National Farm Viability Conference: Full Schedule

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 protect generational wealth. Key topics include: Understanding the legal and cultural complexities of heirs' property Impacts of fractional ownership and land rights challenges Preventing land loss and preserving family legacies by doing succession planning

Speakers

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 →

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 →

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

Land Access Retention and Transfer

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

Alvarado H

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 what belongs on a balance sheet and how numbers are calculated. In this session we will go through a balance sheet and discuss how it is prepared by a CPA following Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, by a bookkeeper using the modified accrual or modified tax method of accounting, and by a lender for underwriting purposes. We will also discuss best practices for helping a client to develop a balance sheet that can be used to apply for a loan and to anchor a new bookkeeping system. Participants will leave with a new understanding of how common financial terms are used in different specific contexts, and will have improved ability to help clients improve their balance sheet presentation for management and loan-seeking. This session will help anyone who works with farmer on their bookkeeping or lending applications to gain a deeper understanding of technical terms which are often hard to teach, particularly when the teacher does not understand all of the nuances of the term, and the learner does not have any background knowledge of the broader subject of financial accounting. This session addresses a common problem for farmers who do not use standard bookkeeping methods, compile information for loan applications, and then later try to set their bookkeeping up to match the loan application documents.

Speakers

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 →

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 →

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

Farm Financial Management, Accessing Capital

9:00am MDT

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

8:00am MDT

Assessing What Matters - How Do We Know Our Programs Are Working?

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

Alvarado H

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 support programs. Through small-group discussions, peer exchange, and real-world scenarios, participants will explore what is being measured, what may be missing, and how factors such as relationships, engagement, timing, and adaptability influence producer outcomes.

Rather than focusing on a single evaluation approach, the session creates space for participants to learn from one another, examine different assessment practices, and leave with practical ideas they can apply within their own organizations.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

Discuss why evaluation matters beyond funder reporting.

Explore the difference between outputs, outcomes, and impact.

Examine how different organizations define and measure success.

Identify gaps between what is measured and what producers experience.

Leave with at least one new idea or approach to strengthen evaluation in their own work.

Speakers

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 →

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 →

Winona Dorris

Technical Assistance Director, Potlikker Capital

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

Program Design Development Management and Funding

10:00am MDT

Strengthening Regional Food Systems with Cooperative Models and the Power of Partnerships

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

Alvarado H

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 here," while in the second half we will encourage workshop participants to imagine the potential for partnerships in their own organizations and communities. We will facilitate a brief asset mapping and visioning session that will support participants as they identify next steps for the creation of locally situated programs that support thriving farmers and resilient communities. Alternatively, we can also use the second half of the session to facilitate round table break outs that support networking and shared learning with the panelists and moderator. Learning Objectives: -Gain insight into regional value chain development with specific examples -Learn about the opportunities in supporting cooperative models for production, aggregation, marketing, and distribution -Use an action planning framework to identify opportunities for collaboration in their respective regions NWI Food Council/Region Roots Food Hub: The NWI Food Council has long cultivated the power of relationships and partnerships to develop and implement impactful programs. One of our most visible programs, Region Roots Local Farm and Food Hub, has proven to be a powerful tool for bridging the needs of farm viability and food access. We'll share about our programs (Farmher to Mama, Senior eFMNP Boxes, Farm to School work) that use the hub as a mechanism for lowering barriers for historically underserved farmers, improving food access, and cultivating food justice-driven communities. As these programs have grown, we have also supported the emergent informal farmer cooperatives that are central to everything that we do. Though farmers have not chosen to formally incorporate as a cooperative, the principles of cooperative enterprises are embedded in the culture of small scale farmers in our region, and in our Food Hub. This strong community spirit and ethos of mutuality are supporting a stronger and more resilient, values-driven regional food system. Kansas City Food Hub: The Kansas City Food Hub was founded in 2016 by a group of small farmers who envisioned a local food system that allowed farmers to move their product into restaurants, schools, homes and more. They wanted to feed their communities and promote their belief in sustainable farming for themselves and the next generations. In addition to integrating local food into the Kansas City Metro Supply Chain, The Kansas City Food Hub focuses on stewardship of the land and its resources; mentorship; living wages; collaboration toward food sovereignty; and cooperative production planning, marketing and purchasing of resources. Our small and medium-sized farmers are improving the economic viability of sustainable local agriculture by coordinating year-round production, supporting emerging growers, aggregating product distribution, and bringing farmers and buyers together in a community that benefits all. Their partnerships and collaborative efforts extend beyond the farmer cooperative, as they work with many other food businesses, organizations to develop a more resilient regional food system. Food Hub #3, TBD

Speakers

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 →

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 →

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 →

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

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