National Farm Viability Conference: Full Schedule

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6:00am MDT

Breakfast

Wednesday September 23, 2026 6:00am - 8:15am MDT

Alvarado ABCD

Wednesday September 23, 2026 6:00am - 8:15am MDT
Alvarado ABCD

8:15am MDT

Morning Reflections (Group Reflections from Tuesday)

Wednesday September 23, 2026 8:15am - 8:30am MDT

Alvarado ABCD

Speakers

Benneth Phelps

Agricultural Viability Alliance / The Carrot Project

Benneth Phelps is The Carrot Project’s Executive Director. She brings a deep and dynamic knowledge of our work from 12+ years of on-the-ground experience uplifting New England’s farmers, and a clear vision for building a just and resilient future for agricultural entrepreneur... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 8:15am - 8:30am MDT
Alvarado ABCD

Plenary

9:00am MDT

Breakout Session 3

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT

9:00am MDT

New Ideas for Our Intractable Problems

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT

Alvarado F

Our current environment is creating an opportunity for small innovative solutions to chip away at some of the big intractable problems that small and Ag in the middle farmers have been facing for years. With the status quo becoming untenable, and trust in large institutions at an all time low, even risk-adverse farmers and food system stakeholders are more willing to try something new. And innovators are out there already, sometimes in unrelated industries, quietly solving problems we think can't be solved. Now is the time for us to bring these solutions into our work. This session will convene three industry thought leaders to introduce three innovative, human-scaled approaches that have the potential to address difficult problems we face in our industry. 1) Lori Greenberg, the Executive Director of Marbleseed, will introduce Direct Family Practice, a model for primary care delivery that is spreading across the country that provides accessible health care at affordable prices. 2) Zach Ducheneau, former FSA Administrator and of , will share his work on Farmer Centered Loans that are structured to set farmers up for future success. 3) Tera Johnson, Founder of the Food Finance Institute, will introduce Self Directed IRAs as a way for ordinary people to become equity investors in farms and food system enterprises. The learning objectives for this session are: 1) To introduce the audience to these three innovative solutions that are "shovel ready" and ripe for bringing into our work. 2) Work with the audience to identify next steps that would enable our technical assistance community to integrate these approaches into their work with farms and food system enterprises.

Speakers

Lori Stern

Executive Director, Marbleseed

Lori Stern, MA Ed has been the Executive Director at Marbleseed since September 2020. Since joining Marbleseed, Lori has brought the organization through a re-brand and strategic planning process that centers ecosystem services for the regenerative and organic farm community. Her... Read More →

Tera Johnson

Founder and Finance Expert, The Food Finance Institute

Tera Johnson is a serial entrepreneur focused on creating the next generation of sustainable food and farm businesses. The Founder of the Food Finance Institute, Tera led the full arc of starting, growing, and selling the nations first organic whey processing facility and national... Read More →

Zach Ducheneaux

Former FSA Administrator, 5th C

Zach Ducheneaux is a relapsing 3rd generation rancher. After divesting his cattle herd to work at the Farm Service Agency, he is now back on the family ranch, currently owned and operated by the 4th generation. His time at the FSA was spent promoting the inclusive use of discretion... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT
Alvarado F

Agricultural Policy and Advocacy, Accessing Capital

9:00am MDT

Navigating the Complex Emotional, Social, and Financial Issues of Working with Farmers in Distress

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT

Alvarado G

Sam Smith of the Intervale Center and Michael Robertson of Cornell University NY FarmNet are proposing a session to explore the process of working with distressed borrowers. Farmers in distress are making difficult decisions under pressure with interconnected personal, financial, and family systems that all need attention. The presenters will discuss the processes they use to work directly with farmers who are experiencing distress and present examples of different farm scenarios and outcomes. The goal of the workshop is to introduce strategies for working with farmers in distress and build the confidence and skills of attendees to work with these farms. The session will touch on the following topics: Initial assessment including financial, emotional and relational readiness. Readiness determines the work and there are different entry points for clients Service provider strategies for approaching difficult conversations. The term 'soft skills' is misleading – these skills are the core intervention and there are specific teachable competencies. Collecting financial and production data to develop potential scenarios. Working with partners: lenders, attorneys, CPAs, mediation, mental health. Introducing challenging concepts (bankruptcy, sale of assets including the farm) Creating a viable plan with support for implementation Outcomes are driven as much by human systems as by financial conditions. Most cases do not result in full turnaround, disengagement is common (though they often return later), and the emotional and relational barriers > technical barriers.

