Learning from owners and vendors and staff, oh my?

The Advanced Learning Retreat (ALR) is a relatively new educational product for NAFDMA developed in response to our member's need for more 'in-depth, in-season learning'.

In true NAFDMA form some of our senior (length of membership not age) members have risen to the occasion and offered outstanding retreats at their businesses. This is no easy feat, when  you are in operation.  But it makes for the most candid , open learning experience you can get in this industry.  

The first Advanced Learning Retreat was held in 2006 at Saunders Farm. In 2007 at Vala's Pumpkin Patch and in 2008 at Whitehouse Fruit farm. 

In 2009 our hosts are Jan and Greg Huber from Huber's Orchard and Winery.  Meet and learn from Jan, Greg, their family, staff and vendors over 2 days of sharing and network building. Enrollment is limited as the ALR provides a detailed, in-depth, intimate learning environment. 

 

What will you see at Hubers? Where will you learn? at the: Huber's Farm Market  Family Farm Park  Winery  U-pick  Plantation Hall  Bakery  Ice Cream Factory  Cheese Shop  Starlight Distillery  In the over 550 acres of orchards, fruits, vegetables, Christmas trees, pumpkins, and vineyards

Join us this July, from the 12-15th in Starlight, Indiana.  Our all-inclusive package details will be available on our website in June at  NAFDMA    

Visit our hosts at: 

Huber's Orchard and Winery

Joe Hubers Family Farm and Restaurant

NAFDMA Advanced Learning Retreat

DATES TO SAVE: 
July 12 - 15, 2009; includes your travel time. 
LOCATION: Huber's Orchard and Winery, Starlight, Indiana on July 13 & 14. 
MORE: Plus a bonus visit to Joe Huber's Family Farm and Restaurant

Celebrating what is right with NAFDMA

NAFDMA’s board of directors (BOD) is responsible for our organization’s strategic planning decisions. For our contact information see our website. www.nafdma.com

In mid April the BOD held a spring planning retreat at which we reviewed our values, mission and goals. We also participated in an extensive strategic planning process.

It’s was tough. It was controversial. It was rewarding!

One of the side benefits of the process was the team-spirit that it ignited within our board. We are renewed. We are poised for the future We are excited about the coming year and our 25th convention in Lancaster, PA.

Our Vision:

NAFDMA is a worldwide leader in advancing the farm direct marketing industry. We are renown for: -Cultivating creativity & innovation...
-Building strength through relationships ...
-Investing in the future of agriculture.

Our Mission:
The North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association (NAFDMA) advances the prosperity of its members and the farm direct marketing industry through education, networking, participation and innovation.

Our Goals
1. Provide mechanisms and structure for NAFDMA members to benefit from sharing and developing ag diversification and marketing ideas.
2. To identify emerging trends, innovation and creative concepts of value to our members business development.
3. To educate NAFDMA members regarding theses concepts and practices.

Taking product right to the customer

Just a quick idea...
The Ferry Farm Stand will soon open every Wednesday eve at the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal, offering Seattle commuters a variety of locally grown produce in convenient USD 5 bags. Read more about it on Springwise....

http://springwise.com/weekly/2009-04-22.htm#ferryfarmstand

Images of Lancaster County - home of the 2010 convention

Planning is now underway for the 2010 NAFDMA convention in Lancaster County, PA.

February 5-12, 2010.

What could I possibly post on my blog or twitter that people would find interesting?

After attending the social marketing sessions at the last NAFDMA convention, many of our members were wondering what to do next.

Twitter
Twitter allows you in 140 characters or less to let your followers know what you find interesting or what you think might be of value to then.

Instead of asking "Who cares what I am doing?"
Ask yourself, "what do my followers want to know?"

The article in the link below tells how a bakery is using twitter. The bakery alerts customers via twitter as to when fresh bread is available.

Hum, can farm direct marketers do this? How many of you have bakeries, fresh produce or products? Are you on your way to the farmers' market? What are you picking this morning? What tastes great today?
Twitter it!
http://springwise.com/weekly/2009-04-15.htm#bakertweet

Blogging
I see the blog as another great way to educate your customers, to let them know what products will be available and to build a relationship with you.
Make sure you promote it!

