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Beginning Farmer Network of Massachusetts (BFAA) Planning Retreat

It's time to register for the first Beginning Farmer Network of Massachusetts (BFAA) Planning Retreat that will be held on December 20!  Please join us for an engaging day that will help Massachusetts shape an effective network of beginning farmers and service providers to successfully grow and support the next generation of farmers and food producers. 

This will be the first stakeholder-wide meeting as part of a 3-year USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Grant to coordinate a state-wide effort to facilitate access to and build use of services and resources for beginning farmers in Massachusetts.  The purpose of this meeting is to develop a shared vision, commitment and planning process for the formation of the BFAA.  The Retreat Planning Committee*, together with Ora Grodsky of Just Works Consulting, are working hard to craft and exciting and purposeful meeting.  We look forward to having your voice at the table as we come together to launch this initiative!

Click to register!  http://tinyurl.com/bfaaDec2011

Who:              

• Agricultural service providers: Organizations providing programming, services, and technical assistance to new or next generation farmers in Massachusetts.
• Beginning farmers: Provide input to this Alliance so it will meet your learning needs and provide you with better support to establish a successful farm business.
• Stakeholders who care about the future of farming: Landowners, credit institutions, funders, consumers, interested citizens who want to contribute efforts to a statewide  
  network that meets the needs of the next generation farmers and food producers.
  

Please extend this invitation to beginning farmer leaders in your networks!

What:             Massachusetts Beginning Farmer Network of Massachusetts (BFAA) – Planning Retreat

When:            Tuesday, December 20, 2011  from 9:30 am  – 4 pm.  Lunch featuring locally-sourced farm-fresh ingredients included.

Where:          Doyle Conservation Center, Leominster, MA  (directions below)

Why:              At this retreat, we will create the structure and working groups to build a coordinated state-wide effort to facilitate access to and utilization of services and resources for beginning farmers in Massachusetts so that they have the tools they need to be successful.  You will have the opportunity to join a working committee to add your voice and skills to the project.    We will also be recruiting steering committee members to provide guidance to the BFAA over the next several years.

Directions to the Doyle Conservation Center in Leominster, MA:   

• From the West: Take Route 2 East to Exit 31A/Route 12 South. At the firsts light turn right onto Lindell Avenue. Continue 0.75 miles and turn right onto Abbott Avenue and then left into the Doyle Conservation center parking lot.
• From the East: Take Route 2 West to Exit 31A/Route 12 South. At the first light turn right onto Lindell Avenue. Continue 0.75 miles and turn right onto Abbott Avenue and then left into the Doyle Conservation Center parking lot.
  

Please RSVP/Register by October 21st!   http://tinyurl.com/bfaaDec2011

For more information, contact Jennifer.Hashley@tufts.edu or call 978-654-6745.   This project is supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant #2010-49400-21765.

We hope to see you all there!
Best, Jennifer, Hugh, Becca, Eva, Ora and members of the Retreat Planning Committee (*includes representatives from New Entry, UMass Extension, American Farmland Trust, Waltham Fields Community Farm, CISA, Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, and Mass Federation of Farmers Markets).