Speakers

Sam Smith

Farm Business Director, Intervale Center

Sam Smith is the Farm Business Director at the Intervale Center. He has background in livestock and vegetable farming, and a MBA in Sustainability from Antioch New England. He works with throughout Vermont to improve farm viability and develop the next generation of farm and food... Read More →

Michael Robertson

NY FarmNet & Shelterbelt Advisors

Michael Robertson is the Farm Business Management Specialist at NY FarmNet. He also runs Shelterbelt Advisors, a small investment advisory and tax preparation firm that serves farmers. He lives in the Hudson Valley of New York on a sheep farm.

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT
Alvarado G

Business Planning and Development, Farm Financial Management

9:00am MDT

Surviving or Thriving? Helping Beginning Farmers Start, Scale and Withstand Risk

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT

Fireplace

This session is focused on ways that USDA is supporting beginning farmers and ranchers to aid in the viability and profitability of their operations. Findings from a recent USDA Economic Research Service study focusing on the characteristics associated with business survival of BFR operations will be shared. Among other things, the study found that BFRs who participated in USDA programs had a higher survival rate. Programs that contribute to this success will be explained throughout the presentation. Additionally, we’ll talk about the USDA staff who stand ready to support the needs of producers as they are beginning or scaling their operations. Moderated by Janet Wright, FSA Outreach Specialist, in partnership with other agencies, with ERS presenting highlights from the report on Beginning Farmer and Rancher Operations: Characteristics Associated With Business Survival.

Speakers

Sean Patrick

Tribal Liaison and Deputy Director of Risk Management Education, FPAC - RMA

Carrie Litkowski

Farm Income Team Lead, USDA-ERS

Carrie is a senior economist at USDA’s Economic Research Service. As the Farm Income team leader, she is responsible for planning, leading, and implementing an estimation, research, and analysis program focused on the development and dissemination of sector-wide measures of farm... Read More →

Janet Wright

National Outreach Specialist, FPAC-FSA

Janet Wright is a national Outreach Specialist with the USDA Farm Service Agency. In this role, she coordinates outreach and training events for beginning farmers and ranchers to assist them in starting and expanding their ag businesses through participation in USDA programs. She... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT
Fireplace

Business Planning and Development, Agricultural Policy and Advocacy

9:00am MDT

Side Meeting: Conservation Practices Cost-Benefit

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT

Potters

This side meeting is a closed session - participation is by invitation only.

Speakers

Brett Melone

Director of Lending, California FarmLink

Brett Melone has served as Director of Lending at California FarmLink since July of 2014. Brett had previously served as Loan Officer since July of 2013, after serving as a member of the California FarmLink Board of Directors and Loan Committee. Brett has more than 15 years of experience... Read More →

Amanda Cather

Mid-Atlantic Deputy Director, American Farmland Trust

Amanda Cather is the Mid-Atlantic Deputy Director at American Farmland Trust, where she leads farm viability, soil health, and agricultural resilience initiatives across Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Her work focuses on partnering with farmers, state agencies, and nonprofits... Read More →

Reid Miller

Senior Farm Business Advisor, NOFA-VT

Reid Miller is a Senior Farm Business Advisor at NOFA-VT. Over the last 10+ years, they have provided in-depth business and transfer planning services to farmers, supporting them in reaching their financial, production and quality of life goals. Reid has also worked extensively with... 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 →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT
Potters

