Pre-Conference Farm Tour
January 15-17
Special Workshops
& Trade Show
January 18
Educational Sessions
& Trade Show
January 19-20
Post-Conference
Tour to Grand Canyon
January 21-22
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- North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Conference in Arizona
- The North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association (NAFDMA) will hold its 16th annual Farmers’ Direct Marketing conference and trade show, “Diversity in the Desert,” Jan. 15 –22, 2001. The conference will be held just outside Phoenix in Mesa, Ariz. at the Sheraton-Mesa Hotel and the Community and Conference Center.
The conference and trade show consists of a full week of activities including tours, workshops, educational sessions and a trade show. People may participate in the entire itinerary, or in parts. The conference and trade show pre-registration rate is $85 for NAFDMA members. Membership can be obtained at the time of registration. Late fees apply after Dec. 15.
All conference venues are cov--ered on the NAFDMA Web site at www.nafdma.com. The Web site includes over 40 pages of detailed information on the event. The site provides details on every session, workshop, tour, special event and on the trade show. Additionally, you can read about the background on the majority of this year’s speakers.
“A special feature allows you to link to a number of speakers’ own Web sites, so you can understand more about them before you attend their sessions,” said Charlie Touchette, NAFDMA’s executive director. “You can even visit several hotel sites, tour stops and various other Web locations that will give you a virtual sneak preview of what awaits you in Arizona at the NAFDMA conference in January.”
Pre-registration can be done using the Web site materials by going to the registration area and printing off the form. Once filled out it can then be mailed or faxed directly to the NAFDMA office with payment or credit card information.
Pre-conference tour
The three-day bus tour through Arizona promises to be diverse and relaxing, Touchette said. Both nights out will be spent at the Holiday Inn Palo Verde in Tucson. The tour leaves from the Sheraton Mesa Hotel early Monday morning, Jan. 15 and returns to Mesa Wednesday evening. Each day includes about five stops including farms and tourist attractions such as the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
The all-inclusive tour registration price of $425 covers both nights lodging, all meals while out on tour for three days, transportation, snacks, materials and all entry fees
Special workshops
Eight different full day workshops are offered that run concurrently on Thursday, Jan. 18. They include:
• “Succeeding with Educational and Entertaining Animal Displays, Shows & Attractions.”
• “Animal Appeal” with Joel Salatin.
• “Advanced Business Planning” with Don Rogers.”
• “Farmers’ Market Managers Skills Building Workshop.”
• “Improve Your Newsletters and Marketing Materials.”
• “Merchandise Your Greenhouse and Nursery Products Using Advanced Retailing Practices.”
• “Using Free Money to Grow Your Agri-Business.”
• “The Oz Principle Accountability Training Program.”
All special workshops run for six to eight hours and provide volumes of practical, detailed information that cannot be provided in the conference educational sessions of 90 minutes each. There will be ample time for questions, answers and discussion to allow for maximum benefit to the workshop attendant.
The special registration fee for each workshop is $95 and includes lunch, breaks, handout materials, and all the knowledge you can absorb in the day. NAFDMA membership is required.
Trade show
The trade show offers a full exhibit hall of booths representing goods and services of specific interest to farm direct marketers. Products and services range from professional signage to specialty foods, inflatable balloons to biopesticides, fruit trees to bank services. The trade show will be open from 3-8 p.m. on Thursday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. on Friday and 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m. on Saturday.
Educational sessions
There will be two general sessions, and 35 concurrent sessions organized into eight different track headings, Touchette said.
“They all represent the hottest subjects in farm direct marketing today,” he said. “Whether participants focus on one track heading, or mix and match their interests throughout the conference, the ‘Diversity in the Desert’ program is sure to offer plenty of information to help improve farm direct marketing businesses across the country in the upcoming year.”
Speakers and highlights for the eight tracks include:
• “For Farm Families” will provide family business operations with an opportunity to hone the unique skills of operating a business while enjoying the company of family. This two-edged sword is one of the most underestimated of challenges. NAFDMA has convened three speakers with widely different backgrounds to discuss their perspectives on operating successful family farm businesses. The speakers widely acclaimed family psychologist Kevin Leman; the guru of sustainable agriculture and farm family lifestyles, Joel Salatin; and one of direct marketing’s most endeared business consultants, Don Rogers. This track will provide something for every member of your family, and perhaps everything for your farm family business, Touchette said.
• “Cultivating Entertainment” focuses on the fastest growing sector of farm direct marketing today. This track features nearly 20 of North America’s leading farmers and ranchers in the ag entertainment business, Touchette said. They range from the smaller autumn weekend-only operations, to the mid-sized, multi-location year-round businesses.
• “Advanced Nursery and Greenhouse Retailing” presents the most powerful lineup of this industry’s professionals that NAFDMA has ever presented, Touchette said. They hail from around the world including New England, British Columbia and Australia. David Seavey, John Stanley, and Brian Minter will be featured speakers in this track.
• “Farmers’ Markets Forever” focuses on the evolution of this venue from a fad of the late 1900s to a fixture of the 21st century. This year’s farmers’ market track focuses on successful models. This program promotes networking of leaders to further the effort.
• “Securing Group Sales” highlights the value and opportunity of putting forth effort to package your farm for organized groups. A small number of speakers are featured in this track to provide a massive volume of information, Touchette said. Carrie Schnepf and Jane Eckert will present insights on corporate parties. There will be two sessions featuring travel and tourism professional Bruce Beckum. The session will close with a two-part, in-depth series by NAFDMA’s own professionals in the school tour business - Karen Watt, Bonnie McAfee, Kathleen Duncan, and Leslie Forsythe.
• “Delving Into Details” deals with food safety, working with the media, understanding today’s cider industry and appreciating the future for organic and IPM practices in the modern food industry.
• “Expanding Marketing Enterprises” gives attendees a closer look at specific market enterprise areas. Topics to be covered include grower’s cooperatives, gift shops, consumer supported agriculture, beginning a roadside operation and e-commerce.
• “Profit from Proactive Planning” is filled with presenters who can articulate the value to your bottom line of spending a little time planning how you want to earn a living, Touchette said.
General sessions
The two general sessions are targeted at bringing you, your family, and the entire NAFDMA community together while sharing the warmth and sunshine in Arizona, Touchette said.
Kevin Leman is the keynote speaker. He is an internationally known psychologist, author, radio and television personality and speaker. Leman has taught and entertained audiences worldwide with his wit and common sense psychology. He is co-founder of realFAMILIES.com – the television show, founder of “Couples of Promise,” and author of “Keeping your Family Together When the World is Falling Apart.”
Saturday’s general session focuses on NAFDMA - “What’s Inside it For You.” This multi-media session will be active and energetic, Touchette said.
“NAFDMA does more than simply organize this conference,” he said. “It is still the best-kept secret in American agriculture. And, it’s quietly on the move, with massive strides taken over the past two years. Make sure you take advantage of all the association has to offer.”
Post-conference tour
The post-conference tour will feature stops at the top two tourist destinations in the state of Arizona - the Grand Canyon and Sedona on Jan. 21 and 22. The tour will be back in the Phoenix area no later than 4 p.m., Monday, Jan. 22.
To register or for more information log on NAFDMA’s Web site at www.nafdma.com for a pre-registration form, and up-to-date conference and tour details. If you do not have Internet access, call (888) 884-9270 to request a conference pre-registration packet and program.
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