NEW GATES THROUGH OLD FENCES

Sequence of Activity:

• Distribute "start-up" educational materials.

• Meet with other community/regional people to consider and promote value-added strategies.

• Assess strengths, needs, and challenges of local community to develop and support value-added agriculture.

• Identify and gather local value-added items to showcase at the Symposium's "Hall of Ideas".

• Recognize value-added opportunities and constraints

• Plan for value-added discussion and action

• Implement and Manage value-added strategies

• Monitor and Evaluate to improve value-added efforts

Preliminary Symposium Agenda

Day 1	Tuesday, March 25, 1997
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.	Registration & Hors d'oeuvres
6:00 - 6:20	Welcome - Dr. James Henderson, President San Juan College, NM
6:20 - 6:30	Opening Comments - Dr. Randy Williams, National Program Leader, Community and Economic Development CSREES/USDA
6:30 - 7:00	Team Introductions/Agenda Overview/Framework - Rod Sharpp, CSU, Cooperative Extension
7:00 - 7:30	Team Orientation
7:30 - 9:30	Social Time and Hall of Ideas
Day 2	Wednesday, March 26, 1997
7:30 - 8:00 a.m.	Continental Breakfast
8:00 - 8:45	Keynote Speaker: Success for Businesses & Communities - Dr. Randy Torgeson, USDA/RBCDS Cooperative Services
8:45 - 9:45	Case Studies -- Value Added Agriculture
9:45 - 10:15	Break
10:15 - 10:45	Case Studies Panel (Question/Answer)
	Session 1: Cooperatives, Business Structures & Small Business Networks
	Session 2: Marketing
	Session 3: Funding and Financing
	Session 4: Business Planning
	Session 5: Creative Promotions & Marketing Materials
	Session 6: Using the Internet
12:15 - 1:30 p.m.	Lunch & Comments, Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI)
1:30 - 3:30	Team Work Session #1
3:30 - 3:50	Break
3:50 - 5:20	Repeat Concurrent Sessions
6:00 - 7:30	Dinner & Comments from Cooperative Extension Directors
7:30 - 8:30	Youth Teams Project Presentation
Day 3	Thursday, March 27, 1997	7:30 - 8:00 a.m.	Buffet Breakfast
8:00 - 9:00	State Dept. of Agriculture Panel
9:00 - 10:30	Team Work Session #2
11:30 - 12:00	Keynote Speaker
12:00 p.m.	Adjourn

• Learn what value-added agriculture can do to improve economic conditions in your community.

• Work with a team from your community to build a plan to help promote and assist value-added enterprises.

• Learn where the best value-added business information is and how to get it NAPI (Navajo Ag. Products Industry) for yourself and other citizens.

• Establish relationships with communities in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Oklahoma, Texas and other States.

• Work with youth leadership to promote the sustainability of value-added agricultural businesses and whole rural communities.

Participating Team Members, Individuals

Agricultural Producers; Small Business Owners & Managers; Local Officials & Bankers; Youth Organizations; Interested Citizens; Cooperative Extension Agents; Other Educators & Technical Professionals; Regional & Community Colleges; Local, State, Federal Agencies; Non-Profit Organizations; U.S. Department of Agriculture

Coordinating/Cooperating Organizations

Cooperative Extension Systems: The University of Arizona, Colorado State University, New Mexico State University, Utah State University.

San Juan Forum with: Arizona Department of Agriculture, Colorado Department of Agriculture, Farm Foundation, Fort Lewis College, NAPI (Navajo Ag. Products Industry) New Mexico Department of Agriculture, San Juan College, Small Business Development Centers, SPARCS (Strengthening Partnerships for Active Rural Communities), State Rural Development Councils, USDA - CSREES, Forest Service, NRCS, Rural Development, Utah Department of Agriculture, Utah Division of Business & Economic Development, Western Rural Development Center and others...

This page is maintained by: arecweb@ag.arizona.edu
Questions regarding content: Russell Tronstad
Last update: 1/3/97