For 4 years now we have attended the Immigrant and Minority Farmer Conference. Our alma mater (so to speak) Minnesota Food Association is one of the host organizations of this conference that in a very real way changed our lives. I remember 4 years ago being so nervous and really clueless about most things agricuutural. Now we are living the dream on our own farm and the conference is still a very important part of our lives.
This year I was on the planning committee and one of the presenters. It felt amazing being able to give back and share my experience with the farmers starting out just like I did. Well honestly most of them probably have more experience then I did but you know what I mean.
Here is the audience from one of my workshops. I spoke on 2 panels. One about Long Term Financing where I shared tips and things we had learned along the way. And then this workshop where I talked about “Sharing Your Story: using your history and experience to market your farm.”
According to Glen Hill, Executive Director of the Minnesota Food Association, this is a unique conference and the only one like it in the country. Other conferences I have attended are geared more towards the land owner while this conference is geared towards the beginning farm who will be renting land and often facing many hurdles on their way to ownership.
I have spoken before with translation but this time everything I said was translated into at least 5 languages, “Spanish, Somali, Hmong, Karen and Nepali.” Hill added that they want to make a conference where everyone feels comfortable asking questions. At one point a Spanish speaking gentleman asked me where we bought out chicks. I was blown away, I guess we really have come a long way. (FYI we bought the chicks from here and they are all still thriving.) As Aaron Blyth (Also of MFA) said, “This is why our work is so important.
Between the chicks arriving earlier then expected, a traffic jam and a mandatory training at Proeun’s work the children had no choice but to come with me for the 2nd day. Luckily Proeun was able to come back and help before my workshop and the people at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture were willing to share their table with the children for a quick breakfast treat of bagels and fruit.
Here the children learn playdough tricks from a new friend. Of course bringing them with us was difficult and not ideal and by the afternoon they were starting to melt down but Two is already at an age where he wants to know what we are learning and is making suggestions for the business. So I am reminded we are a package deal, stuff happens. Four years ago there were only 2 of them, but now they are active members of our farm and business. Next year we will let them play with their cousins though, hopefully.