23 February 2017 NEWS
Vitalis attended the Oregon State University Small Farms Conference in Corvallis, OR on February 18th. Hosted at the university, this one day conference draws in small farmers from across Oregon and Washington. This year’s event had over 900 participants ranging from aspiring farmers to seasoned growers. This conference is notable for being especially welcoming to people just beginning their farm business, providing introductions to a wide range of agricultural topics. Sessions included talks on “lean” farming, enterprise management and marketing, and diversifying farm operations. Regional research and extension agents were well represented at this event and were on-hand to teach classes, share their projects and stimulate dialog. Hosted in the main lobby of the event, the tradeshow is an integral part of the day. Vitalis was pleased to see many of our Northwest dealers exhibiting at the tradeshow, including Osborne Seed, High Mowing Organic Seed and Territorial Seed. Vitalis works closely with our dealer partners in the Pacific Northwest, helping farmers identify appropriate varieties for their operation and organizing on-farm trials. One of the most exciting parts of these pre-season conferences is connecting with growers who are interested in hosting variety trials in the coming growing cycle. The day concluded with the lively “Think with a Drink Networking Session.” Attendees were encouraged to network with new contacts and chat with old friends while sampling local brews. This annual conference is a great opportunity for small farmers in the Pacific Northwest to come together to share stories and learn from each other before the labors of a new season kick into high gear!
