2008 Pre-conference Mini Courses

6 Pre-Conference Hands-On Mini Courses
Thursday, January 17, 2008, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

New this year! We are offering 6 intensive half-day mini courses this year, aimed at those who want some intensive, hands-on learning in the warmth of the conference facility. 

Our variety of mini courses will appeal to producers and to those involved in community food systems. You’ll get practical information with plenty of hands-on instruction from our expert instructors.

Through partnerships with the USDA Risk Management Agency and the USDA CSREES Program, Kentucky State University and Tennessee State University, these mini courses are being offered at a reduced rate of only $30 each.

Number of participants in each mini course is very limited. Register early to guarantee your place in one of these exceptionally valuable mini courses. 

Mini Course #1
TRACTOR MAINTENANCE FOR SMALL FARMERS FULL

Mini Course #2
CHICKEN TRACTOR CONSTRUCTION FULL

Mini Course #3
SELLING AT FARMERS MARKETS FULL

Mini Course #4
USING THE INTERNET AS A FARMING RESOURCE

Mini Course #5
ADVANCING COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS POLICIES

Mini Course #6
COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS EVALUATION

Mini Course #1
TRACTOR MAINTENANCE FOR SMALL FARMERS

Are you envious of your neighbor's ease around his/her machinery? This half day workshop is designed to provide novices and intermediates with the understanding and confidence to tackle basic and routine tractor maintenance on their own. Each participant will leave with a greater knowledge of the subject matter, as well as a heightened comfort level around tractors and machinery. The hands-on workshop starts with the number one priority working with machinery — safety. A brief overview of tractor mechanics and operation will be presented along with a review of the necessary tools. Preventive and routine maintenance will be discussed (changing fluids, servicing the air cleaner, replacing belts fuel sediment bowls and fuel filters).  The groups will examine three machines — a Farm All tractor, a 4 wheeler, and a lawn mower and go over them. Most of the session will be reserved for hands-on practice.

Instructors: Eddie Reed and Jim Brown, Kentucky State University Research Farm (KY)

Eddie Reed is on the Kentucky State University staff managing the University farm. In his 20 years at the University he has worked in aquaculture, research and now the farm. Eddie considers himself a jack-of-all-trades. Jim Brown is a professional mechanic working at the KYSU farm, with training in diesel engines and hydraulics. Together, Eddie and Jim have over 40 years experience and regularly present hands-on machinery classes at KYSU farm's "Third Thursday" sustainable agriculture workshops. 

Mini Course #2
CHICKEN TRACTOR CONSTRUCTION

At the end of this 4 hour hands-on mini-course you will have actually participated in building a chicken tractor! The course examines the rationale for portable pens, the various designs for chicken tractors, factors in choosing a design, and the advantages and disadvantages of alternative pen designs.  Maintenance tips and how to modify these for different seasons will be discussed. Information about how to move these in pastures and how often they need to be moved will also be provided. Participants will then hone their carpentry skills building a chicken tractor. Finally, you will see what other equipment integrates with the pens (feeders, water systems, fencing). 

Mike Walters and his wife, Teresa, of Walters' Poultry in Oklahoma have over 16 years of experience in poultry. After an exchange visit to France's Label Rouge, Mike introduced French free range chicken techniques to the U.S. He now raises Bronze Crosses in his free range system. He is a pioneer in commercial pastured turkey production and is known as “The Turkey Man.” Mike and Teresa produce meat birds on pasture that he ships frozen across the country. They also run a hatchery specializing in breeder quality heritage turkeys. Mike works closely with the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture and is a supplier to Oklahoma's Slow Food Movement.

Steve Skelton oversees the pastured poultry operation at the KYSU Research Farm. He regularly trains farmers on building and maintaining chicken tractors. He has been a presenter at the Southern SAWG conference for the last two years. He is also the Mobile Processing Unit Coordinator at the Research Farm.

Mini Course #3
SELLING AT FARMERS MARKETS

Are you still trying to sell the “whole truck load?” Then this is the workshop for you. It’s time to cut out the middle man and sell directly to the consumer, especially at farmers’ markets. Discover strategies for increasing sales at both the farmer and farmer market level. Get practical advice on how much to bring to the market, how to set up your display, make a 1/2 truckload look appealing, and handle a line of customers. Examine packaging, pricing, and post-harvest handling. Learn what to do and not to do, and how to appear busy even when you aren't! This mini course will include actually constructing a farmer’s market display to show best set-up to draw customers and how to make your set-up safe from sudden winds and sticky fingers. 

Instructor: Don Wambles, Alabama Farmers Market Authority (AL)

Don Wambles is the director of the Alabama Farmers Market Authority. In the past seven years Don has lead the development of 81 new farmers markets in Alabama. During this time, the number of farmers selling at farmers markets has increased from 234 to more than 900. The Farmers Market Nutrition Programs (FMNP) —WIC & Senior— are two programs that he has used to assist with market development. Alabama’s Senior FMNP is the fourth largest in the nation under Wambles leadership. One program that has yielded the greatest reward for Alabama farmers and consumers is the Buy Fresh, Buy Local campaign that Wambles implemented. Above all, Wambles and his son have been vendors at farmers markets, so he speaks from experience.  Don offers sound advice and an approachable demeanor.

