January 12-14, 2017
Hyattsville, MD

Event Link: Value and Scale in the Local Foods Marketplace
Hosted by: Future Harvest CASA

Presentation Summary

Opening Keynote
"Value and Scale in the Local Foods Marketplace"
Balancing the reasons we farm with the economic realities of the modern food system can challenge even the most experienced grower.  While beginning growers wash up on the rocks of scaling up, questions about size and values create conflict within the local foods movement. Chris Blanchard will discuss how we can root our growth in good business, while not losing sight of the fertile values in which that growth occurs.

Featured Session: Business of Farming Track -Friday, Jan 13th at 8:30 AM 
Chris Blanchard on Saving Labor:  From big ideas to practical examples, conference keynoter Chris Blanchard draws on 25 years farming experience to share more wisdom on how to farm profitably by better understanding the systems and tools needed to streamline operations, create efficiency, and reduce the workload on everything from seeding crops to record-keeping. 

Wednesday, February 17
Grayslake, Illinois 

Event Link: Better Boss Farm Workshop
Hosted By: Liberty Prairie Foundation

Presentation Summary
Employees make it possible to get more done, but managing workers and their work takes dedicated time, energy and processes. Whether you manage one seasonal worker or a large year-round crew, good management can make the difference between making headway on your farm's work or just creating headaches. Join veteran farmer and educator Chris Blanchard to learn how to create a productive, positive work environment by communicating clear expectations and implementing systems for efficiency and accountability.  In this workshop, you'll learn how to: utilize practical tools to increase employee satisfaction and productivity, remove emotion from management decisions and actions, and build a team culture.

Monday & Tuesday, January 25-26
Bonner Springs, Kansas 

Event Link: Making Your Farm Work for You
Hosted By: Cultivate Kansas City

Presentation Summary
Your farm should work for you, in addition to you working for your farm – and that requires you to take care of your vegetables and your business, as well as your life. In this engaging two-day short-course, learn how to increase your farm income, monitor farm performance, improve control over your time, respond to unexpected changes, and increase your capacity to maintain and reinvest in your farm operation. Consultant, educator, and veteran farmer Chris Blanchard draws on 25 years of farming experience around the country to help you understand, engage, and control the factors that lead to an economically sustainable farm. 

Tuesday, December 8
Columbia, Missouri 

Event Link: Run Your Team - Tools for Managing and Motivating Employees on the Farm
Hosted By: Missouri Young Farmers Coalition

Presentation Summary
Employees make it possible to get more done, but managing workers and their work takes dedicated time, energy and processes. Whether you manage one seasonal worker or a large year-round crew, good management can make the difference between making headway on your farm's work or just creating headaches. Join veteran farmer and educator Chris Blanchard to learn how to create a productive, positive work environment by communicating clear expectations and implementing systems for efficiency and accountability.  In this workshop, you'll learn how to: utilize practical tools to increase employee satisfaction and productivity, remove emotion from management decisions and actions, and build a team culture.

Monday, November 30
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Event Link: Run Your Team - Tools for Managing and Motivating Employees on the Farm
Hosted By: Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development

Presentation Summary
Employees make it possible to get more done, but managing workers and their work takes dedicated time, energy and processes. Whether you manage one seasonal worker or a large year-round crew, good management can make the difference between making headway on your farm's work or just creating headaches. Join veteran farmer and educator Chris Blanchard to learn how to create a productive, positive work environment by communicating clear expectations and implementing systems for efficiency and accountability.  In this workshop, you'll learn how to: utilize practical tools to increase employee satisfaction and productivity, remove emotion from management decisions and actions, and build a team culture.

Friday, October 23, 2015
Hemminford, Quebec

Event Link: Run Your Team - Tools for Managing and Motivating Employees on the Farm
Hosted By: La Ferme des Quatre-Temps

Presentation Summary
Employees make it possible to get more done, but managing workers and their work takes dedicated time, energy and processes. Whether you manage one seasonal worker or a large year-round crew, good management can make the difference between making headway on your farm's work or just creating headaches. Join veteran farmer and educator Chris Blanchard to learn how to create a productive, positive work environment by communicating clear expectations and implementing systems for efficiency and accountability.  In this workshop, you'll learn how to: utilize practical tools to increase employee satisfaction and productivity, remove emotion from management decisions and actions, and build a team culture.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Online

Event Link: Food Safety Modernization Act: Implications for Farmers
Organized By: Practical Farmers of Iowa

Presentation Summary
This online presentation will cover the Food Safety Modernization Act and its implications for farmers.  I will be discussing the details about who it will impact and how to comply with the new rules and regulation.  In addition, Sophia Kruszewski, a policy expert at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, will be discussing what it is and what its implementation will mean for farmers.

