VAFMA’s 7th Annual Virginia Farmers Market Conference is November 13-15 in Staunton at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel.

This 3-day event will have targeted workshops, dynamic speakers, and fun-filled social networking events including farm and winery tours! There will be sessions for beginners and experienced participants, for market vendors and market managers along with an exhibit area packed with resources.

This year’s theme — Virginia is for Farmers Market Lovers — focuses on Agritourism — an often untapped path for helping shoppers discover farms and farmers markets. Sessions will also cover other topics tailored to the needs of market managers and vendors.

Location:

Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference Center
24 South Market Street
Staunton, Virginia, VA 24401

Conference Logistics for Attendees

NOTE:
Parking at the hotel is $7.50/day
CASH ONLY

Interested in participating?

Partners – Sponsorship Opportunities

Volunteers – Get Involved

Agenda

Wednesday, November 13

(exact times subject to change)

11:00am-11:30am – Early Registration – Hotel Lobby

Pre-Conference Agritourism Tours

11:30 am – Meet at Hotel front door

*If driving yourself, please meet us at hotel at 11:30 or at Project Grows at noon.

12:00pm – 1:00pm – Farm Tour at Project GROWS

Project GROWS is an educational, nonprofit organization with a mission to improve the health of children and youth in Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County, Virginia through garden-based education and access to healthy food.

1:30pm – 2:30pm – Farm Tour at Overlook Farms and Produce

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Winery Tour – Bluestone Vineyards

Tour of the vineyard, winery and tasting room. Discussion of how the Hartman family turned a vineyard into an agritourism destination with tastings, “Toast the Weekend’ music festival events, weddings, workshops, vendor events and more.

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Early Registration – Hotel Lobby

(Dinner on your own)

General Conference | Thursday, November 14

7:30 am – 8:15 am – Registration, Traditional Breakfast & Networking

8:15 am – 8:45 am – Welcome! Introductions and Session Review

8:50 am – 9:40 am – I. Concurrent Break-Out Sessions

1: Agritourism in Virginia and the Farmers Market Trail
Heather Wheeler, VDACS;
Rachel Salatin, Fields of Gold;
Livvy Preisser, Virginia Cooperative Extension

2: FreshLink Ambassador Model: Lessons Learned
Rachael Sommer, Roberto Martinez & Diane Pride-Mays of Case Western Reserve University

9:50 am – 10:45 am – II. Concurrent Break-Out Sessions

1: Agritourism Success and Lessons
Sarah Showalter, Showalter’s Orchard

2: Nourish Your Neighbors: Getting Started with SNAP and Food Access
Meredith Ledlie Johnson, Virginia Cooperative Extension;
Michelle Oliver, VDSS SNAP Outreach Coordinator;
Ann Vargo, FCS SNAP-Ed Agent;
Cheryl Bursch, River Street Market;
Katie Struble, LEAP

3: Food Safety for Vendors: Food Handlers Best Practices at the Farmers Market
Renee Boyer, Virginia Cooperative Extension

10:55 am – 11:55 am – III: Overcoming Obstacles: Taking a Stand for Farm Freedom

Martha Boneta, Farmer, Policy Advisor & Commentator

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm – Lunch
Keynote Speaker: Heidi Hertz, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture
VAFMA Annual Meeting

1:00 pm – 1:30 pm – IV: Taking Care of Yourself and Others

Stanley Jones, III of Senoj’ & Surry County Farmers Market

1:40 pm – 2:30 pm – V. Concurrent Break-Out Sessions

1: Making You, Your Land & Your Livestock’s History Part of Agritourism
Ronald Seagrave, Seagrave & Williams Farm

2: Business Essentials: Strengthening Your Farmers Market Enterprise
Michael Reilly, Virginia Foodshed Capital
Heather Coiner, Little Hat Creek Farm
Andrew Bayker, Althea Bread
Erica Hellen, Free Union Grass Farm

3: Introduction to Value Added Foods
Michelle McKenzie, Virginia Food Works

2:35 pm – 3:20 pm – VI. Concurrent Break-Out Sessions

1: Finding Funding — How to Get to Yes
Tim Pfohl, Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission;
Melissa Ball, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services–Specialty Crop Block Grant Program;
Emily Flippo, AFID Fund Program;
Anne Herring, United States Dept. of Agriculture, Rural Development;
Julia Clark, The Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability  (VA FAIRS)
Rebecca Rowe, Va. Department of Housing and Community Development

2: Virginia’s Industrial Hemp Law: Challenges & Opportunities
Kyle Shreve, Virginia Agribusiness Council

3: The Marketing Roadmap: Branding & Identity for Small Business
Emilie Davis, LinkHouse Consultants

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm – VII: CRASE – Citizen Response to Active Shooter Events

Police Chief John R. Dodd, II, Timberville Police Department

Wrap-Up

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm – Evening Cocktail Reception
Raffle
Cash Bar, Collonade Room

(Dinner on your own)

General Conference | Friday, November 15

7:30 am – 8:15 am – Continental Breakfast & Networking

8:15 am – 8:45 am – Welcome! Introductions and Sponsor Recognition

8:50 am – 9:35 am – I. Concurrent Break-Out Sessions

1: Community Connections: Ways to Strengthen Food Access Programs
Megan Townley, Project GROWS

2: Taking it to the Streets: More about Mobile Markets
Sam Lev, LEAP;
Analise Adams, Shalom Farms;
Katie Struble, LEAP

3: Leadership: The Art of Cultivating a Community
Phil Easley, Mary Jo’s Flowers

9:45 am – 10:45 am – II. Concurrent Break-Out Sessions

1: Virginia Fresh Match: Proven Approaches for SNAP Success
Facilitator: Elizabeth Borst, Virginia Fresh Match Co-Lead
Chelsi Bennett, American Heart Association
Virginia Fresh Match Regional Leads: Tracy Frey, Beth Austin, Sam Lev, Nick Stavely, Analise Adams, Katie Struble

2: Food Safety for Farmers Market Managers: Keeping Your Market Immune From Unwanted Critters
Lisa Dearden, RVAgriculture

3: Built from Scratch: Starting Up A New Market & Setting it Up For Success
Michele Ascher & Amy Jordan, Hampton Blvd Farmers Market

11:00 am – 11:45 am – III: VAFMA Speed Q&A – Common Issues
Interactive Round Tables on Common Market Issues

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm – Lunch & Learn

1:00 pm – 1:30 pm – IV: Market Layout, a FUNctional Skit

1:45 pm – 2:45 pm – V: Leveraging Open-Source Tools & Metrics to Increase Market Capacity

Nick Stavely, Community Food Works

2:55 pm – 3:55 pm – VI. Concurrent Break-Out Sessions

1: Getting to Greener – How Farmers Markets Can Get to #PlasticFree
Zach Huntington, Clean Streams/Litter Free VA

2: Why Your Facebook Cover Actually Matters: Social Media & Branding for Farmers Markets
Emilie Davis, LinkHouse Consultants

3: Using Technology to Streamline Market Operations and Data Collection
Adam Stokes, Principal Software Engineer, Farmspread
Sarah Stokes, Co-Founder, Farmspread

4:00 pm – 4:30 pm: Closing Session