Here's a brief review of the different tracks that will be presented. For more in-depth
session information, visit our session summaries page.

NAFDMA Presents
Our signature track heading is back, and this time it will help you discover potential in various aspects of your farm. “What Flew and What Flopped: Best Management Practices for Farms & Ranches” will delve into the best and worst ideas of the past year or so. In “Employee Incentive Programs,” participants will learn in detail how two  successful farms, one in New York and one in Michigan, retain their employees. Moderator Dede Beck will also share ideas from a variety of other farms and ranches, too. If you’re looking to ramp up your Web presence, be sure to attend Capturing Clicks: The Best of NAFDMA Member Web Sites. The presenters will use entries in the Web site contest as they the whys, whats and  hows of great Web sites.

Best Management Practices
BMPs are one of today’s hottest buzzwords. Why are they important? Two words: liability insurance. No to mention, they’re just good business practice. After all, who doesn’t want to keep their employees and farm visitors safe? The sessions in this track will explore BMPs in retail and on petting farms, and it’ll even take a look at how you can start haunting your customers—safely and on a shoestring budget.

Featured Farms & Ranches
The sessions in this track will take an in-depth look at several farms and ranches. One session will examine how a successful agritourism farm with a CSA links its customers to the farm experience. Another session will look at a well-known San Antonio ranch and how it feeds the large crowds during its corporate parties and other events. Two farms will delve deep into details of how they handle school tours by the thousands.

Ecotourism & Agritourism
Whether you call it ecotourism or nature tourism, it’s an area of great opportunity for farms and ranches everywhere. Could you accommodate farm visitors for bird watching or star gazing? Maybe you’ll discover potential of ecotourism. Do you specifically target the senior crowd with your farm or ranch tours? What makes a good senior tour? What facilities do they appreciate? You might be able to discover potential in this area and expand your tour offering. Or how about culinary tourism? Can you bring chefs or groups to your farm to learn how to cook with fresh fruits, vegetables or herbs? Another area in which to discover potential.

Totally Texas
The sessions in this track were inspired by the Texans with whom we met during conference planning. They might be by Texans, but don’t miss out on an opportunity to discover potential in this track, as the sessions are for everyone. The track starts off with a bang with two dynamic presenters, both of whom could be keynote speakers themselves. Jim Hightower, the former Texas ag commish, and John Dromgoole, owner of a garden center and radio show host, will throw out plenty of ideas and opinions as they encourage everyone to discover their own brand of Lone Star potential. You’ll also learn about different methods of retailing meat and poultry, and two Texas families, the Graffs and Arnoskys, will explain how they integrate their children into farm life. And, Bill Varney of Fredericksburg Herb Farm will explain how he took an abandoned farm and turned it into an herbal oasis.

Farmers’ Markets: The Big Picture
Many big issues face farmers’ markets throughout the world. How do you know if your farmers’ market is truly successful? How do you cope with the issue of liability insurance at farmers’ markets? What are some innovative ideas for local, regional and even national public relations campaigns? These sessions will help answer some of these big questions. You’ll also have a chance to visit a successful Austin farmers’ market on Saturday morning.

Farmers’ Markets: The Hot Topics
Just as some issues are big, others are hot. This track will present a variety of sessions that take a look at some of the hottest topics in the farmers’ market world. From CSAs and farmers’ markets to electronic benefit transfers, be sure to check out these sessions. You’ll also have a chance to visit a successful Austin farmers’ market on Saturday morning.

Click Here for Session Summaries 

Back to Top