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Working Groups

Four working groups and a steering committee were formed at the BFAA (now BFNMass) stakeholder retreat. If you would like to join a working group, please e-mail Becca Weaver bweaver@comteam.org. The working groups include:

Farmer Development

Purpose: To develop plan(s) for farmers to access education, training and support services in MA in a coordinated way.

Products:

• Identification of resources and gaps in services in MA
• Structures for learning ladders, including all skills and capacities farmers need and offers available to meet those needs
• A plan for webinars or other educational activities as appropriate to support farmer development

Website and Technology

Purpose: To develop a website for farmers, service providers and the general public

Products:

• List of tools farmers and service providers say they need
• Plan for how website will be built and maintained
• List of content needs for website
• Plan for smart phone apps

Referral Network

Purpose: To develop a useable Referral Network so farmers can be referred to the organization that offers the services they need.

Products:

• Identification of best practices based on other model referral networks
• Development of overall plan and specific components for the BFNMass referral network
• Tools to track referral

Marketing and Outreach

Purpose:  To ensure that beginning farmers know that BFNMass exists and can utilize its resources

Products:

• A plan for outreach with the target audience
• A clear brand for BFNMass (with website) including logo, colors, and design
• Outreach activities implementation

BFNMass Steering Committee

Purpose: To provide direction and guidance for the development of the BFNMass.

Products:

• Working groups receive guidance in their agenda and the development of their specific tasks.
• Feedback on the project deliverables done by the working groups and BFNMass staff to make sure they are in line with the BFNMass goals and priorities.
• Syntheses of the proposals from the working groups
• Develop a coherent long-term sustainability plan for the BFNMass including structure and funding 
• Input and feedback from stakeholders is actively solicited and incorporated into BFNMass plans
• Design retreats