Loading…

Tuesday, September 22
 

9:00am MDT

11:00am MDT

Registration Opens
Tuesday September 22, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Tuesday September 22, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
North Atrium

11:30am MDT

Networking
Tuesday September 22, 2026 11:30am - 12:00pm MDT

Tuesday September 22, 2026 11:30am - 12:00pm MDT
East Atrium

12:00pm MDT

Lunch
Tuesday September 22, 2026 12:00pm - 1:15pm MDT

Tuesday September 22, 2026 12:00pm - 1:15pm MDT
Alvarado ABCD

12:30pm MDT

Opening Plenary: Welcoming Remarks
Tuesday September 22, 2026 12:30pm - 1:15pm MDT

Tuesday September 22, 2026 12:30pm - 1:15pm MDT
Alvarado ABCD

1:30pm MDT

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

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

1:30pm MDT

Loan-Ready Clients: A Workshop for Service Providers Who Help Make It Happen
Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT
Service providers play a critical role in helping farm and food business producers access capital. In this interactive workshop, participants will build the skills needed to move producers from "not yet" to "loan ready." Through real-world examples and hands-on discussion, explore financial analysis, business planning, business health assessments, and long-term strategy—to better prepare your...
See More →
Speakers
AK

Andrea Krahmer

Director of Ag Business Support, Oregon Agricultural Trust
Andrea's lifelong passion for agriculture began on her family's small farm in rural Oregon. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business Management from Oregon State University and began her career as an agricultural lender shortly after graduation. After 19 years of... Read More →
Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT
Weavers

1:30pm MDT

Starting Farms with Limited Resources: What Actually Works and How to Support It
Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT
This highly interactive workshop shares real-world lessons from working closely with immigrant, limited-resources, and Spanish-speaking farmers in New York State over the past four years. It focuses on how farmers actually start and grow farm businesses when they have limited access to land, capital, and formal support systems. While traditional approaches emphasize business planning, financing,...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Anu Rangarajan

Anu Rangarajan

Director/ Sr. Extension Associate, Cornell Small Farms Program
Anu Rangarajan is the Director of the Cornell Small Farms Program and a national leader in farm viability, agricultural education, and program development. She has extensive experience supporting beginning farmers and leading initiatives that integrate research, extension, and policy... Read More →
avatar for Mildred Alvarado

Mildred Alvarado

Director, Equitable Farm Futures Initiative / Extension Associate, Cornell Small Farms Program
Mildred Alvarado has over 20 years of experience in agricultural development, working closely with immigrant, limited-resource and Spanish-speaking farmers in the U.S. and Latin America. Her work focuses on farm business development, land access, and equitable agricultural systems... Read More →
Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT
Turquoise

1:30pm MDT

When Does Wholesaling Work? Helping Your Farms Understand Wholesale Readiness and Costs of Distribution
Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT
This session will provide Farm Business Planners with Key Questions they should be asking their farm clients when a client is considering the Wholesale Channel. Participants will come away with the most current detailed list of considerations and questions farms need to ask themselves when considering Wholesale. These include detailed questions around 7 topic areas: Capital improvements; Operating...
See More →
Speakers
RW

Rose Wilson

Principal, Rose Wilson Consulting LLC
Over the past 22 years, Rose Wilson has helped more than 500 farms and food producers with business launch, expansion, and exit; enterprise analysis; market development; and grant writing/capital raise. Rose brings a broad set of technical and people skills to each client and project... Read More →
avatar for Elisa Clancy

Elisa Clancy

Farm Viability Advisor, University of Vermont Extension
Elisa is a Farm Business Advisor, providing farmers with one-on-one business planning and coaching and she coordinates the University of Vermont Extension Farm Viability Program with the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. She works with farm owners in developing and updating... Read More →
Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT
Alvarado F

1:30pm MDT

Workshopping a Model Chart of Accounts
Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT
A Model Chart of Accounts for Farm and Ranch Business One way to unify our various approaches to farm and ranch bookkeeping and to create reports that are comparable and can be used for benchmarking is to agree on a model chart of accounts. In this session we will workshop a model chart of accounts proposed by California FarmLink and discuss how to get additional buy-in and widespread adoption....
See More →
Speakers
PD

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

1:30pm MDT

Land & Housing Preservation: Heirs' Property
Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT
Heirs' property (sometimes called family land, or inherited land) remains one of the greatest threats to land security, leading to ownership disputes, legal roadblocks, and land loss. This workshop is designed for anyone who supports families and communities navigating these complex property ownership issues. Attendees will gain the tools and insights needed to help families secure their land and...
See More →
Speakers
FM

