Anna Lyles... Farmer's wife, mother of 5, Owner/Operator of the Mesilla Valley Maze, New Mexico's Ag Educator of the Year, New Mexico's Farm Family of the Year.

   
Joanna, Susanna and Amanda Lyles, Mesilla Valley Maze

Amanda Lyles, 19 year old sophomore @ New Mexico State University.
   
Joanna Lyles, 4-H member,student government officer and 16 old daughter of a commercial farmer and a "maze maniac".
   
Susanna Lyles, 12 year old 4-H member and Maze Orphan.

Scott Lynch

Scott Lynch is an avid home cook, farmers’ market shopper, and local food aficionado. Since moving to Madison, Wis., over 10 years ago, he, his wife, and their daughter have made extensive use of the area’s farmers’ markets. During the month of August 2007, Scott and his family observed a strict diet of only foods grown within 100 miles of their home in Madison. The experiment was mostly successful and they chronicled their adventures on the blog www.vidalocal.blogspot.com. Since that time, they have re-introduced some non-local foods, but have continued to purchase as much of their food locally as possible.  Thanks to a year-round farmers’ market and several local stores, even in January they were able to spend over 50% of their grocery budget on locally-grown foods, and are always on the lookout for more local foods, especially in the cold months.

Jeff Manley, The Rock Ranch, LLC
  

Robert Moore, Wright Law Co. LPA

Robert Moore joined Wright Law Co. LPA in May 2004. The primary focus of his practice at Wright Law is business organizations, real estate transactions, landlord/tenant issues, contracts and Farm Service Agency programs. Wright Law Co., located in Dublin, Ohio, primarily focuses its practice in the area of agricultural law.

Robert was raised on a dairy farm in Coshocton County. In addition to the dairy, his family raises beef cattle, hogs and sheep, and produces hay and grain. Robert remains active in the operation. Growing up, Robert was a member of 4-H and FFA. Robert graduated from Riverview High School in 1987.

Robert received a Bachelor of Science degree in Dairy Science and a Master of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics from the Ohio State University. Upon graduating from OSU, Robert spent four years as an Agricultural Extension Agent in Fairfield County and five years as an Extension Associate in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Developmental Economics at The Ohio State University. While employed at OSU, Robert attended Capital University Law School's evening program. In January, 2005 he graduated Cum Laude. Robert was admitted to the Bar in May, 2005.

Robert has co-authored OSU Extension fact sheets on legal topics including landowner liability, managing liability with business entities, Ohio’s attractive nuisance law, and business organization for Ohio farms.  He has also given many presentations across Ohio on various legal issues for farm operators. 

Mark Olson, Renaissance Farm Inc./Crystal Infusion LLC

For more than 34 years Mark Olson has dedicated his life energy to farming, artisanal food production and community leadership. In 1985 Olson established Renaissance Farm Inc, an artisan food company specializing in field-grown fresh herbs processed into consumer-ready and food-service products, including pestos, vinaigrettes, infused olive oils and sea salts.

He has served as both president and board member for the Dane County Farmers’ Market in Madison, WI since its inception in 1974. He was active with the Wisconsin Rural Development Center and currently with the Buy Local/Buy Wisconsin Project. And with his wife Mary, created a series of tasting events that linked over 300 consumers with producers and the restaurants that use their products with wonderful feasts. Olson owns The River Valley Artisan’s Kitchen, a licensed commercial processing facility offering custom manufacturing and rental space to other food and beverage artisans. Olson believes food is fun and that when I benefit, you benefit, we all benefit.

My name is Jake Roba and I am a part of the second generation of Roba Family Farms. I am 13 years old and in seventh grade at the local public school. My interests are scouting, skiing, hunting, hiking and working on the farm.  My life on the farm consists of planting trees in the spring, maze design and layout during June, mowing and shearing trees during July and August, September and October are spent working the fall season. Generally, I spend most of my time working in the Kitchen or the Farm Animal Center. During the Christmas tree season I spend my weekends cashiering at our second farm location and weekdays after school tending to customers at our home farm. Then the best time of all is the winter months spent relaxing with my family and friends.

Thomas Rose, Red Apple Farm

13 on Feb 10th. Born in Boston, MA. Currently in 7th grade. Have been part of my family's 4th generation family farm since 2001. Interests include baseball, dirt bike riding and scouts.

Carol Schroeder, Orange Tree Imports

Carol “Orange” Schroeder and her husband Dean have been co-owners of Orange Tree Imports since 1975. The store, which was chosen as a Millennium Retailer by Gifts and Decorative Accessories Magazine, is managed as a participative democracy by a staff of about 34.
 
After doing her undergraduate work at Tufts University and the University of Copenhagen, Carol came to Madison to get an M.A. in Danish literature from the University of Wisconsin. She was hired as the manager of a branch of the Scandinavian furniture store Bord & Stol, which was renamed Orange Tree Imports after Carol and Dean purchased it.  

