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Speaker Bio's
James Barker, Underwood Family Farms
Underwood Family Farms is a grower of a wide variety of fresh vegetable and fruits in Ventura County, California. We offer a wide variety of services and activities tailored for the entire family including pick-your-own produce, birthday parties at our Farm Animal Center, school tours, gift baskets (shipped anywhere in the United States,) and the Fall Harvest Festival in October. We have also been very active in farmers' markets in the area and this season are selling in 12 farmers' markets. This presentation will be led by members of the Underwood Farm Team and may include James Barker, Russel Blades and/or Craig Underwood.
David Brown, Brown's Orchards and Farm Market
Dave Brown graduated from Dallastown High School in 1982, and from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1986 with a degree in Management Information Systems. He has since worked in Towson, MD, St. Louis and Chicago for companies such as Black & Decker, Anheuser Busch, Bosch, Hitachi and PepsiCo performing development and analysis of business software systems. Dave and his wife, Mary (originally from Chicago), returned to Loganville in November of 2006, where Dave rejoined the business as Vice President. Since his return, aside from his duties at Brown’s Orchards, Dave has been serving on the boards of the York Chamber of Commerce, The Farm and Natural Lands Trust, and PA Retail Farm Market Association. Dave is also currently serving on the Board of Managers of Logan’s View Winery, which Brown’s Orchards has partnered in 2008. He is also a member of the Southern York County Business Association. Dave’s computer consulting background has influenced his work at Brown’s Orchards in terms of introducing technology to allow the business to grow into the coming years.
Stan Brown, Brown's Orchards & Farm Market
Stanley E. Brown is owner and General Manager of Brown’s Orchards and Farm Market in Loganville, PA and their newly opened second location Brown’s Farm Market & Garden Center in Emigsville, PA. Stan’s love affair with the trees began in 1948, when he was 14 years old. His parents purchased an orchard and moved him and his two younger brothers from the city to the countryside. Years later, Stan met “the other” love of his life – his wife Nona, a schoolteacher. After college and the Army, he returned to Loganville to the orchards once more, where they raised three wonderful children. In the 1980’s, Nona and Stan began a fruit basket business, and when it outgrew their basement, they decided to build a market on the hill. The rest, as they say, is history. Brown’s Farm Markets are now a "comfort place" for thousands and employs approximately 230 full-time and part-time employees. Stan is involved in many agricultural and other community endeavors. He has served or is serving as a volunteer with the following organizations:
• York County Fruit Growers Association (all offices)
• Pennsylvania State Horticultural Association (past president and Life Member)
• York County Farm and Natural Lands Trust (charter member and first president)
• Penn State Extension Service (Board pres.)
• 4-H Center Endowment (Board Chairman)
• York County Agriculture Business Council
• York County Community Foundation Agricultural Advisory Committee
• York County Chamber of Commerce Board
• Jacobus Lion’s Club (50 year member)
• Jacobus Lions’ Ambulance Club (50 year Ambulance volunteer and leader)
• Loganville Volunteer Fire Company (51 years and still serving)
• Fire Chief and Assistant Chief (20 years)
Stan has been the recipient of the following awards:
• York Co. Outstanding Farm Family
• York County Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year
• PA Master Farmer award
• PA State Horticultural Association’s Grower of the Year
• Lion’s International Melvin Jones Award
• Paul Harris Rotary International Fellow
• Sertoma Service to Mankind Award 2007
• Dallas-town Area High School 2nd annual Honorary Diploma
Donna Coleman, CherryCrest Adventure Farm
My name is Donna Coleman. My husband Jack and I own and operate Cherry Crest Adventure Farm. We started our business with just a corn maze in 1996 and have grown each year. We now have over 40 activities on our farm and annually host 80,000 guests or more. I am responsible for the day to day operations for merchandising, cash registering, accounting and scheduling of more than 150 employees.
Jack Coleman, CherryCrest Adventure Farm
My wife Donna and I own and operate Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, along with the help of our children. In 1996 we ventured into agritainment while operating our Dairy farm. Today we no longer have the dairy, but have a cattle, poultry and crop operation along with our every expanding agritainment business.
Garth Ellms, Ellms Family Farm
I graduated from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI in 2005 with a degree in Entrepreneurial Studies. I chose this degree with the possible thought of returning to the farm but more or less starting my own business. While in school I had a DJ/Entertainment business back home along with rental properties so it was inevitable that I would be returning home. Instead, after graduating I went to work for 7-Eleven, INC as a District Manager and that lasted about a year and then it was the BIG move back home. I took a job as a Financial Advisor and was able to help out around the farm on the weekends. After being completely miserable for 2.5 years I left my job and it was back to the farm for good, KINDA!!