Fran Miller

Senior Staff Attorney/Adjunct Faculty, Vermont Law and Graduate School
Fran Miller is a senior staff attorney and adjunct faculty member at the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS) at Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS), where she supervises students in the Food and Agriculture Clinic and leads a variety of projects. Fran focuses predominantly... Read More →
DK

Dr. Kara Woods

Research Analyst, Alcorn State University, National Policy Research Center
Dr. Kara Woods is a native of Montgomery, AL, and alum of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is a proud HBCU alum of Tuskegee University where she earned a Ph.D. in Integrative Public Policy and Development. Her dissertation concentrates on the social, economic, and political... Read More →
LD

Lizbeth Davila

Staff Attorney, St. Mary's School of Law
Lizbeth Parra Davila is Practicing Faculty teaching Deposition Skills and a Staff Attorney with the Real Estate Clinic at the St. Mary's University School of Law. Her clinic work and advocacy focus on preserving homeownership and building generational wealth in marginalized communities... Read More →
Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT
Alvarado H

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...
See More →
Speakers
CK

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

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...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Liz Gleason

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 →
avatar for Asia Hampton

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 →
DS

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 →
CR

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

1:30pm MDT

Designing Effective Farm and Ranch Programs to Build Skills
Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT
Agricultural service providers seek to help farmers and ranchers adopt complex skills. Yet most of us were never trained in how people learn. As a result, we rely on familiar tools such as lectures, panels, and case studies. The outcome is predictable: strong participation, positive evaluations, and limited long-term adoption of the very skills we aim to build.This is not for lack of effort,...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Seth Wilner

Seth Wilner

Farm Business Management Regional Field Specialist, UNH Extension
Seth has taught effective adult education for farmer and rancher educators for over a decade. He is a contributing author to the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) publication "Sustainable Agriculture Through Sustainable Learning." He has helped peers and colleagues... Read More →

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

3:00pm MDT

Coffee & Conversation Break
Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm MDT

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

3:30pm MDT

Breakout Session 2
Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT

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

3:30pm MDT

Perceived vs. Real Risk: Why Good Farm Deals Don't Get Funded
Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT
Risk is a four letter word in the food and farm lending ecosystem that often inhibits traditional and alternative non-food lenders from lending to more food and farm businesses. Over the years, real and perceived risk has limited access to capital for enterprises that are working to strengthen local and regional food systems. As lenders dedicated to investing in the food system, Foodshed Capital,...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Asia Hampton

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 →
IB

Indy Brahm

Chief Operating Officer, Foodshed Capital
Indy Brahm is the COO of Foodshed Capital, where she leads lending, business support programming, and operational strategy. Since joining in 2020, she has underwritten dozens of loans to growing farm businesses and brings hands-on farm experience from three seasons at a diversified... Read More →
JM

Joel Moyer

Director of Investments, Fair Food Network
Over the last 13 years, Joel has worked on most of the 71 mission aligned food and farm investments and loans Fair Food Network has made through the Fair Food Fund. As Director of Investments, Joel leads the team in underwriting, and structuring loans, and he leads portfolio management... Read More →
Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT
Weavers

3:30pm MDT

Inside the Machine: Tactical and Strategic Approaches to Institutional Food Markets
Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT
Most farm viability professionals already sense it: no matter how well-prepared a producer is, no matter how committed an institution claims to be, something in the system keeps getting in the way. This session names that something directly and gives attendees the tools to work around it, through it, and eventually against it. Built from five years of field experience running BIPOC and...
See More →
Speakers
HN

Heather Nieto-Friga

CEO, SupplyChange
Heather "H" Nieto-Friga (she/her) is the founder and CEO of SupplyChange, a nationwide food systems and supply chain consultancy specializing in institutional procurement and regional food system development. Her background spans food justice and labor organizing, local government... Read More →
Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT
Alvarado F

3:30pm MDT

Making Holistic Management Work: Adapting Whole Farm Planning Tools for Real-World Farm Advising
Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT
Whole Farm Planning, rooted in the Holistic Management framework, has for decades been valued for its comprehensive approach to triple-bottom-line farm management and decision-making. Yet many practitioners are seeking more practical, adaptable ways to integrate these tools into day-to-day advising and existing program models. Designed for farm service providers with any level of prior exposure to...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Ann Adams

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 →
avatar for Stevie Schafenacker

Stevie Schafenacker

Principal, Independent Advisor
Stevie Schafenacker is an independent farm advisor who has worked with New England farmers for the past four years, providing business planning, financial literacy support, and strategic decision-making assistance to more than 60 individual farm clients. Prior to that, she coordinated... Read More →
Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT
Turquoise

