There are only 60 seats available for this training, first come first served.
For a registration fee of $105 you get . . .

-A ticket to the informational welcome social from 6:30-9 pm on August 19th at the 5 Points Music Sanctuary in Roanoke, with live music by Blacksburg's own Clover Hollow, cash bar and heavy hors d'oeuvres by Blue Ridge Catering.

-Two days of on-farm training provided by a progressive public/private team: John Fike (Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences), Mark Jones (Sharondale Farms), John Munsell (Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment), Adam Taylor (Virginia Tech's Office of Outreach and International Affairs), and Katie Trozzo (Kindred Roots Collaborative). Topics include silvopasture, contour alley cropping, multi-functional riparian buffers, water quality and nutrient markets, fungi management and mulch inoculation, forest farming, hemp production, windbreaks, and regenerative farm planning.

-A ticket to a locally sourced banquet from 6:30-9 pm with keynote Keefe Keeley from the Savanna Institute. Keefe's talk is titled "We do not farm for bread alone: Making a living and a livable world with agroforestry". Dinner is provided by Blue Ridge Catering and cash bar is available.

-Lunch from Roanoke Foods Co+op and transportation both days. Breakfast provided for those staying at the Hotel Roanoke.

Rooms available at The Hotel Roanoke for a very reduced rate of $75 per night with breakfast included.

Location:
VT Catawba Sustainability Center
5075 Catawba Creek Rd.
Catawba, Virginia 24070

Contact:
Lindsay Newsome / (540) 974-5767 /

https://vabf.org/agroforestry-farming-workshop/

Help build a hoophouse from the ground up! Learn how hoophouses can extend the growing season with Dayton Urban Grown's Lisa Helm, then help her raise the roof!

Cost and Registration: $75 includes lunch. To register, go to www.communitysolution.org.

This event is presented by the Arthur Morgan Institute for Community Solutions and part of the 2019 Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series. Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted in the tour brochure. For more information about Community Solutions's other events, go to www.communitysolution.org. For more information about all events in the series, go to www.oeffa.org.

Location:
Agraria
131 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd.
Yellow Springs, OH 45387

Contact:
Susan Jennings / (937) 767-2161 /

http://www.communitysolution.org

The CFAES Center for Cooperatives, OSU Extension Direct Food & Agricultural Marketing Team, and Ohio Farm Bureau are teaming up to host an interactive experience for food entrepreneurs who are poised to grow their businesses.
Foodpreneurs will engage with experts in branding, sales, marketing, and more to learn strategies to meet their growth goals.
Date: Two-part workshop on September 23rd and 30th, 2019
Time: 2 pm - 6:30 pm
Location: Keller Market House, 134 S. Columbus Street, Lancaster, Ohio 43130
Participation is limited to 30 foodpreneurs. Interested foodpreneurs must apply by 5 p.m. on August 15, 2019. Foodpreneurs will be notified of their selection and scholarship availability by August 22, 2019.
The cost to participate in Foodpreneur School is $125 per person due by September 9, 2019. Ohio Farm Bureau member price is $75. A limited number of scholarships are also available.

Location:
Keller Market House
134 S Columbus St
Lancaster, OH 43130

Contact:
CFAES Center for Cooperatives / (740) 289-2071 ext. /

https://u.osu.edu/osucooperatives/2019/06/17/foodschool/

See what's going on in the region with local growing, weaving, and dying, and learn why it matters! This hands-on workshop, discussion, and presentation is co-sponsored with Rust Belt Fibershed.

Cost and Registration: To register, go to www.communitysolution.org.

This event is presented by the Arthur Morgan Institute for Community Solutions and part of the 2019 Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series. Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted in the tour brochure. For more information about Community Solutions's other events, go to www.communitysolution.org. For more information about all events in the series, go to www.oeffa.org.

Location:
Agraria
131 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd.
Yellow Springs, OH 45387

Contact:
Susan Jennings / (937) 767-2161 /

http://www.communitysolution.org

OEFFA's flagship Begin Farming course is now accepting applications. Heartland Farm Beginnings® is a nationally field-tested, farmer-led, sustainable farm planning program. 

The intensive, eight-part workshop series will enable farmers, with at least one year of production experience, to develop a whole farm plan through realistic goal setting, financial management, and assessment of resources, skills, and markets. Early career farmers will also receive the business planning tools necessary to successfully implement their plan.

The Heartland Farm Beginnings® program includes:
- 56 hours of farmer-led, community-based sustainable agriculture classroom education 
- Course supplies (including a binder and reading materials)
- OEFFA Family Farm membership for one year
- Registration and lunches to attend the OEFFA conference (February 14-15, 2020)
- A passionate and like-minded cohort
- One-on-one mentorship with an experienced farmer, FSA Borrower Training Completion Certificate, and KIVA loan endorsement for qualified participants
- Guided development of a Growing Season Learning Plan

Cost: $1,000 ($1,200 for applications received after September 1, 2019) for up to two individuals from the same farm business working on the same business plan. Payment plans and partial scholarships of up to $500 are available.

Ready to learn more? Contact the Begin Farming Program Coordinator for an information packet including specific class topics, dates, and an application. Applications require a $75 deposit and will be accepted until September 20, 2019 or until the cohort fills.

Location:
OEFFA Office
41 Croswell Rd.
Columbus, OH 43214

Contact:
Rachel Tayse / (614) 421-2022 /

https://beginfarming.oeffa.org/heartland-farm-beginnings/

Effective grassroots leaders make the difference. Indeed, you, OEFFA's members, make THE difference. Whether you are a long-time advocate for sustainable agriculture, a farmer who sees far too many farm policies harming small farms, or someone newly interested in local food seeking the best way to engage, OEFFA wants to see you thrive as a leader and advocate. OEFFA has partnered with the Institute for Conservation Leadership (ICL) to offer a special leadership training for OEFFA members. Participants will learn about OEFFA's structure, policy priorities, and avenues for engagement, while learning effective advocacy strategies and broadly applicable leadership skills, that will benefit you in your own work, business, or volunteer efforts.

Cost and Registration: $35, includes light breakfast fare and lunch. To register, go to https://action.oeffa.org/be-the-change.

This event is presented by OEFFA as part of the 2019 Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series. Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted in the tour brochure. For more information about all events in the series, go to www.oeffa.org.

Location:
OEFFA Office
41 Croswell Rd.
Columbus, OH 43214

Contact:
Milo Petruziello / (614) 421-2022 /

http://www.oeffa.org