Stuart Beare, Tulleys Farm
 www.tulleysfarm.com

Dede Beck, Uncle John's Cider Mill
Eight years ago, I joined my husband's family farm: Uncle John's Cider Mill, and was quickly transformed into a "Farm Marketer." The Cider Mill and Market is in its 33rd season, although the farm itself has been in the family for over 100 years. On our farm, we grow apples, pumpkins, cherries, blueberries and asparagus and sell them all retail at our market. We also have a bakery, Cider Mill, Gift Shop, Winery and Tasting Room, as well as the outdoor entertainment including a Train, Wagon, Pumpkin Patch, and Corn Maze. 
   My educational background is in Journalism with advertising, public relations and marketing as my areas of study. My job at the farm is very broad and consists of many things: accounting, advertising, hiring, training, merchandising, ordering, and product development to name a few. Last year, my husband and I built an on-farm Winery and Tasting Room that has proven very successful.
 www.ujcidermill.com

Nancy Bellow, Oswego State University of New York
Nancy J. Bellow serves as Director of SUNY Oswego’s Center for Business and Community Development.  She began at the college in October of 1995. Her responsibilities in this position include developing and implementing services for business, industry and the community. In this position she supervises the Small Business Development Center and oversees all curriculum development for business services. Nancy serves as liaison between the college and the business community in assessing business’ training needs, negotiating and implementing training contracts and personally providing training as necessary. She also serves as liaison between the university and area economic development agencies, chambers of commerce and other small business organizations. She develops and implements programs for small business start-ups and leads the Women’s Network for Entrepreneurial Training. She is Executive Director of Leadership Oswego County, a yearlong program that develops community trusteeship.  Nancy also fills the position of Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Oswego County, Inc. where she implements all their activities and programs. She has extensive experience in governance and non-profit board development.
   Prior to employment with the college, Nancy held several professional and administrative positions with the Oswego County Government. Nancy has a degree in Economics from SUNY Oswego.
   She presently serves on the Board of Directors for Operation Oswego County, Inc. (the county’s economic development agency) and holds the office of secretary; Board of Directors for Oswego Health, Inc. and is Vice President and chair of the governance committee; the Regional Compact (a regional economic development organization); the leadership team for the Women’s Network for Entrepreneurial Training; and the board of the New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals.
Nancy has been recognized twice by Oswego County Business Magazine - as One of the Area’s 10 Most Powerful Women and as “One of the 100 People You Should Meet (if you want to get things done in Oswego County)”. Vice President Al Gore’s National Performance Review also recognized her for contributing to building a government that works better and costs less. Bellow has received the Oswego Chamber of Commerce’s Ken Boutwell Award for long-term, selfless commitment to the Chamber and the business community and the prestigious, Martin Rose Economic Developer Award from Operation Oswego County, Inc.
 www.yourcareerconnection.org 

Pamela Boyar, Sunset Valley Farmers' Market
 www.SunsetValleyFarmersMarket.org 

Glenn Boyette, Boyette Farms

Diane Breeding, TAMU Dept. of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences
Ms. Breeding has Bachelors and Masters degrees from North Carolina State University. She is an Extension Assistant with expertise in developing and managing for hospitality. She has worked as an outdoor recreation resource planner with the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, a program coordinator with the City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department, and as a community issues educator. In 1994, Diane joined Texas Cooperative Extension in the Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences as an Extension Assistant to manage the Texas Friendly Hospitality Program where she conducts train the trainer workshops for customer service skills & interpretation. She is also a trainer for the Building Common Ground workshop that teaches skills important in bringing diverse groups together for collaboration and is an experienced facilitator in strategic planning.
    
