National Farm Viability Conference: Full Schedule

arrow_back View All Dates

1:30pm MDT

Designing Business Assistance Programs for Farmer Success

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

This session will provide an overview of two business assistance programs that provide in-depth, individualized, or "one-to-one" business and financial advising to farm and food businesses in California and Vermont. Attendees will learn about the program design, staffing, outcomes, and funding. The session is structured as a moderated panel with time for audience Q&A. This session is most useful for program managers or funders, business advisors, and those who want to update or add a business advising program.

The Vermont Farm and Forest Viability Program was started in 2003, and was also the founder of the National Farm Viability Conference. The program serves all stages of businesses from year three through established. In 2025, 71% of clients reported increased gross sales; clients increased their sales by an average of $52,000 and 82% added jobs; and, 78% of farm transfer planning clients reported that their business will continue because of participating in the Farm & Forest Viability Program.

California Farmlink has recently updated its business advising approach to building client skills. They have integrated their business assistance program to support their client and lending objectives. California FarmLink offers education and business assistance to help clients overcome barriers and increase long-term business viability. These include the Resilerator™ education course and the Spanish-language El Resilderador™, providing cohort-based business training. California FarmLink frames their education and business assistance work within a Client Journey (map) to coordinate client interactions across the organization.

Speakers

Liz Gleason

Vt Farm & Forest Viability Program Director, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board

iz joined the Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program in 2010, becoming Director in 2021. Liz leads all program activities, funding awards, outcomes evaluation and reporting. She also fosters a robust set of partnerships with partner organizations across the state and leads fundraising... Read More →

Asia Hampton

Business Skills Advisor, California FarmLink

Asia is a Business Skills Advisor specializing in financial operations, strategy and capital access for farmers. She supports clients navigating loan readiness, standing up or standardizing their bookkeeping practices and business planning through California FarmLink. A practitioner... Read More →

Dorothy Suput

Principal, DSuput Consulting

Dorothy has over 30 years of non-profit leadership experience. I work with non-profits to design and strengthen programs. My work helps expand capital and land access and the availability of business development programs that promote farm and food-business economic viability. I am... Read More →

Chuck Ross

Board Chair, Intervale Center

Chuck Ross lives in Vermont on his 240-acre family farm where they incubate and support start up and early stage farm businesses. He currently serves as the Chair of the Intervale Center Board and on the Vermont Nature Conservancy Advisory Board. Ross has also served as the Climate... Read More →

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

Program Design Development Management and Funding, Business Planning and Development

3:30pm MDT

Rooted in Trust: Culturally Responsive Farm Viability for Latino Farmers

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

Ballroom

A growing number of next-generation farmers in the U.S. are immigrants who began as farmworkers and later transitioned into farm ownership. While many bring strong production knowledge and deep agricultural experience, they often face barriers in accessing farm viability services such as bookkeeping, credit readiness, succession planning, business planning, and financial literacy support. This moderated panel discussion will explore how organizations across the country are building culturally and linguistically responsive farm viability programs for Latino farmers and other underserved producers. American Farmland Trust California and University of California, Davis will share findings from the Risk Management for Latino Farmers survey, highlighting current needs, barriers, and opportunities for stronger support systems. Panelists from nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and farmer-serving programs will discuss successful outreach models, trust-building strategies, and lessons learned in delivering business technical assistance that reflects the cultural, linguistic, and operational realities of the farmers they serve. Participants will leave with: - A stronger understanding of the diversity within Latino farming communities - Practical examples of culturally responsive outreach and technical assistance models - Strategies for improving farmer engagement and long-term participation - Ideas for adapting farm viability services to better support underserved producers - New opportunities for peer learning and cross-regional collaboration

Speakers

Tania Zuñiga

Business Advisor, Kitchen Table Advisors

Mercedes Rodriguez

Danny Jacobo

Anna Chotzen

Director of Farm Viability, Viva Farms

Anna has nearly 15 years of experience supporting beginning and immigrant farmers to build thriving farm businesses. As Viva Farms' Director of Farm Viability, she leads the organization's land access, capital access, and business management programs. She works closely with capital... Read More →