AFBF Rural Development Workshops available to state and county Farm Bureas for 2010
Presentations for conferences or meetings hosted by state or county Farm Bureaus or for local or state community and economic development conferences:
Farm Bureau Success Stories: Discover what Farm Bureaus are doing around the country in the field of community and rural development. Learn how Farm Bureaus are supporting entrepreneurship, establishing local food systems, promoting agritourism, funding health fairs, hosting community discussions, advocating for broadband, and hosting events to reach out to their communities. (20-30 minutes)
Is Your Town Farm-Friendly? The influence of agriculture on a state or regional economy can be tremendous. But have you considered the power of town or county policies (and politics) to welcome or repel ag-related businesses? What can FB members do to make communities more farm-friendly? This fun, interactive session offers resources, a check-list for sustaining rural character and a dynamic jumping off point for constructive dialog with public officials. (15-60 minutes)
Unlimited Community Development: Farmers’ market? Broadband? Small business development? Craft group? YOU can be the spark to improve the quality of life in your home town. This hands-on interactive workshop offers lots of ideas from other Farm Bureaus and other communities to offer projects that would make your community a better place. You will discuss your community strengths and opportunities, decide on a project to improve it, discover collaborators, and fulfill project steps necessary to accomplish your chosen project. (60 minutes)
Building Social Capital: Are there things about your community you love? Are there things you wish were different? Are there interesting people you would like to meet? Fun events that should have community support? Your efforts in your own home town can help build social capital to improve networks and relationships. Strong connections and collaborations produce economic vitality and community benefits. This interactive workshop explores how each person can discover the best about one’s own community and partner with others to make it an even better place. (60 minutes)
Retail Agriculture: The new consumer focus on local foods is creating an opportunity for farmers. Local food systems offer an economic development strategy that links farm production, conservation and farm viability with public health, food security and community well-being. Retail Ag incorporates food production, processing, distribution, and consumption, as well as value-added ag, marketing and agritourism. Learn what Farm Bureau groups are doing to engage consumers through food and how to create an opportunity for farmers in your community. (15-60 minutes)
Hometown Competitiveness (HTC) Program: The HTC program, currently active in communities in 16 states, works to make rural towns attractive places to live. The presentation will explain how HTC works to mobilize local leaders, energize local entrepreneurs, raise development dollars and attract young people to strengthen rural communities.
MASH (Medical Applications of Science for Health): Doctors from rural backgrounds are more willing to commit to living in a small town than a doctor who has been raised in the city. This presentation will explain a program that state and county Farm Bureaus can adapt to attract medical professional to rural areas.
Also, Farm Bureau groups can help shape a prosperous future for their county by hosting a Community Conversation. These town hall-style meetings bring together community leaders to determine an area’s priorities and decide what to do about them. AFBF offers assistance with event checklist, invitation lists, press releases and agendas, as well as actual meeting facilitation for this event hosted by a county Farm Bureau. (2-3 hours necessary)
Please email me at sabrinam@fb.org to request the Rural Development for FB Leaders background paper.
If there are other topics that you would like to suggest for workshop development, please feel free to comment here.