Jim Cain, The Assoc. for Challege Course Tech.
Dr. Jim Cain is the author of the award winning adventure-based text Teamwork & Teamplay which received the Karl Rohnke Creativity Award presented by the Association for Experiential Education (AEE). He is the former Executive Director of the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT), and a senior consultant to the Cornell University Corporate Teambuilding Program. Jim makes his home in Brockport, New York. He holds a Bachelor degree from YSU, Master degrees from the RIT and U of R, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Rochester. Dr. Cain frequently serves as a visiting professor on subjects ranging from experiential education, and leadership to challenge and adventure-based activities, and from recreational dancing and games leadership, to structural engineering, chaos and powder mechanics.
   Some of Jim's experience in adventure-based leadership comes from his long involvement with the Ohio-based Buckeye Leadership Workshop. In recent years, he has presented workshops, staff training events, seminars and keynote presentations in 36 states and 9 countries, including the Bradford Woods Institute, AEE Regional and Internal Conferences, 4-H Conferences in 11 states and recreation workshops in a dozen states. In 1996, Jim helped create and facilitate a team building program for the NASA Lunar-Mars project to prepare personnel for extended missions. Jim also assists with the staff training of many summer camp programs each year. Most recently his work includes facilitating challenge and adventure activities, writing award winning adventure-based books, and the analysis, design and construction of portable, ground-level and permanently installed adventure equipment.
   In addition to challenge and adventure-based educational programs, Jim has created a series of corporate teambuilding activities that have been used with technical teams, managers, sales teams and assembly workers. These activities have also been applied in academic, therapeutic recreation and other professional settings. Jim has also worked extensively to create fully accessible adventure programs and challenge course equipment for organizations which include participants with specialized needs.
   As the owner and creative force behind Teamplay, Jim frequently consults with schools, colleges, youth center, camps and corporate clients regarding the use of adventure-based activities. He has created, collected and modified a multitude of portable, ground-level initiatives and challenge activities in addition to designing and building equipment for these activities. His publications include contributions to the Bradford Papers, The Book of Metaphors - Volume II edited by Michael Gass, 50 Ways to Use Your Noodle and 50 More Ways to Use Your Noodle by Chris Cavert and Sam Sikes, Adventure Programming by Miles and Priest, the classic Teamwork & Teamplay, and more recently, The Book on Raccoon Circles. Watch for a new book Teambuilding Hardware, coauthored with Sam Sikes and Chris Cavert, a Guide to processing Activities, co-authored with Jennifer Stanchfield and Michelle Cummings, and a second volume of Teamwork & Teamplay!
  www.teamworkandteamplay.com

Rod Carlyon, Alberta Agriculture Food & Rural Development
Rod works with the Alberta Provincial Government in the business field helping farmers bridge the gap to the consumer driven market place. Current work is primarily in the field of direct Marketing meat products. With his wife, Janet, and three girls Andria(14), Jessice(12) and Briana(10) they operate a mixed livestock operation. The beef component is primarily forage based with limited direct market sales. The poultry operation, forage based as well, is 100% direct sold to the consumer.

Margie Child, British Columbia Agritourism Alliance
Margie Child is one of the founders and past presidents of the BC Association of Farmer's Markets (founded in 2000). During the 2 years she spent on that board, she was invited by the provincial government to sit as the representative of BC Farmers' Markets on a steering committee responsible for the development of Agritourism in the province. Margie has spent 3 years as a board member of the BC Agritourism Alliance (BCATA) - and is currently the president. Previous to her schooling she was part owner of an agritourism operation in Salmon Arm, BC, for 17 years. This was a 60-acre vegetable farm using horses for power rather than tractors. She developed and managed a small commercial kitchen, a retail farm store outlet, tours in the summer and sleigh rides in the winter, as well as handling sales at four Farmer's Markets a week, for 6 months each year.

Craig Christopher, Rio Cibolo Ranch
Craig S. Christopher joined the family business, Rio Cibolo Ranch, as Marketing Director full time in August 2002. Rio Cibolo Ranch is a 130-acre working Longhorn cattle ranch and pecan orchard that has been entertaining and catering to private groups since 1987 and is located 25 miles northeast of San Antonio, Texas, and 50 miles southeast of Austin, Texas. Craig is a graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and obtained his law degree from Texas Wesleyan School of Law. Craig relies on his legal and business background (former franchisee of Subway Sandwiches in Austin, Texas) to handle the marketing and advertising for Rio Cibolo Ranch as well as the day-to-day operations. Craig is past president of the San Antonio Young Lawyers Association ('99-'00) and won the San Antonio Bar Association's President Award in 1998 in recognition of his outstanding service to the Association for planning the First Annual Bench - Bar Conference, as the social and events coordinator. Craig is an active member of the International Special Events Society (VP of Communications), the Alama Area Hospitality Association, Meeting Professionals International-Texas Hill Country Chapter and the  San Antonio Hotel and Lodging Association. Craig is a San Antonio native and is married to Christie Lynn Christopher; they have three children, Caroline (9), Chandler (6), and Colby (3).
www.riociboloranch.com