3:30pm MDT

Small Farm Viability Reality Through Case Studies
Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT
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...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Megan Hunter

Megan Hunter

Senior Program Specialist, Transfarmation

JC

Jeff Cole

Client Services, The Carrot Project
avatar for Christina Lynch

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 →
EP

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

3:30pm MDT

Climate Risk, Adaptation, and Business Advising Roundtable
Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT
This moderated roundtable will discuss participants' observations, practices, and new developments in integrated climate risk planning and adaptation/mitigation into traditional business planning. Many land and environmentally focused advisors are not well versed in farm financials or business planning, and vice versa. Sessions at past NFVC's have noted the importance of bringing these topics...
See More →
Speakers
CS

Connor Stedman

Principal, Alosa Ecological Strategies LLC
Connor Stedman is a farm business advisor, environmental planner, and project developer with two decades' experience supporting innovation at the intersections of agriculture, social systems, and the environment.  He has led project development and strategic advisory on climate... Read More →
Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT
Potters

3:30pm MDT

An Accountant, a Lender and a Bookkeeper Walk into a Bar - and Spend the Evening with a Balance Sheet
Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT
Re-submitting to correct the title. Everything else in this submission is the same as before. Accountants, lenders and bookkeepers have three different approaches to a balance sheet. All are correct, but on occasion all are in conflict, which can be hard on the business owner, or an adviser. Sometimes the same terms are used in different ways, and often they have very different perspectives on...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Jane Garcia

Jane Garcia

Director of Lending, California FarmLink
Jane Garcia is the Director of Lending for California FarmLink, providing loans to under served markets in the agriculture industry. Professional licenses include Mortgage Loan Originator, Realtor and Notary. She is experienced in mortgage, commercial, SBA, USDA, and consumer credit... Read More →
PD

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 →
avatar for Winona Dorris

Winona Dorris

Technical Assistance Director, Potlikker Capital
Winona Dorris is the Technical Assistance Director at Potlikker Capital, where she leads the design and implementation of technical assistance strategies that help agricultural producers build resilient, sustainable businesses. She oversees the development of technical assistance... Read More →
Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT
Alvarado H

3:30pm MDT

What goes into a Farm Transfer Plan?
Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT
Learn about successful programs that assist farm families in developing a plan for transferring their farm to the next generation – whether within the family or not. Models from CA, MA and VT will be shared - how each program was developed, how they are implemented, and what goes into each farm transfer plan – both the content as well as the effort. Then join the group discussion to further...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Liz Gleason

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 →
avatar for Liya Schwartzman

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 →
MA

Melissa Adams

Programs Manager, Farm Viability and Agricultural Business Assistance, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
Melissa Adams is committed to helping farm businesses succeed. As Programs Manager for Farm Viability and Agricultural Business Assistance at the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, she manages 4 programs that provide business and technical assistance and > $2 million... Read More →
Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT
Fireplace

3:30pm MDT

Rooted in Trust: Culturally Responsive Farm Viability for Latino Farmers
Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT
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...
See More →
Speakers
TZ

Tania Zuñiga

Business Advisor, Kitchen Table Advisors
avatar for Anna Chotzen

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 →
NP

Natalia Pizon Jimenez, PhD

Research Scientist, University of California, Davis

avatar for Andrea Levy

Andrea Levy

Senior Program Manager, California FarmLink
Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT
Ballroom

5:00pm MDT

Reception: Hors d'Oeuvres & Cash Bar
Tuesday September 22, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm MDT

Tuesday September 22, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm MDT
Spanish Gardens

6:30pm MDT

Conference Day Ends - Dinner Out in Self-Organized Small Groups
Tuesday September 22, 2026 6:30pm - 6:30pm MDT

Tuesday September 22, 2026 6:30pm - 6:30pm MDT
 
Wednesday, September 23
 

6:00am MDT

Coffee & Breakfast Snacks Available
Wednesday September 23, 2026 6:00am - 7:00am MDT

Wednesday September 23, 2026 6:00am - 7:00am MDT
Alvarado ABCD

7:00am MDT

Breakfast
Wednesday September 23, 2026 7:00am - 9:00am MDT

Wednesday September 23, 2026 7:00am - 9:00am MDT
Alvarado ABCD

8:15am MDT

Plenary "Resilience in Practice: Policy Lessons for Challenging Times"
Wednesday September 23, 2026 8:15am - 9:00am MDT

