I just went to sign up for the Poultney meeting on the 25th and did not see 

it on the survey monkey.  Has it been canceled?

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "Beth Holtzman" <[log in to unmask]>

To: <[log in to unmask]>

Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 4:05 PM

Subject: Beginning Farmer Focus Groups





> Hello New Farmer Network members,

>

> I'm writing to invite you and colleagues at your organization to 

> participate in one of four upcoming focus groups on beginning farmer 

> needs.

>

> These focus groups are part of a SARE-funded project is designed to 

> educate agricultural professionals about the challenges that beginning 

> farmers face; stimulate changes in service delivery to make it more 

> responsive to beginning farmers’ needs; and develop a corps of service 

> providers better skilled at assessing stakeholder needs and using that 

> information to develop programs. An unofficial goal of this project is to 

> engage key stakeholders in defining what an effective, statewide, 

> beginning farmer program would look like, and which would help inform 

> Vermont proposals to the new Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development 

> Program.

>

> Additionally, any agricultural service providers who participate in a 

> focus group will be eligible to apply for a $1000 mini grant to conduct 

> beginning farmer programming in the next year.

>

> The focus groups will use a fishbowl approach (in which farmers serve as 

> educators) to explore the interconnected challenges that beginning farmers 

> face in terms of access to land, capital and credit, and building 

> production, marketing, business planning, and financial management 

> knowledge and skills. The focus groups will be held on farms and will 

> include lunch and a farm tour. Last January, we conducted a pilot focus 

> group which was very well received by both service providers and farmers. 

> All of the service providers reported learning something new, and all the 

> farmers reported feeling comfortable and respected during the process. "I 

> liked the opportunity to brainstorm and connect with other farmers," one 

> producer said afterwards."The conversation from the group of farmers was 

> quite different than talking to each one individually," observed a service 

> provider. "I enjoyed the dynamic."

>

> The four focus groups will be held at the following dates and locations:

>

> -- March 25 at Cerridwen Farm in Poultney at Green Mountain College;

> -- March 27 at The Center for an Agricultural Economy in Hardwick;

> -- April 2 at the Harlow Farm in Westminster

> -- April 9 at Applecheek Farm in Hyde Park.

>

> You can this link:

>

> https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=pphoQR5U7JNEDnGaKS3v3Q_3d_3d

>

> to sign up for one of the focus groups. Please forward this message both 

> to farmers and service providers you think might be interested in 

> participating.

>

> Thanks in advance for your help.

>

> Beth

>

>

>

> -- 

> ********************************

> Beth Holtzman

> Outreach Education Coordinator

> Women's Agricultural Network

> University of Vermont Extension

> 617 Comstock Rd.

> Berlin, VT 05602

> 617 Comstock Rd.

> Berlin, VT 05602

>

> [log in to unmask]

> 802-223-2389x15

> www.uvm.edu/wagn

> ********************************

>