Share pictures of your beautiful landscape. Show your customers where their food is produced.

The strength of farm direct marketing is the relationship with the farmer. Tell your readers about you, your family and your team. It will build trust.

Share:

• recipes.
• photos from the farmer's market.
• fun and not so fun things that happen on the farm.
• an employee's history
• live pictures from the market. Use your phone and download it right away.
• links to things you find interesting.
• videos. Show yourselves setting up and getting ready to go to market
• money saving recipes.
• "how-to cook" video. You'd be surprised how many people don't know how to do very basic things. I heard that the Food Bank sometimes gets back 1-pound packages of hamburger because people don't know how to make a hamburger!!!! They's seen them in patties but never in the raw form. Show them how to make hamburgers.
• how to use a crock-pot, roast peppers on the BBQ...
• link to articles that are written about you.
• information from the courses you attend.....
  you'd be surprised.

Celebrating excellent school tours on the farm

An interview with Anna Lyles, Mesilla Valley Maze.
Winner of NAFDMA's Celebrate Excellence School Tours award. How many children a year visit Mesilla Valley Maze? About 22,000.

What does a school tour encompass? Garden Tour; 2 stationary lessons lead by College students; Outdoor Classroom with licensed teachers; Hayride to patch w/pumpkin picking; Maze w/ Q & A sheets; Playground (slides, trikes, mystic walk, corn box etc.) mini mazes; Reserved Picnic tent w/tables for each group; (we can seat about 1150 at a time); teacher packet; current years curriculum; and the list goes on and on.

What component of your school tours are you most proud of? The grade level specific curriculum, that changes each year and meets standards for 2 different states.

Your hayride wagon look amazing. Who designed/built them?
Steve designed and built these out of old cotton trailers. We got out of the cotton business many moons ago, and like any other farmer, couldn't let anything go to waste. The goal was a trailer that was safe above everything else. Steel floors with gritted floor paint, shade from the desert sun and an entry and exit system that couldn't be activated from inside the trailer.
What is your biggest challenge? As far as the school tours, keeping the education program fresh for the teachers. We have about a 80% return each year, some teachers have been bringing their classes since the beginning. Our track record, as far as education, is well established so I'm in hopes that we won't see much of a downturn with the economy.

On another note,it's tough keeping up with the 2500 acre vegetable farm that Steve has which is the basis for our operation, I run the Maze as a completely seperate business entity. Between the activities at the maze and fall harvest on the farm, scheduling real family time during my season can be a bit tricky!

How long have you been using on-line registration? We have been using a combination of online & phone reservations for about 5 years. Online has been a boon as far as time managment goes. In most cases, a teacher will have her confirmation waiting when she gets back to the classroom the next day, but for days that are tightly scheduled or near the end of the season, I sometimes just pick up the phone and call them back.

Any words of advice? Make your school tour as "self-guided" as possible. Don't ever schedule the boss, whoever that is, to teach or give hayrides; youv'e got to be available to put out fires and glad hand with teachers...after all, they're the ones who made the decision to come and visit your farm.

I see you your website that you are New Mexico's Ag Educator of the year. Wow! Congratulations! Can you tell us a little more about this? New Mexico's Ag in the Classroom Program recognizes one teacher each year who exemplifies ag based education. I was chosen because of the quality of our program and the ability we have to impact such large numbers of students. (over 175,000 since 1999)

How long have you been a NAFDMA member? We joined NAFDMA and attended our first conference in 2003. The New Mexico Department of Agriculutre hired Jane Eckert to come out and visit 6 different farms in our state. What she shared with us was so eye-opening; who would have thought that there was an organization dedicated to what we do? NAFDMA has been a blessing for us.

How has NAFDMA helped your business? We didn't know what to expect @ that first conference, but North Carolina was amazing! I literally saw the light go on over my husbands head...he finally understood the vision that I had. The bus tour, comraderie and conference truly changed the direction of my life.
http://www.mesillavalleymaze.com/

Thank you Anna & congratulations!