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Midwest Value Added Conference. Bringing Profit Back to the Farm Presenter: Heather Amundson – River Country Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc. Planning Committee. Farmer UW Center for Cooperatives WI Dept of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection WI Technical College System
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Midwest Value Added Conference Bringing Profit Back to the Farm Presenter: Heather Amundson – River Country Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc.
Planning Committee • Farmer • UW Center for Cooperatives • WI Dept of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection • WI Technical College System • Wisconsin Farmers Union • UW Center for Integrated Ag. Systems • River Country RC&D Council, Inc.
Conference details • 5th year in the running • Held 2 days • Focused on farms of all sizes • Emphasizes marketing strategies and business options to improve the bottom line
Farmer Advisory Panel • Diverse/randomly selected group of individuals in the Midwest • Meet in May • What do we learn? -session ideas -promotion ideas
Main Focus Areas – Everything • Marketing • What are others doing • Cooperatives • Rules and regulations • What to do to get started • Farm Bill updates • Unique Opportunities
Highlights • Youth Panel • Humor from the Country – Jerry Apps • Being a good neighbor! • It’s your turn. • Tradeshow
Reception • Features local foods and products • Provides opportunity to see what others are doing • Networking opportunity
Evaluations • 200 Individuals Attended • 45 Evaluations Returned • Program overall usefulness = 4.11 out of 5 • 4 states represented
Comments • “Excellent Speakers and Good info!” • “Real Eye Opener” • “I felt this was one of the best conferences I have ever attended.” • “Great topics!”
6th Annual Conference • January 30-31, 2004 • Incorporating suggestions from this year’s conference • Create theme days • Continue to feature value added products
To get on our mailing list… Contact me at: Heather Amundson 1304 N. Hillcrest Pkwy, Suite B Altoona, WI 54720 Phone: 715-834-9672 Fax: 715-834-8663 Email: heather.amundson@wi.usda.gov