Climate Adaptation and Risk Management

9:00am MDT

Build Your Capacity to Meet Clients' Marketing Needs

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT

Weavers

Want to add marketing support to your business toolkit? This simple model trains TA business planners to support your clients’ marketing needs, such as attracting loyal customers and increasing sales. The “train-the-trainer’ curriculum was developed for staff at the Rio Grande Colonias Regional Food Center in 2025. The presenter will demonstrate how she used AI to create customized quizzes, role plays, and materials for participants, but the same methods can be used without AI, if preferred. The curriculum, handouts, and activities will be freely available to adapt for your own training needs. Workshop participants will break into small groups to test role-play exercises from the curriculum, then report back on how you might use this approach. You'll also have the opportunity to share your own approaches and resources for marketing training. You'll walk away with the tools and knowledge to customize your own marketing training. This workshop is geared to business planners seeking to provide more marketing support for clients as well as seasoned marketers who want to learn and share tips on using AI and other tools.

Speakers

Myrna Greenfield

Top Egg, Good Egg Marketing

I'm Myrna Greenfield, founder and Top Egg at Good Egg Marketing and the author of Marketing Your Farm; A practical guide to attracting loyal customers and increasing sales. After providing business and marketing services to farms, food businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs for... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT
Weavers

Food and Farm Marketing and Distribution, Program Design Development Management and Funding

9:00am MDT

Cross-State Approaches to Equitable Farmland Tenure and Purchase

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT

Ballroom

Agricultural land consolidation is accelerating across the United States, squeezing out small and mid-sized operators at a time when the next generation of sustainable producers most needs a foothold. This 90-minute session brings together practitioners from California, Georgia and other states to share what policies are actually working in farmland access, what has failed, and where the field needs to go next. The session is structured in two parts: PART 1: Practitioner Presentations (50 minutes) California (20 min): Kitchen Table Advisors and California FarmLink will present findings from the Agricultural Land Equity Task Force (A-LETF) Report, including the $1M TA contract that emerged from California Farmer Equity Act to advance equitable land access. Presenters will be candid about what has moved the needle and what hasn't. We will share lessons for advocates in other states looking to translate policy wins into on-the-ground impact. The Conservation Fund (20 min): The Conservation Fund will present a start-to-finish farmland transition model refined across 25+ transactions in multiple communities and states. A process that combines acquisition, technical support, conservation easement, and stepped-down pricing to make land ownership accessible for small and mid-sized operators at an inflection point and ready to scale. Presenters will share what it takes to replicate this model in new communities and will invite feedback from the room. Q&A for Presenters (10 min) PART 2: Facilitated Panel Discussion (40 minutes) Using the two state examples as a jumping-off point, the session will open into a structured peer discussion organized around three questions: • What are practitioners in your region trying to accomplish around farmland access and where are you hitting walls? • What's working, what isn't, and what do other states' experiences tell us? • Where do we go from here? What policy, financial, and cross-state coordination moves are needed to achieve meaningful land reform? Learning Objectives: Attendees will leave with (1) a concrete understanding of two distinct state-level approaches to equitable farmland transition. One policy/TA-driven (CA) and one transaction/conservation-driven (GA); (2) honest analysis of what has and hasn't worked in each; and (3) actionable ideas for what peer organizations and cross-state coalitions could do next.

Speakers

Liya Schwartzman

Senior Program Manager, California FarmLink

Since 2010, Liya Schwartzman has been a trusted partner for California farmers and ranchers, helping them secure the land, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive. Through her work with California FarmLink, she has guided hundreds in land access, strong tenure agreements... Read More →

James Nakahara

Program Manager, Ecosystem Building, Kitchen Table Advisors

James Nakahara is Program Manager for Ecosystem Building at Kitchen Table Advisors (KTA), a nonprofit farm business advising organization based in California. In this role, he oversees strategic initiatives that connect food system stakeholders to improve equitable economic opportunities... Read More →

Krisztián Varsa

Director, Farms Fund, The Conservation Fund

Kathryn Lyddan

Principal, Convivial Land Consulting

Kathryn works with land trusts, nonprofits, and local governments on farmland access and conservation projects, including strategic planning, policy development, program design and real estate and financing innovation. Kathryn has served as the Director of Conservation for the Marin... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT
Ballroom