Monday, March 23, 2015 - RESCHEDULED TO 3/30/2015
Central City Civic Center and Buffalo Ridge Orchard

Event Link: Post-Harvest Handling and Food Safety in Theory & Practice
Organized By: Iowa Valley Resource Conservation & Development

Presentation Summary
As the demand for local produce has exploded in the last five years, so has the expectation on the part of consumers and institutional buyers for high quality fruits and vegetables with an extended shelf life. Join veteran farmer and consultant Chris Blanchard for a look at the theory and practice of keeping your produce in top condition while minimizing the risk of microbial contamination. This workshop includes a classroom component and and on-site demonstrations of post-harvest handling techniques at Buffalo Ridge Orchard and vegetable farm.

Monday, March 16, 2015 (Norwich)
Tuesday, March 17, 2015 (Middlebury)
Norwich & Middlebury, Vermont

Event Links:  Labor Management for Farmers, Session II (Norwich); Labor Management for Farmers, Session II (Middlebury)
Organized By: Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont

Presentation Summary
Employees make it possible to get more done, but managing workers and their work takes dedicated time, energy and processes. Whether you manage one seasonal worker or a large year-round crew, good management can make the difference between making headway on your farm's work or just creating headaches. Join veteran farmer and educator Chris Blanchard to learn how to create a productive, positive work environment by communicating clear expectations and implementing systems for efficiency and accountability.

This workshop will cover systems for removing emotion from management decisions and actions, implementing effective leadership, practical tools to increase employee satisfaction and productivity, employee recruitment and dismissal, and how to collect and use labor information to make operational and investment decisions.

Topics include:

• What are employees for?
  
• Leadership through inspiration, accountability, authority & support
  
• Using systems to remove emotion from management
  
• Creating pathways to accountability and efficiency
  
• Specific tools to achieve workplace satisfaction and productivity for all

Thursday, March 5 - Saturday, March 7, 2015
Danville, Indiana

Event Link: Indiana Small Farms Conference
Organized By: Purdue Agriculture

The third Annual Indiana Small Farm Conference with pre-conference workshop activities taking place on Thursday, March 5th. With numerous networking activities, this conference provides small farmers with many opportunities to learn and interact with other farmers, producers, extension educators, researchers, and students.

Chris' Presentations:

Making Your Market Farm Work for You
Thursday, March 5, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Your market farm should work for you, in addition to you working for your  farm – and that requires you to take care of your vegetables and your business, as well as your life. Learn how you can put it all together, from the market farming fundamentals of weed control, irrigation, post-harvest handling, and marketing, to the management of your farming systems, employees, and finances. From big ideas down to practical examples, consultant, educator, and veteran farmer Chris Blanchard draws on 25 years of farming experience around the country at a wide variety scales to provide this engaging session that will help you understand and control the factors that lead to a profitable market farm that won’t drive you and your family crazy.​

Please note: this pre-conference workshop is offered at an additional charge beyond the standard conference registration.

Capturing and Organizing Data for GAPs, Organic Certification, and other Endeavors
Friday, March 6, 9:00 AM
Paperwork can be the bane of the certified-organic, GAPs-audited, and financially-aware farmer. Learn how to capture information, get on top of your paperwork, and wow your inspector, auditor, and banker. Consultant and veteran farmer Chris Blanchard will provide an overview of the basic techniques he and his crew use to gather information and keep it organized for easy access with a minimum of effort.

Evaluating Investments and Operational Changes
Friday, March 6, 1:30 PM
Want to purchase new equipment? Thinking of expanding your operation? This presentation will show you the tools you need to evaluate your options. You’ll get a down-to-earth approach to help you better understand the economic and other impacts of investments and operational changes, including a look at practical tools like partial budget analysis and investment analysis, as well as considerations for quality of life and business development.