In my presentation I will be covering the following topics:
• My involvement in the family farm growing up and how it benefited my life
• Tailoring my College experience to be able to continue to be part of the farm
• How I worked my way back into the farm
• How I make money (I am not a paid employee)
• My job descriptions and new ventures
• The dynamics of my family and the future of the farm
Kerry Engel, Alberta Ag & Food
Dave Fleming, Shady Brook Farm
Dave Fleming graduated from the University of Delaware in 1990 with a degree in Ag Business Management. After graduation he went back to help manage his families farm at Shady Brook Farm in Yardley, Pa. The business has grown in many facets offering full garden center, full deli and farm market. The farm also specializes in Special Events. The farm offers a drive Thru Holiday Light Show, haunted event called Horrorfest, PumpkinFest and many other smaller events. In 2008 Shady Brook was hired by Del Val College to manage another store in Doylestown, Pa called The Market at Del Val College. This market offers a Garden Center, a full fledged kitchen and a farm market along with pumpkin patch and some smaller events. Dave is married to his wife Samantha and has 4 kids. Boy/ Girl twins that are 6 (Liam and Kiera), Nora who is 4 and Sean who 18 months. Dave wants to Thank NAFDMA for all learning they have provided him over the last 19 years in business.
Fred Funk, Funk's Farm Market & Garden Center & F& F Consulting
Fred Funk, President of Funk’s Farm Market & Garden Center, Inc., was born and raised in Lancaster County, PA. He began his agricultural career at a young age by selling produce at farmer’s markets. In 1963, at the age of 18, he founded Funk’s Farm Market as a one-man operation. Today the market has gained 14 major additions and 130 employees. It has transitioned from a shoe box income to a $4.8 million farm market and garden center. Over his 40+ years in the horticultural industry, Mr. Funk has been active in the agricultural community. He was active on the Board of Directors for the PA Certified Farm Market Association for 13 years, serving as President for eight years. He also served on the Department of Agriculture’s PA Vegetable and Marketing Executive Committee for nine years. In addition to his involvement in the agricultural community, his peers have recognized him for his outstanding achievements in the farm market field. He was recognized nationally on the cover of American Vegetable Grower in 1971 and received the first Farm Market Hall of Fame award in 1976. Most recently, Funk’s implemented the first European high tunnel in the United States in order to grow early strawberries. This venture was funded in part by a research grant from the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers. After his years of experience, Mr. Funk wants to put that experience to work in order to help other up-and-coming businesspeople achieve the success he has enjoyed. To accomplish this goal, he has started a consultation business known as F & F Consultants. Through this business, Mr. Funk hopes to provide the agricultural community with an invaluable resource and support. F & F Consultants is designed to provide farm market and garden center owners with the knowledge and plans they need to build and operate a farm market or garden center successfully.
Kiersten Gates, Kurtz Orchards
Kiersten has been in a management position at Kurtz Orchards and Kurtz Culinary Creations for over 14 years. Her responsibilities include managing the point of sale system, receiving and managing inventory, managing team members and leading team incentive programs. Her favorite tasks include traveling to and buying at international food shows.
Martha Glass, North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Martha Glass organized the Agritourism Office in the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in 2003. She provides resources and consultation for farmers wanting to add agritourism options and assists existing agritourism farms with information to grow and enhance their farms. As Executive Director of the NC ANA, organized in 2005, she provides member with industry trends and assists in organizing workshops. Prior to becoming manager of the Agritourism Office, she was director of Public Affairs in the Agriculture Department of Administration, appointed to that position by the Governor after serving as his Executive Secretary for four years. She previously worked in public relations roles at a local utility's nuclear plant. She earned a BA in English from Westhampton College, University of Richmond, Virginia in 1966 and a Masters of Public Administration in 1975 from NC State University.
Jonny Hewitt, Red House Farm
Jonny Hewitt (35) is the Director of Fun & Chaos of Red House Farm, a family run tenanted farm based in the North West of England. The core business is the farm shop and tea rooms and seasonal events such as Easter, Summer Maize Maze and Halloween. The business also supplies fruit to offices on a weekly basis, run cooking demonstration evenings and also work with organizations to promote healthy eating. Jonny is married to Steph and has a little boy Monty. In his spare time he is also the Current Chairman for the Cheshire region of the National Farmers Union.
Anne Just, Kurtz Orchards/Kurtz Culinary Creations
Anne Just of Kurtz Orchards in Niagara-on-the-Lake is a third generation agricultural marketer. In recent years, she has been able to marry her love for the land with her passion for detailed and innovative food presentations. Her responsibilities include developing new specialty food products, designing new labels, marketing two retail food destinations (one urban and one rural), and creating "land to table" culinary events and presentations. Presently, Anne serves as a Board of Director on the Niagara Culinary Trail and the Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association. Kurtz Orchards has been awarded the Premier of Ontario Award for Agri-Food Excellence.
