Contact:  Rural Roots, Colette DePhelps, emailing colette@ruralroots.org
 Planning for Profit:  A One and a Half Day Business Planning and Marketing Workshop for Farmers and Ranchers in Spokane, Washington
 “Planning for Profit” a workshop on how to use farm financial planning and direct marketing to increase the bottom line will take place at the Spokane Extension Center located at 222 N. Havana Friday afternoon, April 16 and all day Saturday, April 17.  Workshop sponsors include Rural Roots, Washington State University Spokane County Extension and the USDA Risk Management Agency.
 The workshop is designed teach producers components of a successful farm/ ranch business and tools for successful farm direct marketing.  Business planning topics include goal-based financial planning, how to assess if current enterprises are profitable and how to identify and address the weakest link in participant’s own farming operation.  Workshop participants will also learn how to assess the farm direct marketing potential of their products by developing a product definition, assessing the competition and developing a market plan. Other topics that will be covered include how to maximize direct and semi-direct market sales, marketing meat, managing legal risks, liability insurance, on-farm labor and food safety.
Workshop trainers include Diane Green, owner/operator of Greentree Naturals in Sandpoint, Idaho and Craig Madsen, a registered Holistic Management educator and owner/operator of Healing Hooves in Edwall, Washington.  Additional presentations will be given by Cinda Williams, University of Idaho Extension; Mary Stuart, USDA Risk Management Agency and Gary Angell, Rocky Ridge Ranch, Reardan, WA.
The workshop will begin with registration at 12:00 on Friday, April 16, at the Spokane Extension Center located at 222 N. Havana in Spokane.  The registration fee is $20 for Rural Roots members and $25 for non-members and includes workshop educational materials and a delicious Saturday lunch catered by One World Spokane.  Workshop hours are 1:00 to 5:00 pm on Friday and 9-5 on Saturday.  
To register for this dynamic and interactive workshop, visit the Rural Roots website at www.ruralroots.org or email colette@ruralroots.org.