Wednesday September 23, 2026 8:15am - 9:00am MDT
Alvarado ABCD

9:00am MDT

Breakout Session 3
Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT

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

9:00am MDT

9:00am MDT

New Ideas for Our Intractable Problems
Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT
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...
See More →
Speakers
LS

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 →
TJ

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 →
ZD

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

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
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...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Sam Smith

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 →
MR

Michael Robertson

NY FarmNet and/or 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

9:00am MDT

9:00am MDT

Side Meeting: Conservation Practices Cost-Benefit - By Invitation
Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT
This side meeting is a closed session - participation is by invitation only.
Speakers
AC

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 →
RM

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 →
DS

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

9:00am MDT

Build your Capacity to Meet Clients' Marketing Needs
Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT
Effective marketing can play an essential role in achieving farm viability, yet many TA business planners have limited capacity to help farm and food clients use marketing to achieve their business goals. The learning objective for this workshop is to provide training and tools to build staff capacity to meet clients' marketing needs, such as attracting and retaining customers and increasing...
See More →
Speakers
MG

Myrna Greenfield

Top Egg, Good Egg Marketing
Good Egg Marketing founder Myrna Greenfield has provided business and marketing TA to farm and food businesses since 2010. She's a frequent presenter at conferences and events, including the Pasa Sustainable Agriculture Conference, the Harvest New England Agricultural Marketing Conference... Read More →
Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT
Weavers

9:00am MDT

Cross-State Approaches to Equitable Farmland Tenure and Purchase
Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT
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...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Liya Schwartzman

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 →
avatar for James Nakahara

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 →
KV

Krisztián Varsa

Director, Farms Fund, The Conservation Fund
KL

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

9:00am MDT

Developing a Model Ethics Policy for Farm Business Assistance Organizations
Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT
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...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Rachel Armstrong

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 →
PP

Paige Phinney

Regional Program Director, Kitchen Table Advisors
avatar for Benneth Phelps

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 →
JH

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.
PD

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

10:30am MDT

Coffee & Conversation Break
Wednesday September 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am MDT

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

11:00am MDT

Breakout Session 4
Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT

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
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...
See More →
Speakers
JV

Julia Valliant

Farms for a New Generation Director, American Farmland Trust
avatar for Jan Joannides

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 →
DS

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 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
Turquoise

11:00am MDT

Integrating Climate Risk Assessments & Resilience Strategies into Farm Business Planning
Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
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...
See More →
Speakers
AC

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 →
PD

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 →
RM

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

11:00am MDT

Navigating Farm Financial Stress: Tools, Decisions, and Knowing Your Tipping Point
Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
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...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Paul Dietmann

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 →
CL

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

11:00am MDT

Tax Management Strategies and a Tax Estimator Tool
Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
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...
See More →
Speakers
AK

Adam Kantrovich

ii. Extension Specialist & Program Team Director – Agribusiness and Director of the Clemson Extension Tax School, Clemson University
v. Dr. Kantrovich has been a faculty member in higher ed and or in Extension approx. 30 years and Co-chairs the National Farm Income Tax Extension Committee. Dr. Kantrovich specializes in agricultural financial management, ag labor policy, farm and timber taxation, and other agricultural... Read More →
JH

JC Hobbs

Associate Extension Specialist, Oklahoma State University
RW

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 →
SC

Sarah Campbell

National Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coordinator, USDA
Sarah Campbell is the National Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coordinator at USDA. Her work focuses on leading and coordinating beginning farmer efforts across the Department, increasing access to USDA resources, and improving programs beginning farmers use to start and grow their operations... Read More →
Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
Ballroom

11:00am MDT

Expanding Value-Added Processing for Institutional Markets: Barriers, Roles, and Solutions
Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
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...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Libby Christensen

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 →
AB

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 →
BS

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 →
JM

Jacqueline Montoya

Project Manager, San Juan College
Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
Alvarado H

11:00am MDT

Farmlinking Roundtable
Wednesday September 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
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...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Liya Schwartzman

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 →
avatar for Shemariah Blum-Evitts

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

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
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...
See More →
Speakers
PP

Paige Phinney

Regional Program Director, Kitchen Table Advisors
JS

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

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
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...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Andrea Levy

Andrea Levy

Senior Program Manager, California FarmLink
avatar for Rui Bing Zheng

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

12:45pm MDT

Pickup Box Lunch & Join Tour Buses
Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 1:00pm MDT

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

12:45pm MDT

Chispas Farm & Grow the Growers Program: Sustainable Agriculture in the South Valley - FULL
FULL
Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT
Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.
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...
See More →
Speakers
CH

