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Title	Description
Building Better Market Boards Holly O'Neil, Crossroads Consulting Thursday 1:30-2:45pm	Learn about farmers market board best practices including tips on board governance, personnel management, communication, and how to recruit and keep strong performers.
Giving Chefs What They Want Cheryl Thornton, Cloud Mountain Farm Center Bruno Feldeisen, Chef, Semiahmoo Resort Fred Berman, FSB Consulting Andy Nguyen, Chef, Drizzle Sara Southerland, Moderator Thursday 1:30-2:45pm	Learn about boosting direct sales capacity for farms by attracting chefs and restaurants to the market and directly to the farm.
Data Collection for Farmers Markets Ivy Fox & Julian O'Reilley, Neighborhood Farmers Markets Thursday 2:55-4:10pm	Tips and tricks for getting not just good Farmers Market data, but the right data. Learn why it’s important and how to manage and process your data for efficient daily operations as well as grants and advocacy.
Farm Tours and Food Loops Aba Kaiser, WSU Jefferson County Sara Southerland, Sustainable Connections Allison Colthorp, Sidhu Family Farms Crystie Kisler, Olympic Culinary Loop Patrice Barrentine, King County Agriculture Program & Savor Washington Erin Buckwalter, Moderator Thursday 2:55-4:10pm	How to create partnerships to promote farm and market tourism. Learn best practices for promoting organized and self-guided Culinary Loops, Food Trails, and Farm Tours.
Hot Off the Press: New Resources & Research for Managing Your Market Karen Kinney Colleen Donovan Thursday 4:20-5:30pm	We can’t wait to share new resources to help grow your market, cut the learning curve, and navigate the ever-increasing demands of market management. Hardcopies of the new 2016 “WA State Market Management Toolkit” will be distributed and you’ll get a guided tour of the new Toolkit website. You’ll also be the first to hear about new research on FMNP and SNAP programs’ impacts on farm sales and your market’s viability.
What Makes a Site Permanent? Brittany Meikelen, Wenatchee Farmers Market Caprice Teske, Bellingham Farmers Market Chris Curtis, Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance Shane Laib, Walla Walla Farmers Market Friday 9:15-10:30am	What makes sense for your market? A permanent structure or secure access to a street or public space? Hear from four experienced market managers to learn how to maximize your market's potential.
WIC & Senior FMNP Training for Market Managers and Growers Katherine Flores, DOH FMNP Program Lead Friday 9:15-10:30am	The Farmers Market Nutrition Program can increases sales and brings new shoppers to the market. Market managers and growers will learn everything they need to know about accepting WIC & Senior FMNP checks.
AmeriCorps: Help others and meet critical needs in your community Kathleen Burns, Moderator, City of Moscow Friday 9:15 to 10:30am	Bringing health and nutrition education to your Farmers Market through an AmeriCorps volunteer. How to become a site, facilitation of the contract and the benefits of having the AmeriCorps.
Happy Vendors Happy Managers Ivy Fox, Neighborhood Farmers Markets Caleb Johns, Vashon Island Farmers Market Friday 10:45am-12:00pm	Use communication as a tool for success and utilize practical examples and best practices to improve how we operate and function in both daily operations and during times of crisis!
Building the Washington State Farmers Market Integrity Project Colleen Donovan Friday 10:45am-12:00pm	We're still at it! Hear results of the 2016 pilot with cherry farmers, updates on the common vendor application, and plans for 2017. Also receive a “Pocket Guide to Farmers Market Terms" in English and Spanish.
The Rise of the Social Era: Simple & Effective Ways to Use Social Media for your Market or Farm Joshua Dirks, Project Bionic Carrie Olson, Renton Farmers Market, Moderator Friday 10:45am-12:00pm	The term “social media” has become ubiquitous over the past 5 years but, for many, the term can mean one more business headache facing your market or farm. However, social media is changing the web right before our eyes, evolving how we communicate online, and the relationship between market shoppers and markets (and vendors!). Join us for an in-depth look at what social media really is, how it can benefit your market or farm, and simple strategies from one of the NW’s leading social media firms, Project Bionic. Co-Founder and CEO Josh Dirks will walk us through these recent changes and the most common misconceptions about social media. You will come away with a checklist of simple ways to enhance and empower social strategies for your market or farm today.
