These meeting will give winter workshop participants the opportunity to network with one another and also provide additional time to discuss and consider their own individual farm needs as it relates to the workshop topics. Each session will have a CISA staff facilitator and a farmer Expert (Missy Bahret–Old Friends Farm, Pete Solis– Hampshire College Farm, and Gary Gemme– Harvest Farm of Whately). The topics for the meeting will be determined based on participant interest and determined as the class date gets closer.

When farms assess new enterprises, investments, markets, or products, they need to consider many factors, including how the new activity will impact personnel needs, family life, seasonal schedule, and existing enterprises. In addition, farmers also need to assess and plan for new risks that may arise as a result of the new activity. This workshop will discuss the broader context of business decision-making and include a panel of farmers, Wally Czajkowski– Plainville Farm, Allison Landale– The Bars Farm, and Sorrel Hatch– Upinngil Farm, that have extensive experience making a great number of business decisions throughout their years of operation. They will share the broad implications of business decisions they have made, giving participants examples of how they identified and weighted risks, challenges, and opportunities on their farm.