​The Litchfield Hills Farmer's Forum (from Jan. 30, 2016)

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Farmer's Forum – January 30, 2016
funded by The Farmer’s Table
 a program of Partners for Sustainable Healthy Communities

​The Farmer’s Table hosted a free, day-long forum for farmers on January 30, 2016.  It was held at the Agricultural Science and Technology Department of Wamogo Regional High School.  Farm-to-table continental breakfast and lunch were provided by a Litchfield farm which also has a catering business.
 
The forum offered 8 different interactive workshops to 125 participants (with another 15 we could not serve due to capacity issues).  Each participant received a binder with all of the presentations and associated background material in it. 

THE TOPICS
New Foods, New Markets
Farm Liability
Finding Leasable Farmland
Farm Employment Liability
Branding Your Farm
Successful Grant Writing 
Managing with your Smartphone
NW Hills Food Hub Feasibility Study Update

Below is a 10-page document listing several financial resources for farmers (2016):
 Farmer's Forum Financial Assistance Research

The evaluation forms indicated participants felt all the topics were relevant and well presented.  All received between 4.0 and 4.9 points on a 5 point scale with 5 being Extremely Relevant/Well presented.  Additionally, in response to the question should we offer again, 95% responded at 5 (Absolutely Offer).
 
Plans are underway to offer the forum again in January 2018.