Press Release: Kansas Farmer's Union, 07 Jan. 2013

Leonardville workshop to benefit beginning farmers

McPHERSON, KAN.- Jan. 7, 2013 - Kansas Farmers Union (KFU) is hosting a Beginning Farmer Workshop on Saturday, Jan. 26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Nelson's Landing Restaurant, 107 N. Erpelding, in Leonardville, Kan. The workshop will feature speakers and a panel of producers from across the state of Kansas.

"In the future, we'll see a number of farmers considering retirement and the next generation will have to step up and take the lead. We know they're out there, it's just a matter of finding them and helping them find the resources they need to become the next generation of Kansas family farmers," Nick Levendofsky, KFU Special Projects Coordinator, said.

Workshop speakers include Donn Teske, former financial advisor, discussing the financial aspect of farm transition; Char Henton and Becky O'Donnell, Kansas Agricultural Mediation Service; Charlie Griffin, Kansas Rural Family Helpline; Rhonda Janke, K-State Sustainable Agriculture; Barb Depew, Kansas Farm-to-School program; Chuck Otte, Geary County agricultural extension agent; and Bernard Irvine, attorney specializing in real estate and contract matters.

Following the morning and early afternoon speakers, there will be a producer panel made up of individuals from across Kansas with varying specialties. These producers will talk about their operation, some of the challenges and successes they've experienced, and answer questions from the crowd.

The following panelists will share their experiences: Darrell Parks of Manhattan, sustainable pasture pork; Ed Reznicek of Goff, Kansas Organic Producers general manager; Jason Schmidt and Herb Bartel of Hillsboro, organic farming and grazing partnership; Warren Sutton, green bean grower, Norway; Dan Kuhn of Courtland, "Depot Market" growing and marketing wholesale and retail produce; Dale Strickler of Jamestown, grazing specialist; Robert Nutsch of Norway, produce growing on less than one acre; David Heiens of Abilene, organic producer; and Chris Janssen of Scandia, high tunnel produce grower.

Workshop registration, including lunch, is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.kansasfarmersunion.org. To RSVP, call Nick at 785-527-0941 or email kfu.nick@gmail.com. This workshop is offered by Kansas Farmers Union, thanks to a grant from Farm Aid to help beginning farmers find mentors.