The event will be held Friday, April 1, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Susquehanna Club
“We’re thrilled to be hosting an in-person event this year after going virtual in 2021. The real power of veteran-to-veteran connection and the ability to meet face to face with service providers, and our USDA partners, is the key to building strong and resilient operations. There’s definitely an excitement among our network to be back together this spring, “ said Conference coordinator Mimi Thomas-Brooker.
Attendees will begin the morning with state and USDA updates followed by a “SWOT” (Strength/Weakness/Opportunity/Threat)
exercise designed to help identify areas of opportunity relating to business operations, conservation programming, and production. Led by Air Force veteran Rhonda Smith of The Skirted Soldier custom tea company in Blue Knob, PA, the process will position attendees to choose breakout sessions most pertinent to their agribusinesses in the afternoon.
Whether just getting into farming, thinking of scaling up, or planning to diversify, sessions featuring panel discussions with veterans who farm will offer practical lessons-learned. These farmer-to-farmer panels will be complemented by service provider presentations from Penn State Extension, USDA, the PA Game Commission, agricultural law expert Rob Davidson, Esq., and a hands-on session with Marine Corps veteran Christine Yankel of Melody Acres Hobby Farm—“Attract your Customer, Maximize your Sales” with social media. Also new this year will be a breakout session, “Oh, Deer!” on balancing managing your woodlot for wildlife, and preventing deer destruction of vegetable plots.
Attendees are encouraged to connect with presenters and panelists throughout the day to learn more about funding, services and programming, and no-cost technical assistance. USDA’s Beginning Farmer coordinator for Pennsylvania, Michael Sherman of FSA, will be a special guest.
There is a $5 fee to reserve your space. A networking lunch will be on the agenda to afford participants and presenters the opportunity for deeper dives into current trends, and needs of individual farms.
The Susquehanna Club, aboard the Defense Logistics Agency base, offers spacious meeting rooms to allow for social distancing. At this time, masks are required for all regardless of vaccination status. All attendees must adhere to guidelines in place at the time of the event.
Representatives from USDA Farm Services Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rural Development, and the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act program; AgChoice Farm Credit; AgrAbility PA; Kencove Farm Fence Supplies; Mark Brun insurance; and Delaware Valley University Organics will be on hand to meet with attendees throughout the day.
Register today at www.troopstotractors.org/events Discounted lodging information can be found within the registration link. Call the PA Veteran Farming Project staff with questions at 724.691.1087, or email pavetsfarm@gmail.com
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