We were at the 2016 Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism, and Organic Conference in Springfield two weeks ago, talking to people about the workshops and projects we have planned for the next few months. We talked with people who are just getting started in farming to those with  a decades worth of experience under their belts. As you might expect, talking to people from a wide variety of experiences yields a wide variety of questions. some wanted to know about their options for marketing their new farm’s products. some asked about the new regulations for farmers markets under FSMA. Some asked about finding people to take over their farmland once they had retired. Others just wanted to know how to do things like setting themselves up as a legal business entity.

We know that we’re going to get these questions. This is not our first rodeo, as the saying goes. Almost inevitably, these are the things people want to know when they come over the The Land Connection table. That’s why we work hard to organize workshops and seminars that address the concerns of the farming community. Now that we’re done basking in the glory that was our incredibly successful organic grain transition seminar, we’re energetically preparing a whole raft of additional events over the next few months.

Below is our lineup through early April. I’m sure there’s a workshop there for you!

Wholesale Success Workshop – February 2
Seed Starting Workshop – February 7
Legal Issues for Farm Business –  February 19
Farmers’ Market Workshop – March 6
Agritourism – March 19-20
Small Engine and Tractor Workshop –  April 3