Land Access Retention and Transfer, Accessing Capital

9:00am MDT

Developing a Model Ethics Policy for Farm Business Assistance Organizations

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT

Turquoise

Building on previous work at NFVC, with the goal of developing a model ethics policy that can be used and adapted by any business advising organization, this session will progress a draft model ethics policy through community feedback and discussion. We will present a model draft to workshop with attendees. This will also provide a forum for discussing the ethical quandaries that come up in our profession as well as further develop a model ethics policy for circulation. This session builds on previous offerings by the NFVC: "Farm Succession 201: Transactional Ethics" NFVC 2021 (Virtual, Oregon) and "Ethics and Values for Business Advisors and Organizations: Influencing Consequential Decisions" NFVC 2024 (Charleston WV). Following that plenary, a survey was administered to all conference attendees, which indicated strong support for a development of a model ethics policy that could be made available to organizations. Specifically, 57% respondents requested a model ethics policy available for use / adaptation (with only 1.6% responding that a model ethics policy was not needed). More conclusively, 70.5% respondents said they would utilize a "model ethics policy or an industry standard policy that they could sign on to." Our session seeks to develop that model ethics policy. The session will sample, review, critique, and discuss existing ethical guidelines. The presenters are only aware of a very few existing ethical policies. One is available from CA FarmLink, ; another is available from the American Society of Agricultural Consultants Code of Ethics, the International Coaching Federation,; and each state bar association publishes a code of ethics for attorneys.

Speakers

Rachel Armstrong

Executive Director, Farm Commons

As the founder and Executive Director of Farm Commons, Rachel Armstrong creates the organization's innovative approach to farm law education and risk reduction. Rachel instructs continuing legal education classes for the American Bar Association, teaches farm law for the University... Read More →

Paige Phinney

Regional Program Director, Kitchen Table Advisors

Paige Phinney is a Regional Program Director at Kitchen Table Advisors. Paige has advocated on behalf of small organic farmers professionally for 20+ years; as a foundational team member of three different farm advocacy entities, a farmworker, a lifelong learner, and a numbers geek... Read More →

Benneth Phelps

Agricultural Viability Alliance / The Carrot Project

Jack Hornickel

Staff Attorney, Pace Law School

Pro bono attorney serving small farm businesses for 10+ years. Currently directing clinical law practice which includes instruction on ethics. Prior NFVC presentations in 2017, 2019, and 2021.

Poppy Davis

Adviser, California FarmLink

Poppy Davis is a business and policy adviser to agricultural and food and beverage enterprises, nonprofits, and local governments. She works through agricultural training programs around the country to deliver programing on topics including agricultural taxation, accounting, credit... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT
Turquoise

Program Design Development Management and Funding

10:30am MDT

Coffee & Conversation Break

Wednesday September 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT

North Atrium

Wednesday September 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT
North Atrium

11:00am MDT

Breakout Session 4

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT

11:00am MDT

Sharing Practices and New Thinking to Unlocking Capital and Collaboration to Increase Farmland Access

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT

Turquoise

The session will increase participants’ knowledge of the resources and opportunities available to them to create and apply innovative ways to address farmland financing challenges. It will also give participants an opportunity to pose their challenges to the group to resource potential solutions. This is a working meeting for capital providers/stackers/navigators from CDFIs, CDCs, and land access financing advisors, and foundations. We will use the Challenge Clinic format, first with capital providers, and then for navigators and others working with farmland access. A Challenge Clinic is a structured group learning and problem solving session where participants bring specific real issues (or learning challenges), then work together—often with a facilitator—to diagnose the problem, brainstorm solutions, and apply practical strategies.

