National Farm Viability Conference: Full Schedule

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1:30pm MDT

Supporting Farmers Through Stress and Change: Practical Relational Tools for Advisors

Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT

This workshop explores the role of business and technical assistance providers not only as advisors and problem solvers, but also as sources of grounding, connection, and community for farmers navigating stress and uncertainty. Designed as a peer to peer learning experience, the session equips advisors with practical relational skills to support farmers during difficult moments. We will draw from the field of interpersonal neurobiology to understand how stress affects communication. Participants will learn how the left hemisphere drives task oriented thinking, while the right hemisphere supports relational presence. High stakes situations often push both farmers and advisors into left brain functioning, reducing our ability to connect. By understanding basic brain science, advisors can intentionally shift into language and behaviors that activate the relational circuitry associated with warmth, curiosity, and emotional attunement—helping farmers feel accompanied rather than alone. Participants will learn: • How different types of language activate different neural networks • Why some conversations soothe while others strain • How to shift from task oriented mindset into relational presence • How to use these skills to create safety, resonance, and connection during stressful conversations We will practice applying these tools to scenarios involving farmer stress, change, fear, and loss. Participants will leave with new perspectives on working with stress and concrete skills they can use immediately in the field.

Speakers

Claudia Kenny

Agricultural Farm Land Access and Transfer Senior Specialist, American Farmland Trust

Claudia Kenny brings the skills of a conflict specialist, the grounded experience of a long time farmer, and a deep commitment to a just, community rooted food system to her work with the Farms for a New Generation team at American Farmland Trust. As part of a first generation farm... Read More →

Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT
Alvarado G

Other

3:30pm MDT

Small Farm Viability Reality Through Case Studies

Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT

Alvarado G

Small farms struggle with financial viability and livelihood satisfaction. Are you working with farmers and still wondering, how do small farms really make it work? This session will take a case study approach to showing how small farms find success, as defined by their own goals. Organizations providing business advising will share client case studies of clients who found both financial success and livelihood satisfaction.

Panelist business advisors will share the following, as relevant to each case: the farm client’s story; goals and how they reached them; what was attenable/not attainable; are they profitable; what support or intervention was required; how does the client now define success; what are they working towards next? What are the particular family, enterprise, geographic, or resource contexts important to this client’s story, goals and success?

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn diverse ways small farms find and define success
2. Learn how business advising and attention to farm financials was a part of the path to viability for each farm
3. Gain exposure to how different programs support farmers to find viability, and interventions that can keep farmers on track, reduce risk, and avoid business failure

Audience:
Beginner/Generalist/Policy maker – people who work with farms in some capacity but don’t look at farm financials every day and want to understand more about
how small farms make it work, and what the financial reality through a story (not wonky spreadsheet) approach.

Speakers

Megan Hunter

Senior Program Specialist, Transfarmation

Jeff Cole

Client Services, The Carrot Project

Christina Lynch

Chief Financial Officer, Potlikker Capital, Inc.

I am a management accounting leader and fractional CFO who helps mission-driven organizations strengthen financial systems, manage capital, and make informed decisions that support long-term sustainability. At Potlikker Capital, I bring a financial strategy lens to advancing equitable... Read More →

Ellen Polishuk

Owner/Consultant, Plant to Profit

Ellen Polishuk Ellen Polishuk is a small farm consultant and business advisor. She leverages her 35 years of biological vegetable farming experience to help growers around the country to achieve more satisfaction and better profitability from their farm businesses. Her client work... Read More →

Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT
Alvarado G

Business Planning and Development