Rob Leeds, Leeds Farm & Ohio State University Extension
Harry McHugh, WAWA
Henry (Harry) J. McHugh emigrated from his native Galway in 1961, at the age of seventeen. He went to work, served as a non-commissioned officer in the New York National Guard, and went to school at night. He joined the early generation of software developers in the U.S. Harry served as a software consultant on Governor Rockefeller's NYSIIS (New York State Identification and Intelligence System) and later on NASA's Logistics System. He joined Wawa, Inc. in 1973 as their first Systems Director. Harry subsequently served as Strategic Planning Director, Vice President of Real Estate, Senior Vice President of Operations and Senior Vice President of Human Resources. Since retiring on 12/31/2008, Harry is now serving in a consulting role as Wawa’s Cultural Ambassador. He received his MBA from The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania in 1979. Harry serves as Chairman of the South Eastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) Chapter of the American Red Cross, is a member of The Board of Trustees of Immaculata University and The Board of Governors of the Food Marketing Institute at St. Josephs University. Harry is married to Mag, the love of his life for 40 years. They have two sons, Peter and Fintan, who are both practicing attorneys in the Philadelphia area. They are blessed with two beautiful grandchildren, Fionnuala and Ronan.
Hugh McPherson, Maize Quest Fun Park
Hugh McPherson, Maize Quest’s Maze Master, lives to help farmers be more profitable through entertainment innovation. While growing his own on-farm entertainment operation into a year-round enterprise, he has helped hundreds of farm operators build entertainment profit-centers using Maize Quest's games and attractions. Hugh and the Maize Quest Team believe on-farm profits start with quality attraction design.
Marcia Opp, The Spring House
After graduating from Penn State in agriculture business management, Marcia came back to the farm in 1986 just as The Springhouse (www.springhousemarket.com) started to move into the food service business. And move they did! Starting slowly with on farm food service they have continued to expand both on farm and special event food service catering. In 1997, Marcia’s sister, Jill cam back to the farm to assist with what was a just budding catering business. Today they specialize in off farm events from 25 to 1200 including events such as weddings, graduation parties and funerals.
Lynn Oreyzlo, Niagara Culinary Trail
Lynn Ogryzlo is a culinary activist, food writer, founder of the Niagara Culinary Trail and author of Niagara Cooks, from farm to table cookbook awarded the BEST LOCAL FOOD COOKBOOK IN CANADA and has taken Second Place in BEST LOCAL FOOD COOKBOOK IN THE WORLD. Lynn is a food and wine writer who has enjoyed numerous delectable dishes around the world, sniffed out the finest wines from dusty, dark cellars, has eaten from roadside stands, village delis and the finest restaurants with postage stamp sized kitchens, has enjoyed many a meal in people’s homes and tasted wines from sleepy barrels piled high in stately chateau’s. Lynn specializes in writing about culinary tourism showing readers that local food and wine is a delicious way to communicate and get to know a region.
Kelly Paxton, Vala's Pumpkin Patch
Director of Fun at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch
Kelly has worked for Vala’s for several seasons but for the last 4 years she has also worked year-round doing a wide variety of duties. She arranges the entertainment on the farm, from music to magicians as well as some local entertainers. She assists Jan Vala with the marketing and advertising. During the season Kelly will meet and handle the entertainers and assist them with their needs. Kelly is multi-talented and flexible; she may be planting flowers in the morning, teaching a mining tour and attend a marketing meeting in the afternoon. She loves to research new projects and will assist the Vala’s with implementation or decisions to be discussed. Kelly enjoys utilizing antiques and creative uses for farm implements and other unique items. She assists with the set dressing and retail displays for the fall season…. You can always find her in her spare time dusting the retail areas and facing the products…… Kelly has a high energy level and tries to brighten the room with a smile and positive energy!!! Kelly loves to brainstorm and share all of her tricks and tips…….
Carolyn Raasch, Carolyn's Country Cousins
Buddy and Carolyn are 5th generation farmers in the river bottoms of Missouri. Buddy and sons farm full-time growing food-grade corn and soybeans. The pumpkin patch was started in 1991 after a new highway opened up and their sons opened the corn maze in 2004 after returning home from college. All of the family members have been involved in the farmers markets since 1987. They have 4 children, Errie - age 28 and his wife Nikki and daughter Kaeli, Bernie, age 26, Lillie, age 19, and Charlie - age 14.
Stewart Ramsey, Ramsey's Farm
Stewart Ramsey is the Operator of Ramsey's Farm (Wilmington DE) I grew up on a diversified, dairy, grain, and hay farm. Following graduation from the University of Delaware in 1985 I farm full-time briefly and then took a job a agricultural economist. After a few years in the "Working World" I returned to farming on a part-time basis. Today I farm about 70 acres with the focus being a 12 to 14 acre U-pick pumpkin patch and a similar size corn maze. The remainder of our land is used to produce premium quality hay for horses.
