Registration is now open for ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference!
The 2023 Business of Farming Conference will be held on Saturday, February 11th at the A-B Tech Conference Center in Asheville. The annual conference brings together regional experts and innovative farmers from across the Southeast to learn and share key components of farm marketing, business planning, and changing market opportunities. More than a dozen workshops, an exhibitor hall, and 1:1 consulting will be offered. The popular Grower-Buyer Meeting is a chance for farmers and producers to meet directly with chefs, grocers, and distributors to discuss sourcing. The conference is designed for beginning and established farmers as well as those seriously considering farming as a profession.
Early bird registration is $75 per person, or $125 when you register with a farm partner, now through January 15. Limited scholarships are available. Learn more about conference offerings and registration at asapconnections.org/events/
Mountain BizWorks is presenting three workshops during the conference:
Building Blocks: How to Start Your Farm Business
This session will help new and early-stage farmers assemble the building blocks necessary to launch a strong business with an easy-to-use checklist, business planning templates, and a resource guide. Ask key questions to determine what kind of operation you want to run and how to set yourself up for success. Explore options for getting started and moving forward on financing, insurance, accounting, and more.
Gabriele Marewski of Mountain BizWorks and Robert Russell of Mount Gilead Farm
Planning for Long-term Farm Success – NEW!
The farm business is finding success, but how is the farmer doing? This workshop will explore strategies that farmers have utilized to keep themselves enthusiastic about their work, improve quality of life, support their family, occasionally take a vacation, and begin planning for the later stages of their farm career.
Gabriele Marewski of Mountain BizWorks, Nicole Coston of Bearwallow Valley Farms, Sharon Dubuc of Black Thorn Farm and Kitchen, and Michael Rayburn of Rayburn Farms
Keeping Up with Inflation – NEW!
Considering the rising costs of inputs, how do you price your product accordingly? How do you best communicate pricing to your customers, and understand their willingness to pay? This session will look at key financial tools for analyzing your numbers: profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and production projections. Note that this session will be primarily focused on produce. See below for a niche meat workshop.
Gabriele Marewski and Sara Janelle Tatum of Mountain BizWorks
