Event Info:

The Southeast WV Farm Gathering will be held at the WV State Fairgrounds on Monday, June 16th, from 11:30AM-5:15PM; and Tuesday, June 17, 8:00AM - 12:30 PM. 

At this FREE event, you will have a chance to network with peers, meet service providers, and have training opportunities in marketing, basic AND advanced growers training, business planning and more!

Classes will be held Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning.  There will also be optional events on Monday evening, such as a tour of the on-site display gardens, a local foods dinner, and a young and beginning farmer mixer!  Come one or both days, depending on YOUR schedule!  Qualifying WV farmers will also have the opportunity to win a high tunnel package, while qualifying WV farmers markets or farm to school programs will have the opportunity to win a marketing/promotion package courtesy of Change the Future and the WVDE.

The registration deadline is Monday, June 9th, and spots are limited, so be sure to respond quickly and save your spot at the Farm Gathering!

Register Now! 

Agenda:

Monday, June 16

10:30am -11:30am – Vendor booth set-up

11:30am -12:30pm - Registration

12:30pm-1:30pm – Lunch & Welcome

1:30pm - 2:45pm – Breakout Session #1

3:00pm – 4:15pm – Breakout Session #2

4:30pm – 5:15pm – Service Provider Q & A

5:20pm – 5:45pm – Master Gardeners’ Tour of On-site Demonstration gardens

6:00pm – Local Foods Dinner!

7:30pm -9 :30pm – Young and Beginning Farmer Mixer at The Spring

 

Tues, June 17

8:00am-9:00am – Light morning refreshments and registration

9:00am – 9:30 am - Welcome

9:45am-11:00 – Breakout Session #3

11:15 – 12:30pm – Breakout Session #4

12:30 – Turn in evaluation forms and depart!

Breakout Sessions:
We are excited to be able to offer break-out sessions with high-quality trainings, requested by the folks in your area.  You will be able to choose from among...

Breakout #1:
Mon, June 16,
1:30 pm-2:45 pm

Exploring Grower Association Models
Liz Spellman, Executive Director WVFFC
Jill Young, Monroe Farm Market
Dawn Baldwin, Pocahontas on the Move                                       

Scaling up 101: What does scaling up look like?  What does selling larger volumes look like?

Integrated Permaculture on the Edge
Bill Whipple

Nuts and Bolts of Business Planning for Profitability
Dr. Dee Singh-Knights, WVU Extension Specialist, Agricultural Economics         

Breakout #2

Mon, June 16
3:00pm -4:15 pm

Best Practices for Long Term Sustainability from Regional Aggregators  
Sandy Kronick, CEO Eastern Carolina Organics
William Lantz, Garret Growers Cooperative & UMD Extension

How to Sell Year-Round
Lewis Jett and Cindy Martel

Farm Technology
Leandra Forman

Market Ready Training             
Cindy Martel, WVDA

Breakout #3
Tues, June 17
9:45 am - 11:00 am

 Production Planning for a Group
Mary Oldham

Scaling up 102:  Sounds like it may be for me!  How to plan to scale up your production for produce, meats, and value added
Steve Vortigren - Round Right Farm

Mentorship Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion

Which Direct Marketing Model Makes Sense for YOUR Farm Business?
Kelly Crane, West Virginia Farmers Market Association

 

Breakout #4
Tues, June 17
11:15am-12:30 pm

Product Liability Insurance
Dylan Boone, Farm Family Insurance 

Sustainable Meat Production
Bill Clapham & Jennifer Jones

Ergonomics of Farming
Lauren Wadsworth

Alternative Currencies
Change the Future, WV; FNS, DHHR 

Register Now! 

Young and Beginning Farmer Mixer:

 

If you are a new farmer or a young farmer, join us for a mixer at The Spring, from 7:30-9:30 PM.  Directions and details can be found here.

 

Instruments welcome and snacks and drinks provided!

 Sponsors:

 This event is hosted by the WV Farmers Market Association and Change the Future WV with support from the WVDE's Farm-to-School program. 

 

We are also very appreciative of our local planning partners:  The WV Food and farm Coalition, the Greenbrier Valley Local Foods Initiative, the Greenbrier Valley Pasture Network, the Alderson Community Food Hub, the Lewisburg Farmers Market, the Pocahontas County Farmers Market, the Master Gardeners and The Spring.

 

We are very grateful to our sponsors, without whom this event would not be possible:

 

The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation

Farm Credit of the Virginias

Farm Family Insurance

The WV Farmers Market Association

Change the Future, WV

The WV Department of Education