GLIN==> Family Farms Conference

FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January4, 2010


CONTACT:
ScottCorrinor EmilyBeutel
(517)432-0712


Early-birdregistration for 2010 Michigan Family Farms Conference Ends Sunday,January 10 - Register Now!


EastLansing, MI – Hurry and register now forthe 2010 Michigan Family Farms Conference on Saturday, January 16 inBattle Creek at the Early-Bird discount rate! If you register beforeSunday, January 10, you get the early-bird rate of $30 per person, or$25 for MIFFS members and $20 for youth, which includes a full day ofnetworking, learning and connecting at the conference, complete withlunch and snacks. Registering after January 10 or at the door willcost $40 per person and does not guarantee lunch, so register now atwww.miffs.org/mffc!


“Holdingon to Good Food, Good Families, Good Farms” is the theme for the7th annual Michigan Family Farms Conference on Saturday, January 16,2010 at Lakeview High School in Battle Creek. Come learn how small,family farms are shaping Michigan’s diverse agricultural future,discuss challenges and growth opportunities for these growing farmsand get information on how to overcome challenges and take advantageof these open doors. Register online now at www.miffs.org/mffcbefore Sunday, January 10 to take advantage of the early-birddiscounted rate! 


Inspite of tough economic times around the state and country,agriculture is growing in Michigan! The scopes and sizes of farms,the diversity of farmers and products and the booming local foodscene are all part of our state’s expanding agricultural landscape,and there is great opportunity for growth and success for those whowant to make a difference, and a profit, growing food.


Comeand hear keynote speaker, Corey Flournoy, the first ever non-rural,African-American National FFA President from 1994-1995, share hisexperiences and his mission to help youth and adults seek, discoverand capitalize on creative elements of success to make a positivecontribution to our world and take advantage of this greatopportunity for small and limited resource farmers to connect withother growers and great resources, network, and learn aboutsmall-scale sustainable and local production. Read more about CoreyFlournoy or about conference sessions online at www.miffs.org/mffc,where you can also view the brochure.




Conferencesessions include: Small-scale Farmer Opportunities with Bioenergy;the Top 5 Things Families Do to Break up Their Business; IncreasingYour Markets Using Michigan MarketMaker; Successful Organic SpecialtyCrop Production; Planning for the Agricultural Water EnhancementProgram (AWEP); Determining which Farmers Market is Right for Me; TheEconomics of Grass-based Dairy Operations and Robotic Milking;Putting Together a Food Safety Plan for your Farm; ConservingPollinators for Sustainable Crop Pollination & USDA Funding; FarmLoan Assistance and Specialty Crop Disaster Information; So You Wantto Sell Local?; Revitalizing Your Community with Youth andSmall-scale Farming; Growing Your Agripreneurial Business; TellingYour Farm Story by Using the Web; Are High Tunnels Right for Me?; andtwo Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) FarmerRancher Grants Farmer Forums. Special youth activities focused onagriculture, too, make this family farms conference truly a familyevent. 


Eachsession is led by an experienced individual or panel, representing arange of farms, agencies and organizations from all across the stateto offer unique perspectives and experiences on each topic. Theseindividuals are the leaders in their field and have information,connections and resources to share. Speakers are also accompanied bya farmer who has lived through it to share his or her personalexperience in the challenges and successes. Together, these peopleoffer a unique and comprehensive mix of technical, practical andhands-on experience and information.


Somescholarships and bus rides are available and will be awarded on afirst-come, first-serve basis. Contact Barbara Norman at (269)208-4588 for scholarships and bus trip information for the Covert andDetroit buses or Terry McLean at (810) 244-8530 for scholarship andbus trip information for the Flint area.Registration for scholarships and the bus trips will close on January8, 2010 or when the buses fill, whichever comes first.No refunds after January 10.


Formore information about the conference, please contact the MIFFSoffice at (517) 432-0712 or miffs at msu.edu.


Partnersand sponsors so far include: the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, USDA RuralDevelopment (RD), USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA), Farm ResearchCooperative, Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS), USDA FarmServices Agency (FSA), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS), Potawatomi Resource Conservation & Development Council(RC&D), the C.S. Mott Professor of Sustainable Agriculture atMichigan State University, Sustainable Agriculture Research andEducation (SARE), the Michigan Association of RC&D Councils,GreenStone Farm Credit Services, the Michigan office of the USDANational Agricultural Statistics Service, the Eastern MarketCorporation and the Calhoun Conservation District.
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