In addition to running Orange Tree Imports, Carol does freelance writing, translating and consulting. Her book titled Specialty Shop Retailing: Everything You Need to Know to Run Your Own Store was published by John Wiley & Sons in 1997, and the 3rd edition debuted in 2007. The book, which has been translated into Russian, is the inspiration for her podcast titled Specialty Shop Retailing. She also writes a bimonthly column for Gifts and Decorative Accessories titled Savvy Store Solutions.

Carol has presented seminars at gift shows in major cities across the U.S., at the North American Farmers Direct Marketing Association national conference in Charlotte, NC and at an international Corn Maze Symposium. She has presented in-depth seminars for retailers through the Main Street program and at the invitation of merchants’ associations. Carol is one of the charter members of the Retail Advisory Board of the national Gift and Home Trade Association, and has been featured in GHTA presentations in Phoenix, Chicago, San Diego and Florida.

In Madison, Carol founded the Monroe Street Merchants Association, and continues to serve as president thirty years later. She represents Monroe Street on the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce’s Metropolitan Neighborhood Business Council. She is also active in the Dane County Buy Local campaign.

Theresa Schuster, Schuster's Playtime Farm

A school system occupational therapist by profession, Theresa Schuster, has been working with youth of all ages for 20+ years. Beyond training required for the OT field, Theresa has attended conferences and workshops in the field of Recreation Therapy. She has used a variety of rec. therapy activities at their agritourism farm, Schuster's Playtime Farm in Wisconsin, for school, church, youth, corporate and employee gatherings for the last several years. The activities have added value and enjoyment to the groups' experiences at the farm.

   
Kristin Seaquist, Seaquist Orchards Farm Market

Seaquist Orchards has been raising, harvesting and processing cherries for five generations in Door County Wisconsin. Kristin Seaquist manages Seaquist Orchards Farm Market, which opened its doors 22 years ago. With a greenhouse, fudge kitchen, bakery, specialty foods, produce area and gift area, the market has grown to become a destination in Door County.

John Silveira, Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association

John has eighteen years of experience in California's Certified Farmers' Markets. He currently is the Director of the Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association, President of the California Federation of Certified Farmers' Markets and a member of the California Farmers' Market Advisory Committee.

PCFMA's mission is to establish and operate community-supported certified farmers' markets and other direct marketing outlets that provide: viable economic opportunities for California farmers and food producers, local access to farm fresh products, support for local businesses and community organizations, and education concerning food, nutrition and the sustainability of California agriculture.

 Mark Simmons, The Retail Computer Group

Mark Simmons is president and one of the three principal owners of The Retail Computer Group, LLC. Previously Mark was president of Diversified Computer Solutions Inc, which merged Jan 1, 2008 to form The Retail Computer Group, LLC.

Mark's background consist of the over thirty years of retail management experience as well as managing a  40,000 square foot department store.  Mark along with cofounder Herb Quandt form Diversified Computer Solutions 14 years ago, and have just recently merged with another leader in their industry, Da-Tronics Inc forming The Retail Computer Group, LLC.

With 35 employees and business partners nationwide, Mark heads up a sizable organization with over 600 customers spread throughout North America ranging from small one user shops to organizations with over 400 stores.  Mark brings vast experience from a wide mix of retailers ranging from gift shops, farm markets, nurseries, garden centers to state universities and large corporations. He looks forward to helping you with your retail Point of Sales questions.

Scott Skelly, Corn Mazes America

In 1998, Scott designed his first corn maze for his family’s farm at the age of 9. Ten years later, he is the founder and owner of Corn Mazes America. He has self published a how-to book for farms that has sold over 200 copies in the past four years. He now designs and cuts mazes for farms around the U.S. and as far away as China. During this time, Scott has faced and overcome my challenges faced by teenagers who are starting and operating their own business. He has always operated under the philosophy that “If you provide a quality product that makes your customer happy, your age should not matter.”

   
Joe & Scott Skelly, Skelly's Farm Market

Since almost as long as they can remember, Joe and Scott Skelly have grown up working with and being a part of the family farm and business. In the past 20 years, they have helped the farm to grow from 4 rows of sweet corn around the family house to a full scale farm market that now supports two. By working on and being a key part of the farm from a young age on, both of these presenters have experienced many of the challenges that teens face working in the family business.

40 years old. Have started farmers markets from Lake Tahoe to the border of Mexico. Married for 10 years with 4 children. Done markets for 17 years. Sucessfully started small{micro]WHOLESALE to supplement market income.

Jan Vala, Vala's Pumpkin Patch

Jan Vala is co-owner of Vala's Pumpkin Patch in Nebraska. While her husband, Tim, is the farmer and dreamer, Jan manages/schedules the staff members, handles marketing and promotions, oversees the group scheduling, buys the retail merchandise, and supervises cash handling procedures. The farm business operates as a five-week fall festival offering fall foods, hayrides, walk-through attractions, interactive/educational activities, live entertainment, campfire rentals, and general fun for families. With a total of 400 part-time staff members, about 200 of them need to be trained to use cash registers and money-handling procedures.

Go to Speakers, A-K