Speakers

Julia Valliant

Farms for a New Generation Director, American Farmland Trust

Jan Joannides

Executive Director and Co-Founder, Renewing the Countryside

For the past twenty years, Jan has been an advocate and organizer for rural communities and citizens working to stimulate economic growth and enhance their communities through sustainable uses of their landscapes and resources. Jan holds a master's degree in natural resources from... Read More →

Dorothy Suput

Principal, DSuput Consulting

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
Turquoise

Accessing Capital, Land Access Retention and Transfer

11:00am MDT

Integrating Climate Risk Assessments & Resilience Strategies into Farm Business Planning

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT

Alvarado F

There is an urgent need to proactively support farmers to integrate climate risk assessments and climate resilience strategies into their business plans both by using standalone tools and by updating the traditional business plan approach and templates. California FarmLink and NOFA-VT have been developing tools and approaches to do just that. Join us to dive into what tools and planning approaches have been developed, how these tools and approaches are being implemented, and why these tools and approaches can make a critical difference to farm viability by enhancing environmental, economic, and social resilience. Come prepared to both hear what we have been up to and also to actively engage in thinking through differences in tool designs and approaches, what could work well for the farmers you serve, and what you would need to do to proactively integrate these topics into your approach to planning.

Speakers

Amanda Cather

Mid-Atlantic Deputy Director, American Farmland Trust

Poppy Davis

Adviser, California FarmLink

Reid Miller

Senior Farm Business Advisor, NOFA-VT

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
Alvarado F

Climate Adaptation and Risk Management, Program Design Development Management and Funding

11:00am MDT

Navigating Farm Financial Stress: Tools, Decisions, and Knowing Your Tipping Point

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT

Alvarado G

Farming has never been easy, and when the agricultural economy takes a hit, survival can come down to a few critical decision points. This interactive workshop shares practical financial tools to assess a producer's operation honestly and respond strategically; from building and analyzing key financial statements to understanding solvency, managing capital, and knowing what information lenders want to see. This session will also assess available options when financial pressure is mounting and cash is tight. Most importantly, we'll tackle a question many farmers are afraid to ask: At what point do you consider an exit strategy? Understanding one's tipping point isn't giving up, it's part of a thorough decision-making process. Participants will leave prepared to work with producers to evaluate their situations clearly and help them make informed choices on their own terms.

Speakers

Paul Dietmann

Vice President, New Markets, Compeer

Paul is a Vice President of New Markets at Compeer Financial. He and his wife Julie live in Prairie du Sac, WI with their daughter and two sons. His primary role at Compeer is to provide loans and other assistance to emerging market farmers in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois... Read More →

Chris Laughton

Director of Knowledge Exchange, Farm Credit East

Chris Laughton is the Director of Knowledge Exchange at Farm Credit East. He coordinates Farm Credit East's customer education and beginning farmer programs. He holds a bachelor's degree in horticulture from Cornell University, an MBA from the University of Massachusetts, and a Master... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
Alvarado G

Farm Financial Management

11:00am MDT

Tax Management Strategies and a Tax Estimator Tool

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT

Ballroom

There are many variables that play into the potential success of any farm and ranch regardless of size. When working with farms and ranches the focus is often on financial analysis or business planning including the general categories of risk management (i.e. production, financial, legal). While this is important, often the tax liability is left out. The liability from both income and self-employment tax can be incredibly significant. Without including it in the programming and interaction with farms, unexpected pressures on cashflow may affect farm viability. Three examples of where there can be unexpected liability include: 1) New farms that may only have $10,000 in taxable income, might not expect a significant tax burden, but may owe about $1,500 just in self-employment tax. 2) With current turbulence (e.g. input costs, drought) and projected low farm income, farms and ranches may be looking at selling assets and/or exiting farming. This can have tax liability because of deferred tax from farm inventory, and low or zero tax basis in the assets. 3) Producers moving through the process of succession and transition, moving the operations to the next generation of successors while they transition into retirement or semi-retirement. And 4) Farms and ranches making decisions about production, setting long-term goals within their business plans or simply making decisions about input purchases and or sales of farm products. In times of slim margins when every penny counts, proper tax management strategies can aid farms and ranches to be prepared to consider viable options which should help farms and ranches limit unintended tax liability consequences. This session will provide information on common tax management strategies and the use of a tax estimator tool to assist farms and ranches to remain viable. These strategies and tool can be used to provide awareness of the magnitude of the liability, compare the effects of options, and mitigate the magnitude of the effect on cash flow. The sessions goals and objectives are: 1. Understand the potential effects of tax liability on cash flow and interaction with farm financial analysis. 2. Provide information about common tax management strategies under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) that should be considered and their limitations. 3. Understand when should tax management strategy sessions take place 4. How to use a tax management decision tool. If participants bring a computer, they will be able to download the tool to utilize during the workshop. 5. Provide additional resources on tax and asset protection topics. These resources are available on RuralTax.org and available for public use.

