Request for Proposals: 2019 Farmland Access & Transfer Conference

Maine Farmland Trust and Land For Good are pleased to announce the Request for Proposals for our 5th annual Maine Farmland Access & Transfer Conference.Our Request for Proposals process is now open! We invite you to submit a session proposal for the largest conference in the region focused solely on land access, tenure and transfer.

The 2019 Farmland Access & Transfer Conference will happen on Monday, November 18 at the Augusta Civic Center in Augusta, Maine. The conference will provide a venue for a day of learning, discussions, and dialog, where participants will get an opportunity to grapple with the challenges of how to provide for a farm’s future when a farmer is ready to step back from the work, and how next generation farmers can position themselves to take on the stewardship of farmlands in transition and make their mark on the future of Maine and New England’s Farm and Food Systems.

The organizers are seeking proposals from prospective presenters and session organizers that can speak to the strategies and tools used to promote successful farmland access and transfer, as well as presentations that illuminate the ways in which these topics are shaping the future of our food system. We are looking for conference content that will provide targeted and practical information for a diverse audience of farm seekers, landowners (including non-farming landowners), agricultural service providers, and any combination of these conference participants.

Presenters are highly encouraged to develop programming focused on audience engagement and active participation rather than a lecture format. Instead of selecting specific proposals exactly as they come in, we expect to play a role in developing the agenda and shaping sessions so they meet conference goals. We want to hear your ideas and intentions for sessions, and do not expect the content to be fully developed. The committee will work with selected presenters to hone their ideas, connect them with other potential session panelists, and develop content that fits conference goals.

Please find more information and a link to the Request for Proposals to submit for consideration. A committee will review proposals and invite presentations. Proposals will be accepted through Monday, August 19. For those of you not currently working within the state, please know that your successes, program models, or case studies from across New England that have significance for Maine are of great interest.

Questions? Get in touch with Erica Buswell, ebuswell@mainefarmlandtrust.org