University of Wisconsin - Extension

Eau Claire -- A two-day conference for farmers and rural entrepreneurs who want to tap into emerging and value-added agricultural markets will be held in Eau Claire in late January.

The third annual Value-Added Conference, "Bringing Profits Back to the Farm," will examine ways that farmers and rural business people can gain a larger percentage of the consumers? dollar. The event will be Friday and Saturday, Jan. 26 and 27 at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center, Eau Claire.

"In order for the farmer to increase his or her profits, he has to increase his share of the market," said Will Hughes with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. "This conference will focus on ways to do that."

Hughes will deliver the keynote address, "Emerging Agriculture: Are You In or Out?" Friday morning.

Dick and Kim Cates, Cates Family Farm, Spring Green, will present the dinner speech, "Redefining Your Agriculture." Friday will also offer a chance for participants to speak with state legislators during a session sponsored by the Wisconsin Rural Partners. Saturday morning will open with a talk titled, "Agricultural Community: Building and Growing Together" by Will Allen of Growing Power Inc., Milwaukee.

The conference will offer a number of workshops, including forest landowner cooperation, e-commerce for small businesses, farmstead dairies (cow, sheep or goat), emerging crop oil developments, and farming as a public event. Other sessions will focus on challenges and opportunities in the organic industry, small farm resources, "green" labeling, and marketing a local identity.

The two-day event is a cooperative effort of the River Country Resource Conservation and Development Council; the University of Wisconsin-Extension Emerging Agricultural Markets Team; the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection; UW Center for Cooperatives; UW-River Falls Agricultural Resource Center; Wisconsin Farm Bureau; UW Center for Integrated Agricultural Studies; Wisconsin Rural Partners; and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce.

For those who register by Jan. 18, the conference cost is $75 per person, $65 for a second family member. Trade show exhibitors can register and secure booth space for $175, which includes meals and conference attendance. None of the costs include lodging, and there is no discount for single-day attendance.

More information or registration is available by calling Pam Herdrich, River Country RC&D, at 715-834-9672; or Jody Padgham, UW Center for Cooperatives, at 608-262-0705; or DATCP?s Wisconsin Farm Center at 800-942-2474.

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http://www.uwex.edu/ces/news

File: Sustainable, Marketing, Conferences