More than 200 people registered for the 11th annual Forum for Rural Innovation, breaking previous attendance records. The Forum is a cooperative educational effort by the Offices of Agricultural Economic Development and Cooperative Extension in Clarke, Fauquier and Loudoun Counties, Virginia; Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, West Virginia; and the Town of Berryville, Virginia. Current and prospective farmers from across the region travel to Winchester, Virginia to network and find out what is succeeding now, as well

as what the agriculture community is doing to ensure that farming continues to be successful in the future.

This year’s forum featured an exhibition room where attendees could sample or purchase products from Mock’s Greenhouse, Copper Fox Distillery and Stonehouse Meadery, among others. The program featured eight speakers and panels with subjects ranging from specific farming methods to liability insurance. Farmers shared success stories and offered tips to their colleagues.

One of the recurring themes of the event was that farming is a business, just like any other. While many people see farming as a family business passed down through generations, this is often no longer the case. In order to succeed in today’s world, farmers need to present their business plan and goals in a clear and professional manner. Caesar Layton, Founder of Cultivate Ventures, spoke about this at length, telling the audience that “one of the biggest mistakes that farmers make is not thinking of themselves as entrepreneurs.”

Clifton Slade, of the 43,560 Project, offered several tips for ag business success. He believes that farmers can follow his method and maximize profits by planting high-yield crops, which give them the ability to gross $1 per square foot of land. He also urged farmers to think about value-adds. For instance, his farmer’s market stand is brightly decorated and features pre-bagged vegetables. He also hired his nephews to shuck corn for his customers and carry heavier items to their cars. He said that even these simple changes have increased his weekly profit. Ultimately, however, Slade credits his success to quality, saying, “pretty sells; quality products bring repeat customers.”

Many farmers talked about the importance of location. Spirit makers credit D.C. for providing a great deal of business to their area farms. Rick Wasmund of Copper Fox Distillery thinks that he’s been so successful in part because “D.C. drinks 4x the whiskey per capita.” Scott Harris of Catoctin Creek Distilling Company has had enormous success at his newly-renovated Purcellville tasting room and credits Loudoun County’s appeal to tourists as a big reason why. Harris says that 80 percent of his visitors are D.C. residents who seek Loudoun out as a weekend destination. Both companies also do a strong wholesale business in the region and are served in many area restaurants.

The day ended with the presentation of Innovation Awards. Two of the three recipients were Loudoun businesses. Faith Like a Mustard Seed Farm in Leesburg offers humanely-raised meat, a farm store and a bed and breakfast in a beautiful 1850s-era setting. Moutoux Orchard in Purcellville offers a unique “whole diet” Community Supported Agriculture service. Running year-round, membership to this CSA gives you more than just the standard fruits and vegetables. Moutoux works with other area farms to provide its customers with meat, dairy, eggs and grain as well as produce from their orchard. The third Innovation Award Winner, Meadow Green Farm in Kearneysville, West Virginia operates 198 acres of hay and pasture land, and utilizes many innovative soil conservation and water quality practices.

Loudoun Economic Development Agricultural Development Officer Kellie Hinkle credits the continued success of the Forum with the diversity of attendees and topics presented, saying, “Participants were just as excited to hear about the advancements Virginia Tech is making with small grain breeding and genetics as they were about small-scale high-value vegetable production.” She continued, “The record registration and attendance is evidence of the vibrant entrepreneurism of farming in the Washington, D.C. metro region.”

Visit our SlideShare page for all of the presentations from this year’s Forum.

Learn more about our ag businesses on our website, and follow us on Facebook to see Forum for Rural Innovation photos.

Farm liability handout

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Post by Loudoun County Economic Development.