Mini Course #4
USING THE INTERNET AS A FARMING RESOURCE

This 4 hour mini-course will get you started making use of all the valuable information there is for farmers and ranchers on the internet. You’ll get a quick overview for how to use a computer, how to surf the web and then review the different types of useful information available to farmers on the internet. You will learn where to go for information that will help you improve your farming practices and you will learn simple ways to use the internet to advertise your farm products. We’ll have computers set up so you can explore the internet in real time and the instructors will provide hands-on assistance as you learn to navigate your way to greater knowledge via the internet.  

Instructors: Jenell Sargent and Jonell Hinsey, Tennessee State University (TN)

Jenell Sargent is the Director/Associate Professor at the Agricultural Information Technology Center (AITC) at Tennessee State University. The technology center was built to serve the School of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences; Institute of Agricultural & Environmental Research; and the Cooperative Extension Program. She collaborates with the campus, as well as, the outreach community to improve the usage of technology. Previously, she served as the WebCT Certified Trainer for the campus, as well as, a tenured Assistant Professor of Mathematics.

Jonell Hinsey is the Instructional Designer for Tennessee State University Cooperative Extension Program at the Agriculture Information Technology Center. She provides instructional design and technology to support comprehensive distance education programs in agriculture, natural resources, 4-H and youth development, family and consumer sciences and community resource and economic development. She is currently completing her Doctoral Degree at Tennessee State University in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Technology.

Mini Course #5
ADVANCING COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS POLICIES

Food policy councils and local food system networks have emerged over the last few years to gather more public resources and attention for a variety of food, nutrition, and agriculture needs. These groups are often comprised of citizens and non-partisan government officials who are committed to strengthening food systems. This three-hour workshop will focus on the organizational and development steps that groups need to take in order to form effective councils and/or networks. Also, what are some of the community benefits to establishing these networks. Examples will also be given of effective food policy councils and local food system networks. There will also be an ample amount of time for question and answer pertaining to your own council or network. The session is appropriate for those who are just beginning to think about the idea as well as for those whose councils are in their early to mid stages.

Keecha Harris is President of Keecha Harris and Associates, Inc., a food systems and public health consulting firm based in Birmingham, Alabama. She works with corporate, philanthropic and advocacy organizations on resource management, communications, strategic planning and cultural competence issues. She serves as Associate Director of Southern SAWG's Community Food Program. Dr. Harris is an alumnus of the Food and Society Policy Fellowship Program supported by the WK Kellogg Foundation. She is the resident nutrition expert for www.msn.com where she covers a variety of nutrition topics including cardiovascular wellness, child nutrition and food policy. She has been recognized as Young Dietitian of the Year by the American Dietetic Association and as a Mover and Shaker in the upcoming publication Becoming a Nutritionist: A Guide for Dietitians and Dietetics Students.

Mark Winne currently serves on the New Mexico Task Force to End Hunger, the New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council, and the Southwest Grass-fed Livestock Alliance. Mark writes, speaks, and consults extensively on community food system topics including hunger and food insecurity, local and regional agriculture, community assessment, and food policy. He also does policy communication and food policy council work for the Community Food Security Coalition. From 1979 to 2003, Mark was the Executive Director of the Hartford Food System, a private non-profit agency that works on food and hunger issues in the Hartford, Connecticut area. From 2002 until 2004, Mark was a Food and Society Policy Fellow, a position supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. His first book Closing the Food Gap — Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty, published by Beacon Press, is due out in January 2008.

Mini Course #6
COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS EVALUATION

Whether you are new to the evaluation landscape or a seasoned practitioner, this mini course will benefit you. You will gain practical strategies and tools for a) assessing how well your project is working, b) determining what is needed to make it better, and c) telling the story of what you have accomplished! The instructor will focus on all stages of developing, implementing and using your evaluation plan and results. Mini Course components include: a) creating an environment for evaluation, b) selecting program outcomes, c) mapping logic models, d) developing and customizing tools from the Community Food Project Evaluation Toolkit, e) developing an evaluation analysis plan, f) trekking through data analysis, g) using data results for program improvement and h) communicating results with stakeholders.

Instructor: Tera Couchman, Janus Youth Programs, Inc. (OR)

Tera Couchman (OR) is the Program Supervisor at Janus Youth Programs, Inc. in Portland, Oregon, which is a non-profit organization that operates community based programs focused on youth. At Janus, she is the associate director of the Seeds of Harmony Garden program in Portland, which brings together a diverse group of residents in mixed-income housing to address hunger problems, build community, and promote healthy eating and living though gardening. She is also the associate director of St. Johns Woods Garden Project, which provides families living well below the poverty line the necessary tools to grow their own food. When describing her work in this community, she says that "my commitment to the project is that this is theirs. It's their community, their neighborhood". Tera is also a member of the 2006-2007 Community Food and Security Coalition's board.

If a mini course is sold out we will immediately indicate that it is sold out on this page and on the registration page to prevent you from registering for a mini course that is sold out. If we receive your mini course registration after a mini course has sold out, we will immediately notify you and provide a refund for the sold out mini course.

If you need conference materials to distribute or use in media outlets,
go to http://www.ssawg.org/conference-media.html, or email Shari Hawley.