PASA - Farming for the Future Conference

Pre-Conference Programs

LIMITED SPACE, PLEASE REGISTER EARLY!
The Pre-Conference continues to expand…and improve!
PASA is proud to offer seven Thursday tracks, a two-day Strategic Business Planning Course, and a Supplementary Equipment Course on Wednesday. Registration is limited, and participants will spend the entire day in their chosen track. Continental breakfast, a hot buffet lunch, an hors d’oeuvres evening reception, and complimentary cheese tasting are included in the package price. See the registration form for pricing: those attending the Friday/Saturday Conference save on Pre-Conference rates!

WEDNESDAY, Jan 31

SUPPLEMENTARYCOURSE: Basic Machinery Operation
Back by popular demand, this course with Shane LaBrake is an opportunity to learn practical skills for operating farm machinery safely. After a basic overview of tractor makes and models, participants will review basic machinery safety and daily maintenance. The day will culminate in hands-on practice operating a variety of tractors and other machines. Registration is limited to 20 participants. Course will meet at the Penn State Ag Arena. click here for directions to the Ag Arena"

This course is offered with support from our friends at Pennsylvania Women’s Agricultural Network (PA WAg’N).


TRACK 1:
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, Jan 31 & FEB 1 Strategic Business Planning Realize your full potential! Lee Hargrave specializes in supporting the start-up or developing-stage company with their strategic business plan. Hargrave offers step-by-step instruction on developing a business plan as well as professional advice for presentation. Whether you are just starting your first draft or need expert improvement on an existing business plan, this course is for you. All participants will receive Hargrave’s book, Plan for Profitability! How to Write a Strategic Business Plan, which has been acclaimed as a “visionary work” and is frequently used as a text in college courses.
TRACK 2:		TRACK 3:
THURSDAY, FEB 1 The Link Between Nutrition and Agriculture Arden Andersen, D.O., Ph.D. and Jerry Brunetti Two world-renowned health and agriculture professionals team up to offer this soup-to-nuts track, designed to empower participants to help themselves. From garden plot to milking parlor, human health and quality of life are all about nutrition. Let Andersen and Brunetti redefine the term health, teach you the meaning of disease, and demonstrate what it means to eat real food. This is about human health, from the soil up.		THURSDAY, FEB 1 New and Beginning Farmers The popularity of this track, now in its fourth year, is due in large part to the ingenuity and creativity shared by our presenters. This year is no different, with more attention than ever given to the nuts and bolts of start up operations. This track fills up fast, so register early! It All Starts with a Plan Kim Miller Wolf Lake Farm Turning Your Efforts into Dollars Joel Salatin Polyface Farm Starting a Dairy From Scratch Cliff Hawbaker Hamilton Heights Dairy Farm Goats Can Make You Money Robert Herr Nix Besser Livestock Company We Made $50K on One Acre! Mara and Spencer Welton Half Pint Farm
TRACK 4:		TRACK 5:
THURSDAY, FEB 1 Equipment Maintenance and Repair Don’t miss Shane LaBrake in this encore presentation! Participants will work in small groups to tackle jobs like changing oil and filters, cleaning radiator screens, adjusting belts and hoses, installing batteries, and changing spark plugs on a variety of equipment pieces. Registration is limited to 20 participants. Course will meet at the Penn State Ag Arena click here for directions to the Ag Arena" This course is offered with support from our friends at Pennsylvania Women’s Agricultural Network (PA WAg’N).		THURSDAY, FEB 1 The Art of Cheese This line-up is a “Who’s Who” in artisan cheesemaking! Have you ever wondered if you could turn your stovetop cheese into a marketable product? Never made cheese before but you’re curious? Select the Beginners Series for a realistic look at what it takes to make and sell cheese in today’s market. If you have been producing cheese on a commercial scale and have a solid foundation of making and aging cheese, you are eligible for the Advanced Series. Bring a thick skin and samples of your own cheeses for evaluation. This course is offered with support from our friends at PA Farmstead & Artisan Cheese Alliance. Cultures Margaret Morris Glengarry Cheesemaking and Dairy Supply Equipment Needs Dale Martin Agri-Service LLC Marketing Sue Conley & Peggy Smith Cowgirl Creamery Farm Snapshot Trent and Rachel Hendricks Hendricks Farm Artisan Cheese Plate Emilio Mignucci DiBruno Brothers Affinage Peter Dixon Dixon Consulting Cheesemaking Demo Jim Amory LeRaysville Cheese Factory Selling at Farmers’ Markets Adam Cook Blue Highland Dairy
TRACK 6:		TRACK 7:
THURSDAY, FEB 1 Secrets of Successful Marketing If you already have a great product and you want to sell even more of it, this track was developed with you in mind. Sometimes a small change in tactics can result in big sales! Whether you sell meats, vegetables, flowers, or jams, this is an opportunity to tap into the secrets of successful, experienced marketers. How To Tell Your Farm’s Story John Ivanko and Lisa Kirivist Renewing the Countryside Why Consumers Do/Don’t Buy Local Food Janet Chrzan University of Pennsylvania Making the Most of Marketing Joel Salatin Polyface Farm Selling and Displaying at Farmers Markets Moie Crawford New Morning Farm Dave and Holly Albert Misty Mountain Farm Selling to Restaurants and Wholesale Chris Fullerton Tuscarora Organic Growers Cooperative Ann Karlen Fair Food		THURSDAY, FEB 1 Apple Growers Intensive Michael Phillips, author and namesake of The Apple Grower, will lead participants in a walk through the orchard season. He will discuss the key role understory management and soil health plays in an organic orchard and look at varietal and rootstock choices. He will also identify insect and disease dynamics from a holistic perspective aimed at achieving maximum diversity and system health. Participants will delve into the financial reality and range of options for successfully marketing an organic fruit crop. Guaranteed to be an informative day, whether you’re a commercial orchardist or a backyard grower!
TRACK 8:		TRACK 9:
THURSDAY, FEB 1 Seedsaving Seedsaving is economically sound, environmentally just, politically subversive, and just downright satisfying. From selection practices that groom cultivars especially fit for your land to protecting developing nations from agri-giants, seedsaving is a critical piece of building a strong local foods movement. But despite the enticing lure of seedsaving, the task can be daunting! Some of the nation’s most savvy seedsavers will gather to share practical tips and easy how-to’s that will give you the confidence to build and expand your seedsaving skills. The Politics of Seedsaving Miguel Alteri UC Berkley Cut Flowers Jodi and Evan Verbanic Cherry Valley Organics Large-Scale Vegetables Brett Grohsgal Even Star Organic Farm Potatoes Jim Gerritsen Wood Prairie Farm Garlic David Stern Garlic Seed Foundation Seed-Borne Diseases Robert Wick University of MA Nuts and Bolts How-To Cricket Rakita The Saving Our Seed Project Photo Journey Scott Vlaun Moose Pond Arts & Ecology Heirlooms William Woys Weaver Roughwood Seed Collection		THURSDAY, FEB 1 Sustainable Ag in the Classroom FREE for qualified PA-certified K–8 teachers only! Certified instructors Claire and Rusty Orner will address Pennsylvania’s Environment and Ecology Standards through topics such as IPM, soil food web, season extension, and worm composting. Teachers will learn to translate complex agriculture concepts into enjoyable classroom activities that engage children in hands-on learning. Registration is limited to 30 qualified applicants. Teachers may also elect to attend the Friday/Saturday Conference at no charge, earning up to 18 Act 48 credit hours. Please note those interested in registering for this track do not use the registration form in this brochure. Further information and the special registration form is available here.