Speakers

Adam Kantrovich

ii. Extension Specialist & Program Team Director – Agribusiness and Director of the Clemson Extension Tax School, Clemson University

Speciality: Farm Financial Analysis & Record keeping; Ag Labor & Guest-worker Policy; Farm and Timber Taxation, ACA Compliance.Co-Chair the National Farm Income Tax Extension Committee.

Ruby Ward

ii. Professor, Agriculture Tax, Agriculture Entrepreneurship, Community Development., Utah State University

v. Dr. Ruby Ward has been in higher education and or Extension for approx. 30 years.; she has her CPA, MBA and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics. Dr. Ward Co-chairs the National Farm Income Tax Extension Committee. Ruby specializes in agricultural entrepreneurship, farm tax education... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
Ballroom

Farm Financial Management, Business Planning and Development

11:00am MDT

Expanding Value-Added Processing for Institutional Markets: Barriers, Roles, and Solutions

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT

Alvarado H

Interest in institutional procurement of local and regional foods is growing rapidly, driven by policy, philanthropy, and demand from schools, hospitals, and universities. Yet turning raw agricultural products into food-service-ready items remains a major challenge. This moderated panel brings together processors, distributors, educators, and institutions to share real-world successes and failures in value-added processing. Panelists will highlight barriers such as pricing, equipment needs, and limited usability, while showcasing solutions through partnerships, technical assistance, and innovative business models. Participants will gain practical insights into market analysis, product development, labeling, funding, and building connections between producers and buyers. The session will also engage attendees in discussion to share experiences and contribute to a collective set of strategies for strengthening value-added processing nationwide.

Speakers

Libby Christensen

Statewide Food and Ag Specialist, Colorado State University

Dr. Libby Christensen has nearly 20 years of experience strengthening Colorado's food and agriculture economy by connecting producers, markets, and food businesses. As CSU Extension's Statewide Food and Agriculture Specialist, she supports value-added companies and advances market... Read More →

Amy Buskirk

Food Systems Education Program Manager, ValleyHUB

Amy Buskirk is the Food Systems Education Program Manager at ValleyHUB, a social enterprise food hub operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College. In this role, she provides technical assistance and educational support to small to mid-size farms scaling into wholesale markets and... Read More →

Brandon Seng

Director of Programs, Great Lakes Farm to Freezer

Brandon Seng is the founder of Michigan Farm to Freezer, a company dedicated to making locally grown Michigan produce available year-round. Raised on a family Christmas tree farm in Northern Michigan, Brandon began his career leading farmers markets and local food initiatives before... Read More →

Jacqueline Montoya

Project Manager, San Juan College

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
Alvarado H

Food and Farm Marketing and Distribution, Program Design Development Management and Funding

11:00am MDT

Farmlinking Roundtable

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT

Potters

This session will be a forum for Farmlinking organizations to discuss and learn from one another about emerging topics, challenges, opportunities, solutions and opportunities for collaboration. Participants will join small group discussions on a variety of topics with opportunity to hear back from the full attendees. Discussion topics include: --Bolstering Land Equity --Increasing Land Access Opportunities --Data Management and Evaluation --Managing, Staffing and Capacity --Diversifying Funding Streams

Speakers

Liya Schwartzman

Senior Program Manager, California FarmLink

Shemariah Blum-Evitts

Executive Director, Land For Good

Shemariah is Executive Director at Land For Good, a nationally recognized non-profit for their work advancing secure farmland access, tenure, and transfer. LFG operates one of the longest running farmlink websites and accompanying services in the country. They offer one-on-one advising... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
Potters