Casey Holland

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

12:45pm MDT

Collaboration in Corrales: How Neighboring Producers Join Forces for Economic Viability - FULL
FULL
Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT
Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.
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...
See More →
Speakers
ES

Elan Silverblatt-Buser

Co-Founder, Silver Leaf Farms
AS

Aaron Silverblatt-Buser

Co-Founder, Silver Leaf Farms
Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT
Farm Tour

12:45pm MDT

Four Daughters Pecan Orchard: Growing NM Pecans and Business Resilience
Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT
Limited Capacity seats available
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...
See More →
Speakers
TR

Troy Richardson

Farm Manager, Four Daughters Pecan Orchard
Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT
Farm Tour

12:45pm MDT

Hearth, Wind and Sol Farm: Monitoring, Adaptation, and Innovation
Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT
Limited Capacity seats available
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...
See More →
Speakers
JH

John Humphries

Co-Owner and Manager, Hearth, Wind and Soul Farm
avatar for Ann Adams

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

12:45pm MDT

Loose Leaf Farm: Diversity for Future Viability
Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT
Limited Capacity seats available
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...
See More →
Speakers
SR

Sarah Robertson

Co-Owner, Loose Leaf Farm

MR

Mark Robertson

Co-Owner, Loose Leaf Farm
Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT
Farm Tour

12:45pm MDT

Sile Pastures: Nourishing Land, Animals, and Community Raising Grassfed Beef and Lamb
Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Sile Pastures is a diversified livestock operation raising beef, lamb, and poultry on 30 acres of acequia-irrigated pasture along the Rio Grande, between Albuquerqueand Santa Fe. In September, the Black Angus and Santa Gertrudis cattle will have returned from their summer in the Pecos Mountains. Rancher Sage Hagan will sharehow he and his wife Andrea became first-generation land stewards engaged...
See More →
Speakers
AH

Andrea Hagan

Co-Owner, Sile Pastures
SH

Sage Hagan

Co-Owner, Sile Pastures
Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:45pm - 5:30pm MDT
Farm Tour

5:30pm MDT

Tour Buses Return
Wednesday September 23, 2026 5:30pm - 5:30pm MDT

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

6:00pm MDT

Conference Day Ends - Dinner Out in Self-Organized Small Groups
Wednesday September 23, 2026 6:00pm - 6:00pm MDT

Wednesday September 23, 2026 6:00pm - 6:00pm MDT
 
Thursday, September 24
 

6:00am MDT

Coffee & Breakfast Snacks Available
Thursday September 24, 2026 6:00am - 7:00am MDT

Thursday September 24, 2026 6:00am - 7:00am MDT
Alvarado ABCD

7:00am MDT

Breakfast
Thursday September 24, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am MDT

Thursday September 24, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am MDT
Alvarado ABCD

8:00am MDT

Breakout Session 5
Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT

Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT

8:00am MDT

Side Meeting: Lenders Stronger Together - By Invitation
Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT
This side meeting is a closed session - participation is by invitation only.
Speakers
RK

Reggie Knox

CEO, California FarmLink
As CEO, Reggie assures FarmLink stays true to its mission and lives up to its vision. With over 30 years working in agriculture and non-profits on behalf of small farmers, he provides oversight and direction to all of FarmLink's functional areas and supports the involvement of a strong... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT
Potters

8:00am MDT

Identifying Policy Problems and Developing Advocacy Campaigns
Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT
Farmers and practitioners often encounter that there are policy solutions that do not properly address the problems they face. It is important for that reason to have policy solutions grounded in the experience of farmers and practitioners who operate on the ground and who implement policy programs. This session centers hands-on experience in identifying and addressing programming problems that...
See More →
Speakers
DO

Duncan Orlander

Policy Specialist, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
One Policy Specialist from NSAC will co-present and share components of their work in engaging directly with policy makers. Policy specialists at NSAC have extensive experience working to develop policies that reflect the needs of our diverse coalition, rooted in the experiences of... Read More →
EL

Emily Liss

Will likely be Tim Fink, AFT's VP of Policy
avatar for Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli

Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli

Nezahualcoyotl "Neza" (he/him) is a Senior Grassroots Advocacy Coordinator with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC). Neza brings nearly 20 years of experience working in rural communities in Mexico and Central America and in the US South. His training in anthropology... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT
Fireplace

8:00am MDT

Resilience Meets Recordkeeping: Building Whole‑Farm Strength
Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT
Good recordkeeping is one of the most overlooked tools for improving farm viability—and it becomes even more powerful when integrated with conservation and risk‑management planning. This session helps participants connect financial records with whole‑farm resilience by showing how everyday numbers can reveal the economic value of water management, soil‑building practices, and...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Darron Gaus

