Building a Workshop

Linda Coffey, NCAT

Build it and they will come!

• Planning a successful workshop begins: – Respond to needs • Use Quickstart (ATTRA publication) as a fast survey • Note phone requests and visitor questions – Form a committee • 3 to 4 producers • 1 to 2 educators (Extension, NRCS, University, etc.)

Working with the committee. . .

• Decide on: – Date – Time (start and stop) – Location – Publicity plan • Plan Theme (focus of workshop) – For example: • Whole Farm Planning • Getting Ready for Breeding • Making Money with Sheep and Goats • Keeping Animals Healthy

Choose topics to support the theme

• You can use the Toolbox materials to help with this: – Toolbox presentations in the Toolbox folder may be used or adapted – Susan Schoenian folder contains further materials to use or adapt – Tennessee Master Goat Producers presentations may be used as is (do not modify; they are protected) – Start fresh, using these as examples – Build in discussion/visiting time – The Jeopardy game can be adapted to use as a review game – Printed materials may be used as needed – Quickstart (in Toolbox manual) serves as survey

Invite speakers to teach on the topics:

• Experienced local producers are an excellent choice • Other educators • Producer panel • (Be sure to tell them all the exact topic and the time limit! Allow for questions and breaks)

Other early decisions:

• Do you need sponsors? If so, who? Who will contact?

• Registration fee? If so, how much?

• Lunch provided, or lunch on your own?

– This will impact the need for sponsors and for registration fee – You lose time and attendance if you let the crowd go to lunch on their own • Publicity plan – Radio – Posted flyers (where?) – Craig’s List – Regional newspapers – Newsletters (Extension, 4-H, FB magazine…) – Listservs (for goat producers, graziers, etc.) – Email list (Extension)

About that flyer

• Who makes it?

• When is it circulated, and where?

• What information must it contain?

– – – – – – – – – workshop title topics date time (start and stop) place RSVP to ______ by ______. Registration fee $$______.

Sponsored by ________.

Lunch provided OR Lunch on your own Jazz it up with pictures and color!

Day of the event – Be sure you have:

• Adequate seating in a comfortable room • Microphone if size of crowd warrants • Refreshments • Equipment: LCD projector, laptop, screen, extension cord • Take-home materials • Sign-in sheet to build mailing list and to count participants • Master of Ceremonies to do speaker introductions and to keep program on time • Evaluation form • If possible, live animals for hands-on demonstrations when appropriate • Name tags?

Day of the event – Be sure you do:

• Introduce speakers • Allow for breaks • Give plenty of producer interaction time both in breaks and in the program (as with a panel discussion) • Stay on time!

• Be alert to crowd reaction to speakers and topics • Make notes for next time • LC opinion: a few door prizes are nice; too many eats up valuable education and networking time

After the event – Be sure you do:

• Evaluate – # attending – Reactions to speakers – Quality of presentations – Relevance/usefulness of presentations – Feedback from participants, both positive and negative – Evaluation form (if possible); keep it brief and anonymous • Meet with the planning committee – Capture their feedback from this event – Note ideas for a good theme or topics for the next one – What would they like to change? Location, time, length of topics, method of delivery?

– What would they like to keep?

After the event – Be sure you do:

• Make notes for your next event • Celebrate that you offered education to serve clients better!

• Thank you for helping to keep farming going in the United States! The work you do is important. If we can help you with printed materials to support your work, contact us at 800-346-9140 (ATTRA line) or email [email protected] or [email protected].

The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is a nonprofit organization that helps people and communities. NCAT champions small scale, sustainable and local solutions to reduce poverty, protect communities and promote natural resources. Since 1976, NCAT has weatherized houses, trained farmers, monitored energy use and demonstrated renewable technology. NCAT works on local and national projects that foster a healthy quality of life for everyone.