2011 NAFDMA ALR was a success!

The unprecedented early winter storm that hit the Northeast on Halloween weekend did not dampen the spirits of the intrepid NAFDMA members who attended the 2011 Advanced Learning Retreat at Roba Family Farms. Unfortunately, closure of the airport in Scranton, Pennsylvania prevented five registrants from attending. Our hats go off the many registrants who braved the drive to attend the event.

Slight last minute adjustments were made to the program, but otherwise it went off without a hitch. As Sue Roba herself put it, “Hey, we’re farmers, we deal.”

An exclusive pig race show, pumpkin cannons shoots, a friendly game of hoops at Roba’s new “sports center” and s’mores around the fire kept the group warm and engaged. Attendees got to see firsthand the agritourism operation at Roba’s and had the undivided attention of Sue, John and their children Jennifer, Jeff and Jake. Key managers were also on hand for formal presentations and answer the many questions on attendees’ minds.

The “Marketing, Management & Employee Development” session was well received. Nearly everyone expressed that they have many of the same issues. A lively conversation about hiring and motivating quality employees was lead by Patti Borger, Roba’s Director of Fun. Many good ideas on how to get “employees to do what they are supposed to do” were shared.

NAFDMA’s Advanced Learning Retreat is an annual event that strives to help farm direct marketers and agritourism operators take it to the next level. The goals include small group networking where every question gets answered, in-depth access to promote the best education and customized content and peer interaction to minimize innovation.

The 2011 ALR achieved those goals and a good time was had by all. One attendee stated, “The Robas were gracious and hospitable and went beyond the call of duty to share.” We couldn’t agree more.

Member spotlight: French Prairie Gardens

Today I'd like to spotlight one of our younger member, Eric Pohlschneider. Eric recenlty joined our board of directors representing NAFDMA growers.

Eric is part of a family business called French Prairie Gardens in St. Paul, Oregon. Their website is http://www.fpgardens.com/

So Eric, how would you describe your business?
You encounter a true country experience at French Prairie Gardens. Our family-owned farm grows fruit, vegetables, grass seed in our fields and bedding plants in our greenhouse. People enjoy the clean, fresh air, the sights and sounds of a working farm, the soft fragrances of beautiful flowers all around them when they visit. When they stop at the Farm Market they discover an array of garden and homemade delights.

In June our strawberries are ripe, just waiting to be picked off the bush. Over Father's Day weekend we host our annual Strawberry Festival featuring hayrides, Pig Barrel train rides, a 20 foot tube slide, animal barn, and delicious fresh food and drink.

In the Fall he hold a Harvest Festival every weekend in October. This annual event hosts the infamous Pigtucky Derby, along with a two-acre pumpkin patch, hayrides, corn maze, hay slide, and Oregon corn on the cob, caramel apples, fresh baked cookies, fresh baked pie and many more treats from their bakery.

What is exciting you about the summer of 2009?
French Prairie Gardens underwent a greenhouse expansion this year, doubling our retail space. I am really looking forward to giving our customers the flowering annuals and perennials they love along with more room to shop and enjoy the farm. We also planted more strawberries this year. There is nothing like seeing that first strawberry of the season turning from green to a bright juicy red with the notion that these farm-fresh berries will soon be enjoyed by many of our customers.

How long have you been a NAFDMA member?
French Prairie Gardens has been a NAFDMA member since 2001. I personally attended my first conference and bus tour when the conference was held in Arizona. I gained so much from my first conference I have been attending since.

Why do you belong to NAFDMA?
Being a NAFDMA member allows our staff to continually be inspired and our business to grow. There has never been a conference that we have not come home with a list full of new ideas and strong business relationships. NAFDMA has also given us the opportunity to make personal connections with its members by joining or guiding on of their annual bus tours. It’s very helpful to meet and spend time with other businesses that are involved in the direct farm marketing industry.

Eric, what is you’re most unforgettable NAFDMA memory?
It was hard to come up with just one memory so I have briefly listed my favorites below…

- My biggest memory regarding NAFDMA was being elected to the board of directors. It has given me the opportunity to spend time and build personal relationships with industry leaders along with allowing me to server our members.

- During the conference in Boston I had the opportunity to connect with Mary and Russ Vollmer on the Agritourism bus tour….I didn’t know so many NAFDMA members could sing Karaoke, well at least they thought they could.

- Who can forget all the rain during the conference in California, but not all was lost, because I was also to spend time with our president Mark Saunders and his wife Angela.

- In Texas, when Rob and Christy Leeds showed us around the wild life safari and John Roba decided it was a good idea to hug a camel.

Thank you Eric. The networks you've built with farm direct marketers from across the world are one of the biggestest benefits in attending a NAFDMA conference. So happy to see that these are your favorite NAFDMA memory. We hope you have a fantastic season!