Workshop Set for Farmers' Marketers in Ogden, UT

Bison Association Seeks to Strengthen Producers' Direct Marketing Skills

November 16, 2018

Increasing profitability of farmers' market booths, on-farm stores and agritourism enterprises will be the focus of a special training workshop for bison producers and other growers at 3:30 p.m. Friday, November 30, 2018 at the Comfort Inn, Ogden, UT.

Hosted by the National Bison Association and the Western Bison Association-in cooperation with U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service-the workshop will cover subjects regarding planning, merchandising, marketing, and leveraging a presence at farmers' markets. And it will also touch on agritourism and other direct marketing opportunities. Participants at the workshop will work through a curriculum developed by a working group of buffalo producers with extensive experience in farmers' markets.

Helping to facilitate the workshop will be National Bison Association Executive Director Dave Carter, and longtime farmers' marketer Dan Martin of Lay Valley Ranch in Craig, CO.

The workshop and curriculum are targeted to bison producers, but the information can be useful for people marketing other products as well. The session is open to all producers.

Carter noted that most bison producers are small-scale and rely on direct marketing as an important part of their business. "The average bison producer has fewer than 50 bison, so they must maximize the return on every animal they produce" Carter said.

"Fortunately, there is a strong upsurge in farmers' markets, as people across the state-and across the country-seek food that is fresh, natural, local and delicious. Our workshop is intended to increase the ability of producers to connect with those customers," Carter added.

The workshop will run from 2 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Registration is $30 per attendee, but is free to all participants who are registered for the Western Bison Association conference. All participants will receive a take-home copy of the workshop curriculum.

More information is available on the National Bison Association website at www.bisoncentral.com.
The workshop is being funded through the Farmers' Market Promotion Program (FMPP) Grant Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, under No. 16FMPPCO0021.