John Roba, Roba Family Farms
My name is John Roba. My wife, Susan and I own and operate Roba Family Farms which is a first generation family farm in Dalton, PA. We started our business planting trees in 1984. In 1990 we opened our doors to the general public to sell our trees. In 1993 we ventured into the pumpkin business strictly as a marketing tool to promote our trees. We started out as a small business and have grown each year. We currently farm 100 acres of trees and 40 acres of pumpkins and fall crops.
Mark Saunders, Saunders Farm
Dr. Joe Schwarcz, McGill University Office for Science and Society
Joe Schwarcz (PhD McGill 1973) is Director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society which is dedicated to demystifying science for the public, the media and students. Dr Schwarcz also teaches a variety of courses with emphasis on health issues and on the application of chemistry to everyday life. He is well known for his informative and entertaining public lectures on topics ranging from the chemistry of love to the science of aging. Using stage magic to make scientific points is one of his specialties. Professor Schwarcz has received numerous awards for teaching chemistry and for interpreting science for the public. Among these are the Royal Society of Canada’s McNeil Award and the American Chemical Society’s prestigious Grady-Stack Award. Previous winners of the Grady-Stack have included famed science writer Isaac Asimov, New York Times columnist Walter Sullivan and Don Herbert of TV’s “Mr. Wizard” fame. Dr. Schwarcz is the only non-American ever to be honored with this prize. His latest award is the Royal Canadian Institute’s Sandford Fleming Medal. Dr. Schwarcz was also awarded an honorary Doctorate degree by Athabasca University in the spring of 2002. “Dr. Joe” has appeared hundreds of times on the Canadian Discovery Channel, TV Ontario, Global Television, CBC-TV, CTV-TV and various radio stations. He hosts the "Dr. Joe Show" on Montreal's CJAD and Toronto’s CFRB every Sunday from 3-4 PM. He hosted “Science To Go,” a 13 episode show on the Discovery Channel that focused on common foods. Dr. Schwarcz writes a weekly newspaper column in the Montreal Gazette entitled “The Right Chemistry” as well as a monthly column in Canadian Chemical News. He was the chief consultant on the Reader’s Digest best sellers “Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal” and “The Healing Power of Vitamins, Minerals and Herbs” and contributed the chemistry chapter to the best-selling “Mental Floss.” His books “Radar, Hula Hoops and Playful Pigs,” “The Genie in the Bottle,” “That’s The Way The Cookie Crumbles,” “Dr. Joe and What You Didn’t Know,” “The Fly in the Ointment” and “Let Them Eat Flax” have been best sellers. The books have been translated into five languages and are sold around the world. His recent work are "An Apple a Day" and "Brain Fuel".
Lise Stewart, Galliard Group, LLC
Lisë Stewart, Managing Director of Galliard Group, a consulting firm specializing in working with family owned and closely held businesses, is a popular and nationally recognized speaker who is well known for her advocacy and training for family businesses. Lisë will draw upon her 20+ years of experience to share practical advice for ensuring the sustainability of a family business as it passes from one generation to the next and ways to maintain its value in our competitive economy.
Lisë offers case studies, humor and practical, no-nonsense advice that make the information accessible and realistic for audience members. She is a consultant to the National Manufacturing Extension Program as they strive to develop programs to aid family-owned businesses. Her background is in organizational psychology and small business and she is the author of numerous articles on the sustainability of family businesses. Lisë has been a keynote speaker on topics pertaining to family businesses nationally and internationally for over 20 years.
Contact Information:
Lisë Stewart, Managing Director
lstewart@galliardgroup.com
Office: 208 433 9353
Direct: 208 867 6251
Galliard Group Headquarters: 950 W. Bannock, Suite 1100, Boise ID 83702
Administrative Assistant: Steven Kertes, skertes@galliardgroup.com
Jackie Tate, Tate Farms Cotton Pickin' Pumpkins
Jackie Tate is Catering and Special Events manager of family owned Agritourism operation in North Alabama. She, along with her husband Steve, and his family have been involved in Agritourism for 15 years. They are a pick your own pumpkin operation open 6 weeks in the fall, from late September through October 31. Monday - Friday during school hours are for by reservation only field trips for preschool through 2nd grade. Weekday afternoons and Saturdays are Fall Family fun time. Focus on the Special Events at the farm began about 4 years ago, with the completion of our Entertainment party barn. Our barn is heated and cooled, allowing us to host events year around. These events include but are not limited to: wedding rehearsal parties, weddings and receptions, corporate events, family reunions, birthday parties for all ages and general parties. Tate Farms has a commercial kitchen inspected by the local health department, owns their own tables and chairs, linens and many decorative items for rent.
Eric Voll, Soergel's Orchards and Garden Center
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