Educational Events

Cancellation Policy:

The entire registration fee will be charged for educational program cancellations made after the registration deadline.  The entire registration fee will also be charged for any registration participant who does not attend the event. Educational programs include events such as trainings, seminars, workshops, tours, webinars and conferences.​ 

Dair-ing To Learn Value-Added Webinar Series

Description

Educational sessions to help direct farm marketers and value-added agriculture entrepreneurs analyze, develop, and grow their enterprises. While the program especially targets value-added dairy producers, all are welcome and encouraged to participate!

Date, Time, and Location

All sessions will be held on the second Tuesday of each month via Zoom at 11:30 AM CDT / 12:30 PM EDT:

January 9, 2024 – “Optimizing Your Website for More Traffic” – Travis Key, TK Digital Marketing

February 13, 2024 – “Influencer Matchmaking” – Alaina Boyd, Center for Profitable Agriculture

March 12, 2024 – “Using Short Form Video to Grow Your Business” – Travis Key, TK Digital Marketing

April 9, 2024 – “The Basics of Branding” – Michelle Childs, University of Tennessee Department of Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management

May 14, 2024 – “Using a Website to Grow Your Market” – Camille Dant-Stevens, University of Kentucky Department of Agricultural Economics Extension

June 11, 2024 – “Discovering Your Waypoints: A Guide Map to Creating Your Business Plan” – Eryn Bell, UT Center of Farm Management

July 9, 2024 – “Business Suite Basics” – Alaina Boyd, Center for Profitable Agriculture

August 13, 2024 – “Brand Marketing 101” – Maureen Ballatori, Agency 29

September 10, 2024 – “NAFMDA Lessons Learned” – 2024 NAFDMA Professional Development Scholarship Recipients

October 8, 2024 – Topic TBA – Travis Key, TK Digital Marketing

November 12, 2024 – “Using Meta Ads to Drive Sales & Acquire New Customers” – Travis Key, TK Digital Marketing

December 10, 2024 – “Basic Social Media Graphic Design Tips and Tricks” – Alaina Boyd, Center for Profitable Agriculture

Registration

Registration is free, but pre-registration is required.

Please register here at tiny.utk.edu/dairing.

Past Recordings

View the YouTube playlist of past Dair-ing to Learn sessions here.

Questions?

Contact Alaina Boyd at 931-486-2777 ext 126 or acboyd@utk.edu.

TAEP Eligibility

Producers participating in at least five sessions per calendar year will fulfill one Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) Producer Diversification educational requirement for the following Producer Diversification sectors: Agritourism, Fruits and Vegetables, and Value-Added. Questions about TAEP should be directed to the TAEP Producer Diversification Coordinator at the Tennessee Department of Agriculture at producer.diversification@tn.gov.  To receive credit participants must either attend the live sessions or view recordings AND submit the evaluation/attendance for for all sessions attended/viewed by April 30, 2024.  

Support for the program has been made available in part through USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives Grant AM200100XXXXG002. Additional information about the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative can be found at https://tiny.utk.edu/sdbii.

Workshop Flyer:

Starting a Value-Added Dairy Foods Business: Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina

Description

Learn the basics for starting a value-added dairy foods business with state-specific modules covering regulations for TN, KY, and NC in this online course offered via Penn State University.

This online course covers principles of processing, marketing, pricing, and regulations for dairy foods, such as yogurt and cheese. Participants will also learn to use budget tools to make profitable decisions.

The Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative is offering free course access on a first-come, first-served basis to dairy producers in Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina. The course will be made free to eligible producers, but you must contact James Harlan at jharlan3@utk.edu in order to receive an access code. A single code is only valid for a single course registration, and does not provide credit to more than one producer.

Free course access for TN, KY, and NC producers was made possible, in part, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service. Additional information about the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative can be found at https://tiny.utk.edu/sdbii

Date, Time and Location

This online course is delivered virtually via Penn State University. It is a self-paced course featuring nine content modules.

Questions?

Contact Alaina Boyd at acboyd@utk.edu for more information.

Workshop Flyer:

2024 Tennessee Farmers Market Vendor Bootcamp Webinar Series

Description

Farmers interested in marketing their products directly to consumers at farmers markets, roadside stands, CSAs and you-pick operations are encouraged to attend the Center for Profitable Agriculture’s upcoming Farmers Market Vendor Boot Camp Webinar Series. Specialists from University of Tennessee Extension, University of Kentucky, Tennessee Farmers Market Association, and Tennessee Departments of Agriculture and Health will teach the six sessions including:

Date, Time, and Location

All sessions will be held via Zoom from 11:30 AM CDT / 12:30 PM EDT – 12:30 PM CDT / 1:30 PM EDT:

March 21, 2024 – Choosing the Right Market for You – Kasi Haire, Tennessee Association of Farmers Markets

March 25, 2024 – Head Turning, Sales Surging Merchandising Strategies for Your Farmers Market – Brett Wolff and Tim Woods, University of Kentucky

March 28, 2024 – Things to Consider When Setting Prices for Direct-to-Consumer Market Outlets – Margarita Velandia, UT Extension

April 1, 2024 – Regulatory Roundup: An Overview of Assorted Business and Product Regulations – Megan Bruch Leffew, Center for Profitable Agriculture, and Bethany McAnulty, Tennessee Department of Agriculture

April 4, 2024 – Tennessee Department of Health Food Unit Bill and Food Sampling – Lori LeMaster, Tennessee Department of Health

April 8, 2024 – Tennessee Food Manufacturing Regulations: Cottage Foods and More – Kyla Adkins, UT Extension

Registration

Registration is free, but pre-registration is required.

Please register here at tiny.utk.edu/FMbootcamp.

Questions?

Contact Megan Leffew at 931-486-2777 ext 126 or mleffew@utk.edu.

TAEP Eligibility

Participants interested in receiving educational credit for the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) must attend five of the six sessions. This will fulfill one of two educational requirements for the Agritourism, Fruit & Vegetable, and/or Value-Added Products sectors.

For more information about TAEP Producer Diversification, contact Jan Keyser, at 615-837-5346.

Workshop Flyer:

MarketReady: TN Food Buyer Tour – Chattanooga

Description

Direct farm marketers and value-added agriculture entrepreneurs interested in learning more about selling products to wholesale buyers such as grocery stores, restaurants, and institutions are encouraged to register now for the upcoming MarketReady: TN Food Buyer Tour to be held in Chattanooga, TN.

This tour will allow producers to connect with Chattanooga’s unique farm-to-table scene by networking and hearing from various wholesale, retail, and food buyer representatives in the Chattanooga area.

Date, Time, and Location

The tour will be held from 10 AM – 3:00 PM Eastern time on April 25, 2024.

All tour stops will be located in Chattanooga, TN. Tour logistics and a detailed agenda will be shared with participants before the day of the tour.

Carpooling is encouraged as parking spaces may be limited at some tour stops. Please make arrangements to carpool if necessary.

Registration

Registration is free, but pre-registration is required. A completed registration form is required for each individual attending the tour.

The deadline to register for this event is April 18.

Please register at tiny.utk.edu/ChattBuyerTour.

Questions?

Contact Alaina Boyd at 931-486-2777 ext 126 or acboyd@utk.edu.

Workshop Flyer: