Pitch Your Farm Dream

Saturday, October 12—1-4 p.m.

Oberlin Public Library Community Room, 65 S. Main St., Oberlin, OH 44074

A strong personal pitch can be essential for landing the land you want, but as a new farmer, promoting yourself can feel daunting. In this guided experience, participants create a personal farmer pitch, a story that highlights you as a person and as a grower. Build confidence and acquire strategies for engaging landowners or financial institutions. This workshop includes expert tips on what landowners are looking for, and face-to-face time practicing your uniquely crafted “farm-seeker pitch.”

Participants will get support with:

• Customizing your business plan: how to prepare for meetings with financial institutions/lenders, landholders, and other professionals and technical assistants
• Telling your story: Building confidence and enthusiasm through interactive practice and feedback from your peers and facilitators
• Preparing to negotiate: Roleplaying activities so you know what to say when meeting with various professionals
• Being aware of common pitfalls: Discuss common pitch mistakes, like underselling your skills or appearing disorganized
• Resource sharing: Connections and materials to support your continued learning

Facilitators: Marcia Coleman is a dedicated advocate for sustainable agriculture with over nine years of experience in the field. With a background in business, Marcia has worked extensively with farmers, policymakers, and community organizations to promote sustainable farming techniques. She taught the Business Principles for Sustainable Agriculture and Crop Production courses at Lorain County Community College and she started Coleman Gardens, LLC in 2016. Marcia is a passionate educator and speaker who aims to help growers create ways to market products, develop multiple revenue streams, and produce a steady income/profit while contributing to a more sustainable agricultural future.

Milo Petruziello was the Events Director behind 11 OEFFA conferences, and now serves as the organization’s Policy Director. During more than a decade with OEFFA, Milo has used his own expertly-crafted pitch(es) to engage and negotiate with diverse farmers, grantors, educators, and policymakers. Milo has more than a decade of experience working with the organic and local food movements and has been a key voice in OEFFA’s strategy for serving farmers and food system advocates across the state.

Cost and Registration: $75. Space is limited. Registration closes on October 6.

Thanks to funding from the USDA 2501 grant, partial registration scholarships are available for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) participants. Learn about the USDA 2501 Program.