Marjie Christopher, Rio Cibolo Ranch
Marjie Christopher is a Master Gardener, Master Naturalist, Member of the Audubon Society, the American Herb Society, and a Docent at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. Her landscape is certified as a wildscape and wildlife habitat. Marjie has also authored two cookbooks, A Little Bit of Texas Cooking and Texas Pecans: The Whole Story, Bits and Pieces. Marjie devotes much of her time to the community, sharing her knowledge of plans, landscape, and cooking to various groups such as schools, women's groups, and other Since 1987, Marjie has owned and operated Rio Cibolo Ranch, a 130-acre working longhorn cattle ranch and pecan orchard, which was founded for the sole purpose of entertaining and catering to private group functions. The ranch amenities include Cibolo Orchard, Creekside Garden, and Lily Gardens. These gardens were developed with Marjie's expertise and include herbs, edible plants, and fruit trees. Her love of cooking led to the development of the Rio Cobolo Ranch "A Little Bit of Texas Cooking School," located on the banks of the Cibolo of which she is the School Director.
www.riociboloranch.com

Jane Eckert, Eckert, Eckert AgriMarketing
It is no wonder that Jane Eckert, a farmer’s daughter and former corporate marketing executive, has become a recognized expert on agritourism, a growing travel trend in America. She created one of the most successful tourism farms in North America and now helps members of the travel industry tap into the agritourism market. Jane, now in her second year of consulting with the travel division of the State of Kansas, works with travel professionals, farmers and ranchers in order to develop agritourism in the state.
   Jane was raised on her family’s apple orchard outside of St. Louis, Missouri, and eventually pursued an executive career in corporate marketing for more than 15 years, working for such giants as Atlantic Richfield Oil Company.   
   Combining her marketing expertise and her passion for agriculture, she returned to her roots as Vice President of Marketing for Eckert’s Country Store and Farms. Through her innovative ideas and through working closely with CVBs and tourism authorities, she helped develop the farm into one of metropolitan St. Louis’ most popular entertainment and tourist destinations, attracting 500,000 guests annually.
   Jane has been featured in U.S.A. Today and interviewed for hundreds of newspapers, magazines and radio shows throughout the country. In her speeches and workshops, she has helped thousands of tourism professionals to see the financial benefits of promoting the niche product of agritourism. 
   In 2001, Jane created Eckert AgriMarketing, a full-service marketing and consulting firm that offers a variety of services to the tourism industry and agricultural operations to help them harvest the rewards of agritourism. Jane was given the outstanding leadership award by the North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association in 2005.
   She has been an active member of Convention and Visitors Bureaus both in Missouri and Illinois. She is past president of both the St. Louis Attractions Association, Belleville Tourism in Illinois and The North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association.
 www.eckertagrimarketing.com

Diane Eggert, Farmers Market Federation of New York
Executive Director of the Farmers' Market Federation since its inception in 1998. Also Executive Director of the New York State Farmers' Direct Marketing Association.
  www.nyfarmersmarket.com

Jed Elrod, Pecos County Extension
Jed has been the Ag & Natural Resources agent for Texas Cooperative Extension in Pecos County since 2001. As the Ag agent for Texas' second largest county, Jed has programming responsibility in a myriad of fields, ranging agronomically from alfalfa, cotton, pecan and wine grape production to beef cattle, sheep & goats, wildlife businesses & issues, horses and inland shrimp production. He is known in his region for his involvement in community development and his expertise in seeing what is being looked at in order to help his clientele develop their nature tourism/natural resource enterprises. He has successfully written several grants to augment his programming efforts and mentors several younger agents in rangeland related issues in Far West Texas. He helped to organize Trans Pecos Tourism Partnership and because of his efforts and visibility, more people in west Texas are now engaged in catering to the nature tourism trade. He regularly partners with Texas Department of Agriculture, USDA-NRCS and local county governments to promote rural entrepreneurship.
Jed has worked in various capacities in Utah, Arizona & New Mexico and managed two large south Texas ranches. He is a Certified Professional in Rangeland Management, a past Range Management, currently serves as chairman or director of several state level organizations and is co-owner of EquiBalance and Great Western Adventures.