Darron Gaus

Assistant Director of Agriculture, NCAT
Darron Gaus is the Assistant Director of Agriculture at the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), where he leads producer-centered projects focused on farm resilience, water conservation, financial decision-making, and climate adaptation. He manages the Abundant Ogallala... Read More →

Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT
Alvarado F

8:00am MDT

Driving Farmer Outcomes with Tax & Investment Strategy
Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT
This interactive workshop positions tax and investment planning as core financial levers for farmers that can shape outcomes as meaningfully as production, pricing, or marketing decisions. This session introduces a practical framework for using tax and investment strategy to influence cash flow, healthcare access, and long-term wealth building. Participants will walk through a simplified farm...
See More →
Speakers
MR

Michael Robertson

NY FarmNet and/or 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.
Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT
Weavers

8:00am MDT

Right-Sizing Farm Accounting Systems
Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT
Right-Sizing Farm Accounting Systems is intended as an interactive workshop for farm service providers, business advisors, and technical assistance practitioners who help farmers navigate bookkeeping, spreadsheets, taxes, and financial management systems. Many advisors are being asked to support clients on the numbers side of the business- yet onboarding farm clients into practical systems can...
See More →
Speakers
GS

Gina Simmons

Farm Service Provider, Intervale Center
I grew up in Maine, and after moving away, came back and spent over a decade as the founder/operator of a rapidly growing poultry business and USDA-inspected processing facility. Stepping down to concentrate on my education, I then graduated from the University of Maine with a BS... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT
Turquoise

8:00am MDT

Developing a Marketing Strategy with Farm and Food Businesses
Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT
Rose Wilson of Rose Wilson Consulting with Sara Armstrong Donegan and Christine Porcaro of the Intervale Center are proposing this session on how to develop a marketing strategy with farm and food business owners. Through the lens of farm business goal setting, we will walk participants through how to work with farmers to develop core competencies around market research and demand, to test...
See More →
Speakers
RW

Rose Wilson

Principal, Rose Wilson Consulting LLC
Over the past 22 years, Rose Wilson has helped more than 500 farms and food producers with business launch, expansion, and exit; enterprise analysis; market development; and grant writing/capital raise. Rose brings a broad set of technical and people skills to each client and project... Read More →
CP

Christine Porcaro

Farm Business Specialist, Intervale Center
Christine Porcaro is a Farm Business Specialist at the Intervale, where she supports farm and food businesses in strengthening their marketing, sales, and overall business management. She previously served as a co-owner and Marketing & Sales Manager at Fat Toad Farm, working with... Read More →
avatar for Sara Armstrong Donegan

Sara Armstrong Donegan

Farm Business Specialist, Intervale Center
Sara Armstrong Donegan has been working as a farm business consultant with the Intervale Center for over six years. She works with farmers across Vermont with a focus on business planning, financials, and marketing. Sara also owns a diversified vegetable farm with her husband, Trillium... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT
Alvarado G

8:00am MDT

Practical Considerations for Ground Leases
Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT
Ground leases have been promoted in the agricultural context for the past 20 years. As a land access tool, they are promised to ensure long-term affordability by severing ownership of the improvements (buildings) from the real estate (land) for the duration of their 99 year term; they are advertised as a means of building farmer equity in their investments to land, which remain owned by the...
See More →
Speakers
MC

Margaret Christie

Special Projects Director, Community Involved in Sustainable Agriculture (CISA)
Margaret Christie is the Special Projects Director at CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture), which strengthens farms and engages the community in growing the local food economy in the Connecticut River Valley of western Massachusetts. Margaret has recently conducted... Read More →
JH

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.
avatar for Shemariah Blum-Evitts

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 →
Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT
Ballroom

8:00am MDT

Assessing What Matters - How Do We Know Our Programs Are Working?
Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT
How do we know if our programs and services are making a difference for producers? While evaluation is often viewed as a funder requirement, it can also be a valuable tool for learning, improving services, and understanding impact. This highly interactive session invites participants to share how they currently define and measure success in their technical assistance, farm viability, and producer...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Rachel Brice

Rachel Brice

Director, Development & Grants, Land For Good
Rachel Brice is Director of Development and Grants at Land For Good, a New England-based nonprofit working to expand secure farmland access, tenure, and farm transfer. In her role, she manages grants across federal, foundation, and individual funders, and works closely with program... Read More →
avatar for Liz Gleason

