A couple weeks ago we sat down with 6 of us farmers around a table and talked business planning. This meeting was part of our Farmer Appreciation series we hold each winter/spring season. While business planning may not be the most fun meeting topic, it is certainly one needed for sustainability. Our producers that evening were a nice mix of beginning farmers, farmers looking to expand their operations, and those looking to add a new thought to there already well established business. The winner of the hat drawing for 50% off processing was Joe Phelps. I was certainly glad to have Joe win as appreciation is a word I can use for Joe Phelps for more than 10 years now. I first met Joe and his wife Vonda over 10 years ago when I was doing Farmer’s Markets myself and had a neighboring booth. I immediately looked up to the Phelps as they had been doing local and pastured since the 80’s. Or I really could say since birth as Joe was born onto the farm as the 4th generation. While farming is what they have always done, Joe still looks to stay on the forefront both offering information and gaining information. Thank you to each farmer that attending that night to work a plan to stay farming!
And mark March 5th on your calendar as that will be our next gathering of farmers. This meeting is being held in conjunction with the Small Farmer Conference hosted by Purdue University. We will be here at This Old Farm from 10 – 2 pm touring both farm and plant, discussing quality, cut yield, packaging, and value added opportunities. If you haven’t had the time to be a buthcer, this is the next best thing as we will watch staff break beef going over where some of the vale added cuts come from. We then have the opportunity to go to Dandy Breeze, a dairy in Sheridan, IN. Call today to let Travis know you are coming. (765) 324-2161. You can also register online at https://www.purdue.edu/dffs/smallfarms/
Hope to see you then!
Jessica