Betty Eshleman, Eshleman Fruit Farm
Elizabeth (Betty) Eshleman and her husband, Richard, have been growing fruit--cherries, peaches, plums, apples--on 200 acres since 1977. The orchard is located in North Central Ohio. They wholesale, retail and have U-Pick on all fruit they produce. They encourage school and senior tours. Betty is past president of the county Farm Bureau, board member of the Ohio Fruit Growers Society, and president of the Ohio Apple Marketing Program.

Gieselle Fest, Carolyn's Country Cousins
Attended: Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa and University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Previously Clay County Historic Sites Director, Clay County, Missouri
Director of Education, Carolyn's Country Cousins 11 years to present
Artist
 www.carolynscountrycousins.com

Virginia Gieseke, Drake Neighborhood Farmers' Market
Virginia Gieseke is the manager of the Drake Neighborhood Farmers' Market in Des Moines, Iowa, which is a charter member of the Iowa Farmers' Market Association (IFMA). She is a member of the IFMA board of directors, and the newsletter editor. She served as one of the key IFMA contacts for the economic study process.
She started the Drake Neighborhood Farmers' Market in 1997, and it has become a weekly center of activity for the community. She works for the success of farmers' markets because of the support they provide for for sustainable agriculture and entrepreneurs, in addition to being a source of affordable nutritious food, and all the benefits they bring to a community.

Ken & Laurie Graff, South Texas Corn Maze/7A Ranch
Howdy from Texas! We are the Graff family: Ken, Laurie, Colin (11) and Justina (7). Our ranch, The 7A Ranch, is an authentic South Texas cattle ranch. Our ranching heritage dates back to the 1840s. Ken and Laurie represent the 5th generation to live and work on the 7A Ranch.
   In December of 1995, with the passing of Ken’s dad, Ralph, we were forced to rethink our traditional ways of farming and ranching to ensure the families’ land would stay in our possession. Our decision to go into agritourism started in July of 1996 when we began direct marketing our chemical free beef to the public. To this day folks come out to our ranch in Hondo, TX to pick up their orders of beef or we ship their orders from our website, www.7aranch.com. The beef business led to our next form of agritourism.
   We began hosting tour groups at our ranch in the summer of 1998. Groups come out to our authentic South Texas cattle ranch to hear the history behind our ranch, enjoy an evening of western entertainment and food, and just kick back and relax under the big Texas sky! In the fall of 2000 we received a very nice thank you note from one of our ranches’ guests. Enclosed with the note were articles pertaining to corn mazes. We found The MAiZE on the internet and with our 5th yr. upon us now we are looking forward to a bright, successful and a”maze”ing future!
  As Colin and Justina’s parents we feel very fortunate to provide them with a rural up bringing. Whether we are working cattle, hosting guests at our ranches’ pavilion or helping folks find their way in and out of our mind-boggling maze, we love having our children working and playing by our sides. Both children express a desire to stay on their families’ ranch. We are working together as a family to provide our children with strong moral values and a firm foundation for whatever their futures may hold. We count our blessings each and everyday that the Good Lord has blessed us with such a special life style!
  www.7Aranch.com

Bill Hellen, La Mota Ranch
Charles W. "Bill" Hellen grew up on the family's South Texas cattle ranch near Hebbronville, Texas and is currently Managing General Partner of the 110-year-old enterprise. He intensely promotes the deer and quail hunting opportunities on the family's 7,000-acre El Ebanito and La Mota ranches. In 2000, Bill and family members initiated a nature and heritage tourism venture, inviting motor coach tour groups to visit the scenic and historical Charles W. Hellen La Mota Ranch. Bill Hellen is past-chairman of the Rio Bravo Resource Conservation and Development Council and led the effort to develop the Llanos Mestenos (Mustang Plains) South Texas Heritage Trail guide book and map. The Council also sponsors The South Texas Ecotour Marketing Alliance (STEMA), a listing of farmers and ranchers that diversify with various tourism enterprises. Bill is Vice-Chairman of the Texas Tropical Trail Regional Board, and is a member of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Assn., The Texas Wildlife Assn., and the Texas Farm Bureau. www.lamotaranch.com

Jim Hightower

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