Make 2020 the Best: Taking Your Business to the Next Level of Success!

Thursday, November 7, 2019

5:30 – 7:00 Social Hour in hotel lobby

6:00 – 9:00 Meet and Greet – sponsored by Butterfly Farming Supplies Get to meet and learn more about those attending before the conference starts on Friday.  A great time to socialize, catch up with old friends, and meet new friends.  Pizza and beverages will be provided.

 

Friday, November 8, 2019

8:00 – 8:30 Registration

8:30 – 9:00 Increasing Production: Working Smarter, Not Harder Contest!

9:00 – 9:15 Specializing in Specific Species or Diversifying Tamara Snow

9:15 – 9:45 Farmers Markets Donna Pless/ David O’Donnell handout

9:45 – 10:15 Garden Center Partnerships/Consulting Tatia Veltkamp

10:15 – 10:30 Break

10:30 – 10:45 Marketing Strategies Round Table Discussion

10:45 – 11:45 The Art of the Exhibit Part 1: Fundamentals for Butterfly Houses Jim Nero

11:45 – 12:15 Lunch

12:15 – 1:15 The Art of the Exhibit Part 2: Fundamentals for Travelling Exhibits Jodi Hopper

1:15 – 2:00 Fun With Presentations & Educational Programs Roberta Vigil and Tatia Veltkamp

2:00 – 2:15 Break

2:15 – 3:00 Agritourism Part 1:  Farm Tours Donna Pless

3:00 – 3:45 Agritourism Part 2:  Farm Tours David Folk

3:45 – 4:15 Community Outreach and Education Judith Fulks

4:15 – 4:45  The Small Farm Roberta Vigil

5:30 – 6:45 Social Hour in Lobby

7:00 leave for Dinner and Cruise

7:30 – 9:30 Dinner and Cruise

 

Saturday, November 9, 2019

8:00 meet for field trip

8:15 Bus leaves

8:30 Field Trip– Tour Good Life Growing.  Improve your plant production through innovative growing techniques! We will be touring two facilities featuring Hydroponics, Aeroponics and Aquaponics.  The first is a highly functional, low cost production Urban Farm that has organic soil grow beds, and a Demo Aquaponics Greenhouse on-site.  They will showcase an inexpensive way to get into sustainable micro-farming. Even in the winter they produce enough crops to sustain operations.    The second location is a large-scale commercial indoor farm. Hands on activities included.

12:30 – Depart for Hotel

12:30 – 1:15 Lunch

1:15-2:00 Discussion of Field Trip and Member Share (Jodi/David/Tatia)

2:00 – 2:45 Growing Basics: Round Table Discussion

• How Much Plant Material
• Fertilizing 
• Worm Composting 
• Propagation Methods
• Outsourcing Plant Material vs. Growing Your Own:  Pros & Cons

2:45 – 3:00 How to Deal With Those Nasty Pests:  Biological Pest Control Jodi Hopper

3:00 – 3:15 Break

3:15 – 4:00 Rearing Systems & Methods: Round Table Discussion/Member Share

• Sleeving: How To, Pros & Cons 
• Totes 
• Habitats
• Free Range 

4:00 – 4:15 Butterfly News:  USDA/Fish & Wildlife Update Tamara Snow

4:15 – 4:45 Raising Cabbage Whites for the Classroom and Release Tamara Snow

5:30 – 7:00 Social Hour in the Lobby

7:00 – 9:00 Dinner and Silent Auction