| Program - Sponsors - Registration - Lodging - Rideshare
ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR THE CONFERENCE IS NOW CLOSED. WALK-INS ARE WELCOME. PLEASE FILL OUT A REGISTRATION FORM IN ADVANCE TO SPEED UP YOUR WALK-IN REGISTRATION.
 14th Annual Farming for Profit and Stewardship Conference
January 18 & 19, 2013
National Conference Center - Lansdowne, VA
(Street address: 18980 Upper Belmont Place, Leesburg, VA 20176 - www.conferencecenter.com)
Scroll down for a conference schedule overview. Please note that the Butchering, Mobile Poultry Processing and Wormbin Construction pre-conference workshops are full. The available slots for One-on-One Business Coaching also are full.
Speaker Bios
Click here to read about our amazing speakers and presenters, and the expertise they bring to our conference.
Continuing Education Credits
CEUs have been approved for Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians, Registered. Click for a list of the approved sessions.
CEUs have been approved for Certified Dietary Managers. Click for a list of the approved sessions.
CEHs have been approved by the American Culinary Federation for ACF-certified professionals. Click for a list of the approved sessions.
CEUs have been approved by the American Society of Agronomy for Certified Crop Advisors. Click for a list of the approved sessions.
Kids Activities
Youth ages 10-14 can learn more about agriculture at their own level through the University of Maryland Extension's AGsploration program. The focus of the AGsploration program is to enhance youth's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) abilities through interactive lessons that focus on one of the area's top industries, agriculture. Youth will participate in hands-on group lessons to learn about different topics in agriculture. Dwayne Murphy of Baltimore County 4H will lead AGsploration.
We will also offer art activities using recylcables for children ages 6 and up. Aaron Springer, a recycled art specialist and public school art teacher will lead this activity.
All children at the National Conference Center must be registered for the conference at our reduced youth rates. Children may be signed in and out by their parents for two-hour blocks; parents must leave a cell phone number for contact in case of emergency.
Session Descriptions
Click track links below to see session descriptions or scroll down to see the full conference program. Also use the links at the top of the page for conference lodging and other logistics. Get a printable pdf of the conference brochure, or print out a one-page flyer to share with others.
Pre-Conference Workshops
General Sessions - Keynote, Local Food Celebration and Auction, Farmer Panel
Track 1 - Beginning Farmers
Track 2 - Scaling Up
Track 3 - Grass-Based Systems
Track 4 - Local Food Communities
Track 5 - Fruit and Vegetable Production
Track 6 - The Business of Farming
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Friday, January 18, 2013
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PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS (9:00-11:30 am)
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Farm Trainers and Mentors Workshop
Jack Gurley, Calvert's Gift Farm; Cathy Tipper, Future Harvest CASA Beginner Farmer Training Program; Shane LaBrake, Agricultural Consultant; Ellen Polishuk, Farming Consultant and Educator
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Butchering For Farmers, Chefs and Food Producers
Mike Brannon, Roseda Beef/ Old Line Custom Meat; Mike Smollon, Saval Foodservice
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Wild Fermentation Workshop
Sandor Ellix Katz, Wild Fermentation
Mobile Poultry Processing
Shawna DeWitt, Mountain View Farm at Blue Ridge Center
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Worm Bin Construction
Benny Erez, ECO City Farms
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Farmers Market Managers Workshop
Benjamin Bartley, Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture; Gus Schumacher, Wholesome Wave Foundation
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Developing Business & Risk Management Plans for Successful Wholesale & Food Hub Marketing
National Good Food Network Field Guide Team
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GENERAL SESSIONS
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11:30 am - 12:45 pm
Lunch and Networking
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1:00 - 2:15 pm
Keynote Address
David Kline, Larksong Farm
"What is the Future of Small-Scale Agriculture?"
