Events

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2024 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM PST

In 2023, Corvallis-Albany Farmers’ Markets sought the support of a business consultant to help create a transition plan for when its longtime market director Rebecca Landis steps down.

At this session, Rebecca will share progress and additional steps still needed to increase the likelihood of a smooth changeover. Transitions are not limited to organizations with long tenures, so she will explore common scenarios, including those involving smaller markets with more frequent changes.

OFMA's Market Innovation Showcase series invites Oregon farmers markets to share why and how they worked with consultants to acknowledge and address business challenges, channel ideas into strategy and planning, and change market operations and administration for the better. Here, we highlight best practices, share knowledge gained from experience, and discuss ideas for how to improve and develop our markets.

MONDAY, MAY 6, 2024 | 12:00 - 2:00 PM PST

Britt Urban will facilitate this training on how best to de-escalate someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis inside the marketplace. This could range from someone in mild distress to someone who has become more aggressive or threatening. The training will elaborate on the definition of crisis, break crisis into three stages, and explain how to intervene based on what stage of crisis is identified. The training also presents communication skills that are helpful and those that may hinder de-escalation efforts; safety tips; and how to manage your own stress and biases in order to remain calm and equipped to de-escalate. There will be written activities, personal reflections, and group work to provide opportunities for participants to discuss and practice their new skills.

Britt is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Portland, Oregon who has nearly 16 years of experience in the social work field. Her professional focus has been supporting trauma survivors and other vulnerable populations, including refugees and immigrants, domestic violence and sexual assault survivors, and those struggling with mental health and substance use challenges. Her work as a mental health crisis responder in recent years, both with the Washington County Crisis Team and later Portland Street Response, has provided her with the knowledge and skills to effectively respond to individuals experiencing crises and to de-escalate a variety of crisis situations. She currently works at OHSU Hospital assisting patients with complex needs in the inpatient setting, including by responding to behavioral and mental health crises that arise, and supporting families facing grief and loss.

This workshop will not be recorded, please plan to attend live. Materials and handouts will be emailed to attendees and posted to OFMA's website after the event.

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2024 | 11:00 AM - NOON

On the first Tuesday of each month, OFMA hosts a peer learning circle where market managers meet to discuss whatever is on their minds — we problem solve, exchange knowledge, ask and answer questions, and share experiences.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2024 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM PST

Last year, the Woodlawn Farmers Market sought a consultant to help them put together a market charter, workflow outlines, and other organizational documents for the board, with the intent of making joining the board more welcoming to new members.

At this session, Woodlawn board members will share out the charter and packet and make it available to any market to use as a template. They'll also cover what they learned in the process about working with a consultant, the challenges of documenting the information that has previously been held by experienced volunteers, and why they think this will help them grow and diversify our board.

TUESDAY, MAY 28 | 12:00 - 1:30 PM PST

Can there be too many farmers markets? How do you deal with a new event that feels like it's encroaching on your established market?

Let's talk about communication, cooperation and coalitions to increase the success of markets for everyone. We'll look at how a group of local market pros managed this kind of situation recently, and discuss how to stay ahead of conflicts and manage them if they arise.

Presented by Catt Fields White of Farmers Market Pros.

TUESDAY, JUNE 11 | 12:00 - 1:30 PM PST

As market managers we don't want to tell market vendors how to manage their businesses. Still, sharing what you've learned has worked for other vendors over the years can increase sales and solve problems.

How do you navigate offering encouragement and tips without seeming like you're criticizing or doubting their business expertise? In this session we'll talk about things to look for and ways to suggest solutions to improve your market participants' sales.

Presented by Catt Fields White of Farmers Market Pros.

MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2024 | 12:00 - 1:30 PM PST

Oregon’s Farm-Direct Marketing Law allows farmers to produce certain low-risk, value-added products (fruit spreads, pickled and lacto-fermented fruits and vegetables) from the produce that they grow and sell them directly to the consumer without having to obtain a processing license. The law was passed in 2011, and then amended in 2023 to include new products, new sales channels, and an increased sales limit.

Farmers market managers want to understand how to interpret the new law so that they can communicate the guidance to vendors who want to take advantage of the opportunity to expand their offerings and generate increased sales.

Join Kelly Streit with the OSU Extension Service, Family & Community Health Program to gain a working knowledge of the law – what qualifies, what doesn’t, and why; labeling requirements, additional resources, and who to ask when questions arise – ODA or OSU.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2024 | 11 - 1 PM PST

The digital world can be overwhelming! There’s so much to keep track of: websites, google, social media, and more. And so many questions: Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok - which platform is best for your market? How do you build engagement with a digital community that will create foot traffic and sales in real life? How do you use social media in the off-season?

In this workshop, Megan Bullock of Studio MESH, will cover best practices for managing your online presence, then dive deeper into social media. We’ll help you think through where to focus your energy to get the most fruitful return.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 10 | 12 - 1:30 PM PST

This training session is tailored for farmers' market leaders, including board members and market managers, who often navigate challenges of being over-stretched and under-resourced.

The focus is on core human resource (HR) areas that, if done well, can uplift, cultivate, and support your staff. The session addresses what you need to know about four key HR stages including recruitment, onboarding, retention, and departures. Each stage must be authentically aligned with your diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging journeys.

We will cover how making slight adjustments to your people approach can empower you to navigate ongoing HR challenges, improve your teams, and contribute to the overall success and sustainability of your farmers' market.

Presented by Nonprofit Association of Oregon, and human resources consultant Mark Kajitani.

THURSDAY, JULY 25 | 12 - 1 PM PST

In 2023 The Lane County Farmers Market sought a consultant to help solve the problem of inefficient and ineffective board meetings and other work processes through an examination of their organizational structure, board standards/practices, and staff and board communications.

At this session, Alexis and Meghan will share policy and board matrix templates, and organizational checklists. All the material will be available for any market to adopt and develop for their own use.

They'll cover how they received guidance in identifying their organizational structure and responsibilities of board members and staff, along with some coaching on improving board communications and increasing board efficiency by creating a 'board notebook', new director on-boarding orientations, and best meeting practices.