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 →
avatar for Winona Dorris

Winona Dorris

Technical Assistance Director, Potlikker Capital
Winona Dorris is the Technical Assistance Director at Potlikker Capital, where she leads the design and implementation of technical assistance strategies that help agricultural producers build resilient, sustainable businesses. She oversees the development of technical assistance... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT
Alvarado H

9:30am MDT

Coffee & Conversation Break
Thursday September 24, 2026 9:30am - 10:00am MDT

Thursday September 24, 2026 9:30am - 10:00am MDT
East Atrium

10:00am MDT

Breakout Session 6
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT

Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT

10:00am MDT

Side Meeting: Federal Advocacy Platform Conversation - By Invitation
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
This side meeting is a closed session - participation is by invitation only.
Speakers
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
Turquoise

10:00am MDT

The Algorithm in the Room: Generative AI and Farm Viability Roundtable
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude have rapidly moved from novelty to fixture in many industries — and agriculture is no exception. Farmers are arriving at advisor meetings having already used AI to: Generate business plans, enterprise budgets, and grant proposals Brainstorm ideas and work through decisions Answer production and management questions Develop standard operating...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Stevie Schafenacker

Stevie Schafenacker

Principal, Independent Advisor
Stevie Schafenacker is an independent farm advisor who has worked with New England farmers for the past four years, providing business planning, financial literacy support, and strategic decision-making assistance to more than 60 individual farm clients. Prior to that, she coordinated... Read More →
JW

Jesse Wright

Agricultural Business Management Field Specialist, UNH Cooperative Extension
Jesse Wright is an Agricultural Business Management Field Specialist at UNH Cooperative Extension. In this role, she works with farmers throughout the state to build strong business skills and develop supportive networks. Her education and technical assistance center on marketing... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
Potters

10:00am MDT

Guarding the Ground in Eastern New Mexico: Sentinel Landscapes, Water Security, and Farm Viability
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
In Eastern New Mexico, producers are on the frontlines of severe climate stressors, particularly extreme drought and the rapid depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer. To keep farms and ranches viable, agricultural advisors need innovative, regionalized approaches. This 90-minute session will explore how the Eastern New Mexico Sentinel Landscape approach provides a model for climate adaptation and farm...
See More →
Speakers
DB

D'Llaynn Bruce

District Conservationist, US Department of Agriculture
D'Llaynn Bruce is a natural resources professional based in Eastern New Mexico with experience supporting conservation, agriculture, and community-based initiatives. Her work focuses on fostering collaboration among landowners, agencies, and partner organizations to advance sustainable... Read More →
DM

Dylan Marks

Board Member, Roosevelt Soil and Water Conservation District
Dylan Marks serves with the Roosevelt Soil and Water Conservation District in Eastern New Mexico, where he works closely with agricultural producers, landowners, and local partners to support sustainable land and water management practices. His work focuses on advancing conservation... Read More →
JT

John Tunberg

Contractor, New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts
John Tunberg serves with the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts, where he supports and advocates for conservation districts across the state in their efforts to protect and enhance natural resources. His work centers on strengthening partnerships between local districts... Read More →
ML

Marco Lueras

Eastern NM Sentinel Landscape Coordinator, LegacyWorks Group
Marco Lueras is a program coordinator and strategic partnerships professional focused on conservation, land management, and community engagement in Eastern New Mexico. He currently serves as the Coordinator for the Eastern New Mexico Sentinel Landscape (ENMSL), where he works at the... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
Fireplace

10:00am MDT

Strengthening Farm Resilience Through Farmer-to-Farmer Learning
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
In this time of mounting stresses impacting farm viability, this session explores the critical importance of farmer cohort learning in building farm resilience. Farms are struggling to navigate the volatility of the climate crisis and the shifting economic landscape. An effective and emerging method to facilitate learning for farmers is peer-to-peer cohorts in which the same group of farmers come...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Nicole DelCogliano

Nicole DelCogliano

Director of Programs, Organic Growers School
Nicole DelCogliano is the Director of Programs with the Organic Growers School, She has been passionately teaching beginning farmers and supporting existing farmers to thrive personally and professionally since 2015. Nicole facilitates OGS's year long farmer cohorts, Farm Beginnings... Read More →
NL

Nancy LaRowe

Farmer Services Director, Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont
Nancy has been delivering programming that advances farm viability, fosters healthy ecosystems, and builds community resilience for more than 25 years. Service provision focus includes climate adaptation planning, farmer cohort facilitation, and educational event development. Nancy... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
Weavers