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BREAKOUT SESSIONS
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2:30 - 4:00 pm
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4:15 - 5:30 pm
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TRACK 1
BEGINNING FARMERS
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Basic of Seasonal Crop Planning
Josh Volk, Slow Hand Farm
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Hatching and Brooding
Josh Hatkin, Avian Specialties
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TRACK 2
SCALING UP
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Effective Management of Farm Employees
Chip Planck, Wheatland Vegetable Farms, retired
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Growing a Diversified Farm: Two Case Studies
Ted Wycall, Greenbranch Farm; Dave Liker, Gorman Farm
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TRACK 3
GRASS-BASED SYSTEMS
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Natural Animal Health
Paul Detloff, DVM, Organic Valley
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High Density "Mob" Grazing
Doug Peterson, NRCS
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TRACK 4
LOCAL FOOD COMMUNITIES
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Occupy Backyards: Get Chickens Legal in Your Neighborood
Patricia Foreman, Good Earth Publications
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Urban Farmers Unite! The Farm Alliance of Baltimore Story
Maya Kosok, Farm Alliance of Baltimore; Elisa Lane, Whitelock Community Farm; Tyler Brown, Real Food Farm
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TRACK 5
FRUIT & VEGETABLE PRODUCTION
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Growing Organic Tree Fruit on the East Coast
Anthony Owens, Windy Ridge Organic Farms
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Cover Crops, Compost & Pollinator Habitats
Ron Wood, NRCS
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TRACK 6
THE BUSINESS OF FARMING
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Energy Hogs: Reducing Energy Use on Your Farm
Chris Lent, NCAT
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The Bs, Cs, LLCs and More of Business Structures
Tim Barkley, The Tim Barkley Law Offices
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Saturday, January 19, 2013
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BREAKOUT SESSIONS
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8:30 - 10:00 am
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10:15 - 11:45 am
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TRACK 1
BEGINNING FARMERS
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Grant, Cost-Share, Incentive and Loan Programs
Panelists: Jason Challendes, NE SARE; Jessica Danner, Farm Credit VA; Kim DePasquale, Virginia FSA; Steve McHenry, MARBIDCO; Lucie Snodgrass, Maryland FSA; Stephen Versen, VDACS
Moderator: Rob Schnabel, Future Harvest CASA, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and MD Grazers Network
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From Pasture to Market: Understanding Carcass Yields
Joe Cloud, T and E Meats
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TRACK 2
SCALING UP
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Purchasing Used Farm Equipment
Rick Hood, Summer Creek Farm
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Right-Sizing Your Poultry Operation
Carole Morison, Bird's Eye View; Tom Albright, Albright Farms
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TRACK 3
GRASS-BASED SYSTEMS
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Natural Pasture Health
Paul Detloff, DVM, Organic Valley
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Organic Dairy Farming
David Kline, Larksong Farm
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TRACK 4
LOCAL FOOD COMMUNITIES
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Practical Tools for Farm and Garden
Nazirahk Amen, Purple Mountain Organics
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Fermentation and the Local Food Movement
Sandor Ellix Katz, Wild Fermentation
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TRACK 5
FRUIT & VEGETABLE PRODUCTION
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Norton-Native Grape for More Sustainable Vineyards
Jenni McCloud, Chrysalis Vineyards
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Tractor Cultivation for Diverse Vegetable Operations
Josh Volk, Slow Hand Farm
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TRACK 6
THE BUSINESS OF FARMING
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Holistic Business Planning
Wally Hudson, Moving Meadows Farm; Ginny and Jeff Adams, Walnut Hill Farm; Mike Peterson, Mount Vernon Farm; Moderator: Sue Ellen Johnson, Piedmont Environmental Council
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Effective Use of Spreadsheets
Mike Koch, Firefly Farms
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GENERAL SESSIONS (1:30 - 3:30 pm)
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Membership Meeting
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Farmer Panel: Down a New Path - Stories of Change and Transition
Carole Morison, Bird's Eye View Farm
Forrest Pritchard, Smith Meadows Farm
Ted Wycall, Greenbranch Farm
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