Lancaster County Graziers is planning their 26th annual grazing conference

Schedule of Events – Surviving Tough Times

Dear Fellow Graziers,
Lancaster County Graziers is planning their 26th annual grazing conference on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 19 and 20, 2019. Note change in location!New meeting address is 352 Martindale Road, Ephrata, PA 17522.

The 2019 conference theme is “Surviving Tough Times”. This will prove to be a learning and stimulating time, hearing what our speakers are doing to stayprofitable. Our focus on Tuesday the 19th is survivingtough times and the second day on marketing what you produce. One change will be a phone relay system whereby we can update you by phone about meetingsand changes. So make sure when you fill out yourregistration that we have the phone number that you want to be updated on. If you are not coming to this meeting, but want to be on that hotline please make sure you text me with the name and number you want on the hotline updates.

Tuesday registration will be opened at 7:30 so come prepared to learn. Our speaker line up brings a lot of experience to the table. We have two panels planned, one on surviving price downturns and weather challenges and then one on opportunities in direct marketing.

About some of our speakers: Nathan Weaver Canastota, New York (frequent contributor to Graze Magazine) will begin on Tuesday at 9 am by giving us a picture why we are in this down market. Alan Newport farmer, writer and editor of the Beef Producer will give some hands on ideas that will reduce your costs of operating a grass based dairy beef or sheep operation. Max Kane, CEO of “Farm Match” and Edwin Shank from Family cow will share some differing views about pricing and marketing. If grass management and farm marketing potential, moving into tougher times is of interest to you, this will be an opportunity to learn from many years of experience.

John K. Lapp is in charge of the food. To donate or supply food contact him at 717-733-1766. Good opportunity to advertise your food items. Your donations will be greatly appreciated also. The eveningmeal on Tuesday will be finger food. Bring yourfavorite healthy snack like cheese, meat, gluten freecookies and/or healthy drink (kombucha, kefir etc.).

Roman Stoltzfoos, 717-278-1070, Secretary Exhibitors Contact Levi Fisher, 717-405-9438

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

8:00: Registration – Visit with exhibitors.9:00: Nathan Weaver, The big picture in the

milk business,… how can I survive this?

10:00: Break for coffee and snacks. Network and visit with exhibitors.

10:30: Glen Wise, When to reach for the ejection handle. Life after dairy.

11:15: Alvin Peachy, Changing with the challenges we face.

12:00: Organic and gourmet lunch
1:30: Farmer panel, Nathan Weaver, Alvin

Peachy, John Meulenberg and Levi Fisher

2:30 to 4:00: Panel will be considering your questions.

3:30-4:00: Adjourn, NOTE: Tuesday evening meeting free and open to the public.

5:00: We will enjoy leftovers from lunch and your carry in choices for a light supper.

6:00: Alan Newport, Why grass management is a good way to build soil carbon stores and what that means to the environment.

7:00: Max Kane, Capturing health thru diet and the true value of food.

8:00: Adjourn, good night.

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

8:45: Alan Newport, Hands on survival tactics, grazing technique, building soil with stock density. Time for questions?

9:30: Break-Enjoy a healthy snack, network, visit with exhibitors

10:15: Edwin Shank, How the family farm grows connection and story.

11:15: Max Kane, “From $200 to $1,000,000, how to get customers to pay the high prices you need to stay in business”

12:00: Organic and gourmet lunch
1:20: Amos Miller, Marketing nutrient dense

food. Just for the health of it.

1:40: Panel on marketing. Max Kane, Edwin Shank and Amos Miller

3:30: Adjourn, see you next year.