Land Access Retention and Transfer

11:00am MDT

Ethical Quandary: Holding Both Farm Profitability and Food System Change, When They Don't Always Pull the Same Direction

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT

Fireplace

As service providers we are all passionate about seeing a future where our agricultural producers are thriving personally and professionally. We also play a unique role in the food system: working with individual farmers while uplifting food systems change. Yet, we are confronted with the harsh realities of farmers who struggle to make ends meet for a myriad of reasons including individual mindset and access, to our economic system and other factors like inflation and regulations; to more global factors, such as climate change and global market competition; and lastly, simply due to luck and chance. Moreover, we recognize the additional barriers faced by those without inherited wealth, individuals experiencing systemic racism and oppression, and those from diverse cultural backgrounds. In this roundtable discussion, we will grapple with our focus on both farmers and food systems: our commitment to farm profitability, to sustainable livelihoods for farmworkers, to healthy food access for low and no income communities, and to investment in long term ecological stewardship. We'll share regional challenges, stories of hope, personal anecdotes, and strategies for navigating individual and systemic change. Join us as we reflect on our ethical duty and how we each tend our own moral compass in this vital work.

Speakers

Paige Phinney

Regional Program Director, Kitchen Table Advisors

James Smith

James Smith is a farmer, food systems activist, and technical service provider with Croatan Institute. James grew up in North Carolina eating wild-foraged edibles and exploring the oak-hickory forests of the Piedmont region. At Croatan Institute, James works through the Soil Wealth... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
Fireplace

Other

11:00am MDT

Sustaining and Funding an Ecosystem - How Four Organizations are Coming Together to Strengthen Small-Scale Farming Businesses in the Salinas Valley

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT

Weavers

Four farmer serving organizations are working together to fuel the economic viability of small-scale farms and ranches in the Salinas Valley region in Central California. Kitchen Table Advisors (KTA) is leading this collaboration in partnership with California FarmLink, Agriculture & Land-Based Training Association (ALBA), and The Cultiva, to support access to wealth building opportunities for primarily Latino immigrant organic farmers throughout this region. We would like to present lessons and best practices on our partnership over the years and how we are working together as service providers to support farmers on each step of their lifecycle to ensure that they have the tools, training, and opportunities for their businesses to thrive. We will also discuss how we work together from a fundraising perspective to ensure that not just our individual organizations are resourced, but our network across the region as well. We hope that attendees come away with new perspectives on how to work together in collaboration on common goals.

Speakers

Andrea Levy

Senior Program Manager, California FarmLink

Nathan Harkleroad

ALBA

Rui Bing Zheng

Director, Resource Partnerships, Kitchen Table Advisors (KTA)

Rui Bing Zheng is Kitchen Table Advisors' Director of Resource Partnerships. She works alongside staff, community partners, and stakeholders to meet KTA's annual goals and mission of ensuring the economic viability of small-scale farms and ranches in California.

Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
Weavers

Program Design Development Management and Funding

12:45pm MDT

Pickup Box Lunch & Join Tour Buses

Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 1:00pm MDT

Hotel Entrance

Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 1:00pm MDT
Hotel Entrance

12:45pm MDT

Chispas Farm & Grow the Growers Program: Sustainable Agriculture in the South Valley

FILLING

Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT

Farm Tour

Limited Capacity filling up

Albuquerque’s South Valley is home to a historic and active agrarian community. The tour will stop first at Chispas Farm, a certified organic, small-scale vegetable farm producing fruits and vegetables since 2001. The tour will explore the farm’s heritage orchard and grape vines, seasonal vegetable production, and livestock on just 4 acres of fertile farmland, just a few minutes from downtown Albuquerque. The tour continues to the Gutierrez-Hubbell House Agricultural Center, a historic sitealong El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro that serves as a community gathering and educational place, as well as the headquarters of Bernalillo County’s Grow the Growers Program. Longtime middle-Rio Grande Valley farmer Casey Holland will share how the Grow the Growers program prepares young and beginning farmers for the realities of farming today.

