thanks for quick reply - I think Jon Ramsay is going to the Hardwick meeting 
and so VLT will have some representation. Keep me posted on Poultney.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Beth Holtzman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 12:12 PM
Subject: Re: Beginning Farmer Focus Groups


> We had to postpone the Poultney one and will reschedule it. I'll let you 
> know when a date is confirmed.
>
> Beth
>
> Alex Wylie wrote:
>> 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
>>> ********************************
>>>
>
>
> -- 
> ********************************
> 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
> ********************************