Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) Events Calendar

Alternative Livestock Farm Tour

farm-tours

West Mansfield, Ohio

Saturday, October 7, 2023
10 a.m.

Yaks are unusual livestock, but their small body size and cold-hardy habits make them easy to keep. Since buying their first yak in 2015, Covered Bridge Yaks now has a small herd for meat and producing calves to sell on their 60 acres. This tour will show the yaks, discuss their benefits, and explain how they differ from traditional beef cattle.

This event is a part of OEFFA's 2023 Farm Tour and Workshop Series. Visit oeffa.org/farmtours to learn more.

Location:
Covered Bridge Yaks
23839 State Route 47
West Mansfield, OH 43358

Find the driveway with the black "Mathys 23839" mailbox. There is a covered bridge ⅔ down the driveway; it is safe for passenger vehicles. Parking will be in a pasture past the house.

Contact:
OEFFA / (614) 421-2022 /

SARE Grants–Preparing a Proposal

webinars

Online

Wednesday, October 11, 2023
3-4 p.m.

http://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8bOJLIPTMZWISX4

USDA SARE is a national program that has various due dates for specific grant proposals. SARE grants are farmer-directed research and education projects that are based on real problems farmers have and the solutions they want to try out or share with others. A general logic model, while not specific, is a nice roadmap to get the proposal written with objectives, outputs and activities that help in writing the proposal. Sharing the general grants and their due dates and resources available will also be part of the presentation.

To participate in this free, one-hour webinar, click the link below to register. Registration closes Monday, October 9.

Location:
Online

Contact:
AgrAbility / 800-825-4264 /

PaddockTrac Demonstration

farm-tours

St. Marys, Ohio

Friday, October 13, 2023
10 a.m.

Settlage is a veteran-owned, certified organic dairy with more than 300 acres of perennial and annual pasture. This pasture walk will focus on PaddockTrac, a technology developed by University of Missouri researchers that uses an ATV-mounted sensor to measure and predict forage availability.

The spring (June 1) and fall (October 13) events will allow for a comparison of the PaddockTrac performance over the seasons. A pasture walk will be followed by a demonstration and a review of data collected to date.

This event is a part of OEFFA's 2023 Farm Tour and Workshop Series. Visit oeffa.org/farmtours to learn more.

Location:
Settlage & Settlage Farm
12218 St. Rt. 29
St. Marys, OH 45885

Contact:
OEFFA / (614) 421-2022 /

2023 Ohio Food Policy Summit

Columbus, Ohio

Friday, October 20, 2023
10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

http://web.cvent.com/event/6e0d8136-0c52-4728-ba0c-908cc8235700/summary

Join food systems professionals and advocates at the Ohio Food Policy Summit. This year's Summit will feature discussions on innovative food policies and programs. Join for riveting discussions on how we can nurture a just, sustainable, and thriving food system for all Ohioans.

Location:
Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center
2201 Fred Taylor Dr
Columbus, OH 43210

Contact:
OSU Glenn College / 614-292-8696 /

Intro to Grant Writing

webinars

Online

Saturday, October 28, 2023
1-2:30 p.m.

http://outreach.oeffa.org/grant-writing/

Are you a small farmer looking for funding to grow your business? Learn about the basics of grant writing for small farmers, including:
- How to identify potential funding sources
- How to gather necessary materials and partners
- How to analyze the parts of a grant application
- How to write a compelling project narrative
- How to gain confidence in the overall process

The workshop will be led by an experienced grant writer who will share tips and strategies for success. Participants will have the opportunity to hear from other small farmers who have successfully completed the grant writing process. There will also be time for a Q&A.

Cost: $10. Registration closes Thursday, October 26. Click the link below to learn more and register.

Location:
Online

Contact:
OEFFA / (614) 725-3161 /

Whole Farm Financial Planning

workshops

Online

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 through Tuesday, December 5, 2023
6:30 p.m.

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/whole-farm-financial-planning-4-part-series-registration-617315416027?u

Join Faith Gilbert of Letterbox Farm for a 4-part workshop series on financial management for farmers! Virtual sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:00 pm, November 7, 14, 28, and December 5. You must attend all sessions. This series will be virtual on Zoom.

Session 1: Context & Enterprise Budgeting
This session covers the basics of what farm financial management is all about, then dives into enterprise budgeting (creating a budget for each significant crop or product on your farm). Participants will be set up with a budget and recordkeeping template to create their own enterprise budgets outside of class.

Session 2: Whole Farm Budgeting, Cash Flow, and Budgeting for Investments
After reviewing last session's homework, we will weave together multiple enterprise budgets into a "whole farm budget" or general budget for your whole business, including general business or "overhead" costs. We will also discuss cash flow planning, or planning for how money will enter and leave your bank accounts over a year. Lastly, we will introduce a simple budget for making investments or applying for loans.

Session 3: Financial Statements: Income Statement & Balance Sheet
In this session, we will switch gears from looking forward (projections) to looking backward (historical records, or "actuals"). We'll learn to generate the two main financial statements used to evaluate a business and to apply for grants and loans.

Session 4: Record keeping
Good budgets and financial statements require good records. In this session, we'll look at basic bookkeeping (financial recordkeeping) practices, and discuss production and sales records.

