As of 1/12 there were still free tickets for dairy farmers.
Northern Tier Dairy Summit:
Lottery for complimentary seats, student essay contest open
April 1-2, 2019 at Jay Peak Resort
Are you a dairy farmer, involved with the dairy industry, or engaged with agriculture? Are you interested in learning about different models, partnership and diversification opportunities, and being involved in developing the future vision for dairy? If so, the Northern Tier Dairy Summit is the event for you.
Hosted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (VAAFM), the Dairy Summit is a two day event on April 1-2, 2019 focused on positive strategies and timely action steps. Keynote speaker Dr. David Kohl, emeritus professor from Virginia Tech, will speak about positioning your farm for success in the cycles of global markets. Highlight speaker Zach Ward, CEO of Grasslands Dairy from New Zealand and Missouri will talk about the strategies they use in the New Zealand model of farming, including flexible production, cost-based decision making, and how a grass based, seasonal dairy can compete on the global market. Other sessions include topics such as: "Your Farm in 2029 – Planning for the future", "Developing a payment system for ecosystem services", and "Opportunities for you and your farm available now". For a complete agenda, visit the Summit webpage at: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/2019NorthernTierDairySummit Funding from the Northern Borders Regional Commission allows VAAFM to sponsor registration and one night of lodging for 100 farmers. Vermont, New York, New Hampshire, and Maine dairy farmers are eligible to apply via a lottery system open December 1, 2018 – January 11, 2019; up to 30 seats are being held for farmers from outside of Vermont to encourage regional attendance. Lottery seat recipients will be notified on or before January 14, 2019. For those who apply for lottery seats and are not selected, general registration for the summit will open January 15 with reduced rates for farmers, and those interested are encouraged to register early as seating is limited.
To enter the registration and lodging lottery, fill out this Survey Monkey form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MV5YKCD If you are interested in entering the lottery and do not have internet access, call Laura Ginsburg, Agriculture Development Section Chief at 802-522-2252.
Essay contest for student seats: College and technical school students have the opportunity to receive a scholarship covering registration and one night of lodging through an essay contest. Up to 10 winners will receive the student scholarship and applicants from any discipline are welcome to apply. Essays will be scored based on strength of the argument, clear writing, and attention to detail. Students must write a response of no more than 750 words to the following question: My vision for the future of Vermont/New England agriculture is…. (explain your thoughts about ag practices/food systems/types of farming/any other related topic) and I envision farmers reaching that goal by…. (describe what needs to happen to achieve this).
Essay responses must be emailed to Laura Ginsburg by 2pm on January 11 to be eligible: laura.ginsburg@vermont.gov Venue: Jay Peak Resort has extended special Dairy Summit room pricing for three days prior and three days after the Summit (March 29 – April 4) and some of the rooms include water park access. A variety of rooms types and sizes are available for the same rate, encouraging attendees to bring their families to enjoy the resort's amenities. For more information about Jay Peak, visit: www.jaypeakresort.com Registration and Lodging: General registration will open January 15, 2019 and will be managed via an online portal. Lodging reservations for the Dairy Summit room block must be made between January 15- March 1, 2019 to receive the discounted room block pricing. Make your room reservation directly with Jay Peak using a code that will be provided on the Dairy Summit webpage. The link for general registration and codes for room reservation will be available starting January 15, 2019.
Dairy Summit webpage: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/2019NorthernTierDairySummit
For questions or more information contact: Laura Ginsburg, Agriculture Development Section Chief Laura.ginsburg@vermont.gov 802-522-2252