration fee but space and lunches are limited. Please pre-register by March 8 by phone (802) 656-5459 or by e-mail: susagctr@zoo.uvm.edu.  (If the weather is bad there will be a phone message posted regarding cancellation.)

Directions: take Exit 3 off I-89. Go east about a mile to the intersection at Route 14. Turn right, go south a couple of miles to the village of Royalton. The Royalton Academy is on the left, with a Senior Center sign.

8:45   Registration and coffee. (Please bring your own mug to reduce waste.)
9:15   Welcome and Background
                Vern Grubinger, Kathy Kinter
9:30   Loans for Beginning Farmers
                Mike Ghia, Ewtopia Farm
                Doug Harlow, Yankee Farm Credit
10:00   Discussion and ideas
10:15   Markets for Beginning Farmers
                 Emmett Dunbar, Anjali Farms
                 Lindsey Ketchel, Intervale Foundation
10:45   Discussion and ideas
11:00   Break
11:15   Some Programs for Beginning Farmers
                 NOFA Revolving Loan Fund - Richard Wiswall, Cate Farm
                 2+2 program - Don Maynard, University of Vermont
                 Growing New Farmer Network - Kathy Ruhf, N.E. Small Farm Institute
12:00   Free Lunch! Meat and meatless sandwiches, beverages
12:45   Land for Beginning Farmers
                Eric Rozendahl & Julie Rubaud, Eric and Julie's Plants and Produce
                 Deb Heleba, UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture
1:15    Discussion and ideas
1:30    Technical Assistance for Beginning Farmers
                 Brent Beidler, Beidler Family Farm
                 Vern Grubinger, UVM Extension
2:00    Discussion and ideas
2:15    Review and evaluate action list (small group discussions)
2:45    Prioritize action list (whole group)
3:00    'Where we go from here' (closing discussion)

This forum is funded by a grant from USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (SARE) and was planned in collaboration with farmers and representatives of: Farm Service Agency, Growing New Farmer Network, Intervale Foundation, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NOFA-VT, UVM Extension, Vermont Department of Agriculture Food and Markets, Vermont Land Trust, Vermont Senate Agriculture Committee, Yankee Farm Credit, and the legal profession.