Facilities: Available on site

Speakers

Sal Palmero

Farmer, Chispas Farm

Casey Holland

Program Coordinator, Grow the Growers Farmer Training Program

Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT
Farm Tour

Farm Tour

12:45pm MDT

Collaboration in Corrales: How Neighboring Producers Join Forces for Economic Viability

FILLING

Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT

Farm Tour

Limited Capacity filling up

Corrales, a historically agricultural village and home to subsistence farmers just north of Albuquerque, continues to bustle with farmers of varying scales. This tour highlights how neighboring producers continue the legacy of sustainable production while forging a joint path for business viability.

Silver Leaf Farms is a 15-acre certified organic vegetable farm growing diverse crops alongside value-added products founded by brothers Aaron and Elan Silverblatt-Buser. Silver Leaf Farms showcases the unique "terroir" of Corrales with a diverse mix of vegetables, as well as a line of in-house hot sauces, jams, and spices.

Milagro Vineyards has been producing estate wines in Northern New Mexico since 1985. They meticulously and sustainably raise all of the grapes for their wines, which are hand-crafted in an Old World style and aged in French oak. Together with Grinding Gears Coffee Company, these partners operate The Farm Stand, a shared retail and community space celebrating local food, flavors, and beverage producers.

Speakers

Max Wagner

Winemaker, Milagro Vineyards

Elan Silverblatt-Buser

Co-Founder, Silver Leaf Farms

Aaron Silverblatt-Buser

Co-Founder, Silver Leaf Farms

Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT
Farm Tour

Farm Tour

12:45pm MDT

Four Daughters Pecan Orchard: Growing NM Pecans and Business Resilience

FILLING

Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT

Farm Tour

Limited Capacity filling up

Join Farm Manager Troy Richardson on this walking tour of the 850-acre Four Daughters Pecan Orchard. Learn how this orchard was once an unofficial county dump and has since been reclaimed as a productive pecan operation along the Rio Grande. Topics will include financing used to develop the orchard, soil health practices to improve resilience and reduce irrigation needs, variety selection for this climate, and marketing strategies to maximize income.

Speakers

Troy Richardson

Farm Manager, Four Daughters Pecan Orchard

Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT
Farm Tour

Farm Tour

12:45pm MDT

Hearth, Wind and Sol Farm: Monitoring, Adaptation, and Innovation

FILLING

Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT

Farm Tour

Limited Capacity filling up

Join Hearth, Wind and Sol Farm co-owner and manager John Humphries and Holistic Management International Education Director Ann Adams on this tour of a 640-acre ranch where thoughtful investment in infrastructure and technology has transformed grazing management. You will see water and fencing infrastructure firsthand and learn how the Humphries family has explored virtual fencing and carbon credits across this property and an additional family property of over 2,400 acres. Key topics include forage assessment, carrying capacity, stock density, holistic grazing planning tools, and biological monitoring that supports adaptive management over time.

Note: This is a walking tour covering ≈ 1 mile over uneven rangeland. Limited vehicle access will be available for a small number of participants, but walking is required for all attendees.

Facilities: Port-a-potty on site

Speakers

John Humphries

Co-Owner and Manager, Hearth, Wind and Soul Farm

Ann Adams

Education Director, Holistic Management International

Ann has worked in the nonprofit world for almost 25 years, creating and directing national programs, collaborating with over 100 non-profit and government entities to create positive impact among producers and land stewards seeking to build & maintain sustainable farms, ranches and... Read More →

Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT
Farm Tour

Farm Tour

12:45pm MDT

Loose Leaf Farm: Diversity for Future Viability

FULL

Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT

Farm Tour

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Join Mark and Sarah Robertson of Loose Leaf Farm in Albuquerque’s North Valley for a guided tour and discussion of a highly diverse small-scale vegetable and fruit operation. The conversation will explore how diversifying every aspect of the farm and applying the Holistic Management® Framework to monitor ecosystem processes has helped the Robertsons sustain their operation at the scale they choose for their quality of life.

Topics include diverse lease arrangements, market channels, soil health practices, small livestock integration, and labor considerations.

Facilities: Composting toilet facilities on site

Speakers