Acres Of Opportunity Agenda

Brent Johnson, President, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation

Opportunity Is Daring To Do Something Different

Sarah Frey, Frey Farms

Sarah believes that inspiration comes from all around us; people, places and things in our daily lives that give us dreams, direction, determination and the drive to create and accomplish not only for ourselves, but also for those we love.

Sarah says education is about learning from those who have gone before us, whether it is in the classroom, in the marketplace or in the field. Watching, listening and learning from the successes and failures of others schools us on how to avoid the same mistakes while achieving a success of our own that we might one day share with others. This too is a crop that also begins by getting dirty and planting seeds in fertile ground.

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10:00 AM and 11:00 AM
Morning Breakout Sessions

1. Beginning Farmer Loan Programs
   Mary Glaspie, Farm Service Agency 
   


2. Factors to Consider When Purchasing a High Tunnel
   Randall Vos, Iowa State Extension & Outreach
   


3. Building Your Cut Flower Farm 
   Meredith Nunnikhoven, Barnswallow Flowers 


4. Understanding the Ins and Outs of Direct Marketing Beef 
   Alex Swanstrom, Swanstrom Farms


5. Raising and Selling Meat Birds
   Ashley Wenke, Pleasant Grove Homestead
   
   
6. How Do You Choose Iowa? Brand and Grand Opportunities
   Beth Romer, Choose Iowa Program Director, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship 

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12:15 PM
Networking and Lunch

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1:30 PM and 2:45 PM Afternoon Breakout Sessions

1. Ecommerce for Farmers/Small Business: Keys to Success
   Sydney Hadacek, ChopLocal
   


2. Developing a Specialty Meat Market
   Steve Kerns, Mangalitsa Estates
   


3. Growing Small Grains
   James Holz, Iowa Cover Crop
   


4. Get the Most Out of Your Pasture with Regenerative Grazing
   Michael Vittetoe, Long Creek Pastures
   


5. Growing and Marketing Popcorn
   Jim Fitkin, Fitkin Popcorn