Grow your Market with Kids Programming Jesse Hansen, Spokane Regional Lead, Catholic Charities Food for All Anna Kitchin, WSU Food $ense Rachael Reiton, Greater Lewis County FM (Chehalis) Carrie Olson, Moderator, Renton Farmers Market Friday 1:45-3:00pm	This workshop explores farmers market programs that help to grow the next generation of farmers market shoppers – kids! Featuring four panelists who will present information about kids programs at markets that are designed to encourage excitement and foster learning, helping make great farmers market memories for kids who will grow to become steadfast shoppers. Find out what works, how it’s done, lessons learned and what you need to start or improve programs at your market!
Champion or Challenge: How to Advocate with Any Lawmaker Claire Lane, Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition Christina Wong, Northwest Harvest Brian Estes, Moderator Friday 1:45-3:00pm	How to best present and represent your market to the power players and how to approach governments, sponsors, partners and more to get what you need.
Building Food Access Capacity at Farmers Markets Kate Delavan, WSFMA Food Access Program Manager Shannon Bachtel, Skagit County Regional Lead Karen Erickson, Snohomish County Regional Lead Stacy Carkonen, Pierce County Regional Lead Amanda Milholland, West Sound Regional Lead Friday 1:45-3:00pm	Learn about WSFMA's Regional Leads program and how to tap into existing resources to bring more low-income shoppers to your market.
What’s New and Mandatory in Produce Safety: How the New Produce Safety Rule Impacts Direct-Marketing Farmers Karen Ullmann, WSDA, Food Assistance and Regional Markets Program (FARM) Friday 1:45-3:00pm	The new FDA Produce Rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was finalized in December 2015. This marks the first federal food safety law that sets specific standards for produce farms. What exactly does that mean for Washington’s direct marketing growers and your farmers market? Get the most current information about how farms, crops and handling practices are impacted. WSDA will review small farm exemptions, compliance deadlines, plans for education and enforcement, and how these requirements compare to the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards. Lots to learn for the upcoming market and selling season!
Finding and Keeping Good Staff for your Market Booths and Farms Kurt Tonnemaker & Stacy Felure, Tonnemaker Family Farms Friday 3:45-5:00pm	Learn about different ways to find and keep good employees for your farmers market business, who will add value to your farm booth and make more money than they cost! The ins and outs of interviewing, training and supervising to build trust and know your employees are giving you their best performance. The Tonnemaker family has been selling at farmers markets for 25 years and will share the tricks and secrets they've learned along the way.
Beyond Fundraising: Building Lasting Relationships with Partners and Funders Stacy Carkonen, Tacoma Farmers Market Sheryl Wiser, Tilth Alliance Friday 3:45-5:00pm	Now that you've identified some funders, how do you keep them giving over the long term? Relationship building skills and event ideas from two fantastic fundraisers.
Tracking Fresh Bucks, WIC Checks, Tokens, and More Sheri Muntean, CPA, PhD, Shamballa Centre Rita Ordóñez, Food, Education, and Arts Consultant Friday 3:45-5:00pm	Overwhelmed by all the currency options at your market? Learn bookkeeping best practices for managing EBT, Credit/Debit, match tokens and other farm-direct alternative currencies.
Redefining the Discussion about Farmers Market Impacts: Moscow Farmers Market Case Study Kathleen Burns, Moscow Farmers Market Saturday 9:00-10:00am	We know that markets are great for farmers and community, but how can markets measure their full value and impact on their local community? Over the past 10 years, the Moscow Farmers Market conducted five studies measuring the benefits of this 40 year historic market to the community of Moscow, Idaho. Learn what tools were used and how the Market’s economic impact was assessed. Learn how measuring value can shed new light on your market and impact your city leaders and other policymakers’ decision making and planning.