10:00am MDT

Strengthening Regional Food Systems with Cooperative Models and the Power of Partnerships
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
This workshop will bring together a panel of Midwestern Food Hubs that are centering values based procurement models in their development of regional food systems. Three food hubs will be featured, with varying business models but a shared mission to center farmer voices and support farm viability. In the first half of the session, the panel will address the age-old question of, "how did you get...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Virginia Pleasant

Virginia Pleasant

Co-Executive Director, NWI Food Council
Dr. Virginia Pleasant grew up in Northwest Indiana and returned to her roots there 9 years ago to help build the regional food system she believes future generations deserve. From urban homesteading with her husband and 3 young children, to her role as Interim Director of Food Systems... Read More →
avatar for James Nakahara

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 →
AM

Anne Massie

Co-Executive Director, NWI Food Council
Anne Massie has a BA from Kalamazoo College in Psychology, Spanish and Philosophy and has spent the last 15 years building her career in local food advocacy in NW Indiana, gaining her farming knowledge through apprenticeships and workshops. From owning and operating her own diversified... Read More →
TS

Thomas Smith

Chief Business Officer, Kansas City Food Hub
Thomas Smith is the Chief Business Officer for the Kansas City Food Hub, a cooperative association of small and medium-sized farms that aggregate, market, and distribute collectively for the wholesale market in the greater KC metro. The KC Food Hub creates reliable and resilient markets... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
Alvarado H

10:00am MDT

Communicating for Change: Navigating Values and Mental Models to Move Succession Conversations Forward
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
Farm succession planning often stalls not only because of financial complexity, but because of the human complexity beneath it. Values, goals, and deeply held mental models shape how individuals interpret fairness, responsibility, legacy, and change. When these internal frameworks go unspoken, even families with shared visions can find themselves stuck, frustrated, or talking past one another....
See More →
Speakers
AD

Angie Doucette

Midwest Senior Farmland Program Manager, American Farmland Trust
Angie Doucette manages American Farmland Trust's farmland protection, transfer, and access initiatives across the Midwest. In this role, she leads research, develops resources, and provides direct one‑on‑one support to build the capacity of local partners while assisting landowners... Read More →
AS

Anna Sekine

Midwest Farmland Associate, American Farmland Trust
o Anna joined American Farmland Trust in January 2025, where she supports programs focused on farmland protection, access, and transfer across the Midwest. In this role, she also facilitates succession workshops, leads regional forums and trainings, and guides value-based conversations... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
Ballroom

10:00am MDT

How to Grow and Cultivate Farm Stories and Land Succession Through Technical Assistance Support
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
A moderated panel discussion on land retention and transfer from Michael Carter Jr with Africulture, Ebonie Alexander of Black Family Land trust (and two to other farmers not yet confirmed) to discuss through land retention and transfer plans related to their story and farming practices and principles. This will be a moderate panel discussion and workshop, providing tools and takeaways to use in...
See More →
Speakers
MC

Michael Carter Jr.

Executive Director, Africutlure
Michael Carter is a 5th generation farmer at Carter Farms and executive director of Africulture and author of the book of the same name, Africulture.
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
Alvarado F

10:00am MDT

Case Management Approach for Farm Viability
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
WORKSHOP OVERVIEW We are proposing an interactive workshop that explores using case management and farmer training program design and evaluation strategies to assess farm viability — particularly for beginning farmers. We will share Viva Farms' experience developing and implementing a case management framework for farmer support, adopting and iterating Salesforce CRM to track farmer progress...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Anna Chotzen

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 →
avatar for Rob Smith

Rob Smith

Chief Programs and Operations Officer, Viva Farms
Rob has over 20 years of experience working at the intersection of sustainable agriculture, farm business management, and social advocacy. Prior to joining Viva Farms in 2014, he worked as a manager of Happy Boy Farms, a 400-acre, certified organic farm in California's central coast... Read More →
avatar for Micah Anderson

Micah Anderson

Director of Programs, King County, Viva Farms
Micah has spent the past 15 years teaching experiential, hands-on sustainable agriculture courses and has facilitated many participatory workshops, in multiple languages and cultures. His work focuses on bridging and strengthening diverse communities through programs that foster a... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
Alvarado G

11:30am MDT

Lunch
Thursday September 24, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT

Thursday September 24, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT
Alvarado ABCD

12:00pm MDT

Closing Plenary: Updates on Ethics Model; Closing Reflections
Thursday September 24, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT
Alvarado ABCD

12:30pm MDT

Conference Closes
Thursday September 24, 2026 12:30pm - 12:30pm MDT

Thursday September 24, 2026 12:30pm - 12:30pm MDT
 
National Farm Viability Conference
From $475.00