Pricing:
Regular price – $80
Discounted price – $50 (use code FARM23)

Limited scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Click the link below to learn more.

Location:
Online

Contact:
Rural Action / (740) 677-4047 x610 /

Employment on Your Farm 101

workshops

Online

Thursday, November 9, 2023
1 p.m.

Are you exploring ways to bring in employees or interns that truly benefit your operation? Wondering what you'll need to do this successfully, safely, and legally?

This course is designed for farm business owners or managers of all levels to make informed hiring choices and to be an employer that truly supports its team with the most up-to-date industry standards.

This event is a part of OEFFA's 2023 Farm Tour and Workshop Series. Visit oeffa.org/farmtours to learn more.

Location:
Online

Contact:
OEFFA / (614) 421-2022 /

17th Annual Stinner Summit

Peninsula, Ohio

Monday, November 13, 2023
9 a.m.-4 p.m.

http://amp.osu.edu/collaboration/annual-stinner-summit

The annual Stinner Summit is held as a tribute to Dr. Ben Stinner, who was a pioneer in regenerative agriculture research and a great connector of people. Each year this event gathers researchers, farmers, educators, policy leaders, and organizations from across the state. Through a participatory process, specific project ideas are crafted during the Summit and funded through the Stinner Endowment Fund. This year's event will share projects focused on building more resilient and equitable food systems in metropolitan regions.

Learn more via the link below.

Location:
Happy Days Lodge in Cuyahoga National Park
500 W Streetsboro St
Peninsula, OH 44264

Contact:
Ohio State University / 330-202-3540 /

Food Systems Finance Series

webinars

Online

Tuesday, November 28, 2023
2 p.m.

http://www.cdfa.net/e/2023fsfws

The CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series is a free online series demonstrating how businesses and projects within the food system can be connected to development finance tools, such as bonds, tax increment finance, tax credits, and revolving loan funds, to create equitable local and regional food systems. This series will showcase how development finance agencies from across the country are investing in local food systems. Speakers will present case studies on a range of food systems projects – including production, processing, distribution, retail, storage, and more – to explain why various financing tools were chosen for the specific project and how those financing tools work. Each installment of this series will explore how the development finance toolbox can be used to drive investment across the food supply chain.

With funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, CDFA is researching how development finance agencies can become more engaged in developing localized food systems through traditional finance approaches. The premise of this project is to suggest and then prove that, if organized and defined properly, the food system can become a defined asset class worthy of traditional investment. Through this work, CDFA aims to advance opportunities and leverage existing capital financing streams that scale local and regional food systems and increase access to better food while creating new living wage jobs in communities across the country.

Click the link below to register.

Location:
Online

Contact:
CDFA / (614) 705-1300 /

OEFFA Grain Growers Chapter Meeting

chapter-meetings

Mt. Victory, Ohio

Friday, December 8, 2023
9:30 a.m.

http://www.oeffa.org/chapter.php

The OEFFA Grain Growers Chapter is dedicated to the exchange of ideas and information for organic grain production, processing, and marketing. This meeting will cover current chapter events and programming, including possibly swearing in a new president.

Location:
The Plaza Inn
491 South Main St.
Mt. Victory, OH 43340

Contact:
Dave Shively / (419) 438-2192 /

Finding a Farm Job 101

workshops

Online

Sunday, December 10, 2023
2-4 p.m.

http://bit.ly/oeffa-farm-job-101

Do you feel called to farm? Are you looking for a job or internship on a farm that shares your values and develops your skills? Do you just want a chance to work outdoors and eat good food?

Whatever your work or learning goals, there are many factors to consider in finding a job that helps you reach them while staying safe and healthy. This free online course is designed for people who are just entering the field. Learn about common industry standards, different types of jobs and internships, cultural norms and expectations, where to search for farm jobs, employee rights and safety, and more!

Click the link below to register.

Location:
Online

Contact:
OEFFA / (614) 725-3166 /

Ohio State Organic Grains Conference

Oregon, Ohio

Thursday, January 4, 2024 through Friday, January 5, 2024
8 a.m.

http://offer.osu.edu/organic-grains-2024

The 2nd annual Ohio State Organic Grains Conference will be January 4-5, 2024 at the Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center in Oregon, Ohio.

Featured presenters for this year will include Klaas Martens of Lakeview Organic Grain in New York, Steve Culman from Washington State University (formerly Ohio State), Léa Vereecke from Rodale Institute, and Eugene Law from USDA-Agricultural Research Services. We'll again feature a trade show with venders who offer relevent goods and services; a farmer roundtable lunch; and farmer panels on topics like weed control strategies, technology, and biological products. Our 2024 line-up includes Ohio State educators and researchers with an interest in organic production, including corn and emerging crop specialist Osler Ortez; associate professor in soils and agronomy Ryan Haden; farm management field specialist Eric Richer, and manure nutrient management field specialist Glen Arnold, plus research updates on kernza and crop-livestock integration.

Early bird pricing is available until December 1. Click the link below to learn more.

Location:
Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center
1750 State Park Road #2
Oregon, OH 43616

Contact:
OSU / (330) 263-3634 /

2024 OEFFA Conference

Newark, Ohio

Thursday, February 15, 2024 through Saturday, February 17, 2024
8 a.m.