Networking and Training
The market ready program has been busy the last few weeks.
This last month and a half has sent us to a variety of different locals. We
have traveled to Huntington West Virginia to help support the extension office
there in a training event, visited Indianapolis for the Taste of Piazza
convention, and are currently working on updating and redesigning the market
ready website. All of this activity has been tiring but more than productive!
In this post we would like to recap some of these events and
discuss how participating in them as a producer can benefit your business
endeavors. We will take a look at the networking opportunities inherent in
being active in your industries events, such as the Taste of Piazza convention,
as well as the overall gains that can be made in brushing up on your business
savvy through attending a training event.
To begin let’s talk about what networking is and why it is
so important to a small scale producer who is trying to increase their share of
the market.
Technically the word networking is a verb, and is defined as
“connecting as or operating with a network; or, interacting with other people
to exchange information and develop contacts, especially to further one’s
career”. The last part of this definition is what should interest us the most,
and is indeed the manner in which we will use the term ‘networking’ in this
post. So we can see that someone who is using networking to their advantage is
in fact engaging in a physical activity, as well as a social one.
When you begin to network, time and energy are the currency
in which you will be dealing. In order to make sure you are spending those as
judiciously as possible ask yourself a few questions before engaging in
networking activities:
Once you are prepared, and find yourself at a networking
event, such as the Taste of Piazza convention the market ready crew visited, it’s
time to get to work. However, the most important thing to remember is that even
though you are there to advance yourself and others in the world of business,
being genuinely yourself, and enjoying the experience is extremely important. People
will respond better to you, and you will garner stronger relationships if you
are simply being yourself.
After the event has ended, look through the information you
have collected and decide what to prioritize, and what can wait. Once you have
determined the most important information, it is essential to follow up in a
meaningful way. This can be accomplished through a variety of activities: thank you cards, sending more information
about your company, connecting via social media, a phone call to place or take
orders…etc.
So why does networking matter, and why should we do it?
Networking provides you as a business person the opportunity
to meet people who you would otherwise never have crossed paths with. This can
benefit you in several different ways. The most obvious is providing you with
new customers. It can also introduce you to products and services which might
be useful to your own business operations. You might even find a market you
never knew existed! There are so many potential benefits to networking; just be
sure you approach the situation prepared and take full advantage of each new
situation. And above all else…HAVE FUN!
Attending conventions and mingling with other agricultural
types is a lot of fun, but the main goal of Market Ready is to host training
events. This is where our program really gets a chance to shine, and where you
as a producer can get the most benefit from our team.
Our most recent training event took place in Huntington,
West Virginia and was produced by Cindy Martel who is with the WV Department of
Agriculture. Cindy put on a fantastic day of market ready training! We heard
from a diverse group of buyers, and even got a visit from the WV Agricultural commissioner.
All in all the day was full of great information for producers and trainers
alike.
So what can you expect as a prospective Market Ready participant?
Here is an excerpt from our website detailing the Market Ready training program
experience:
“During our training, we work our way through the key
business functions listed above, and we discuss the differing needs buyers have
in restaurants, schools, and grocery/wholesale/retail businesses. We typically
have a guest speaker panel from 11:30 to 12:30 with buyers from restaurants,
schools, and/or grocery/wholesale/retail businesses. We also typically have
representatives from state organizations, such as KCARD and KDA, present on the
panel to inform farmers of helpful state resources and programs. Then we try to
provide a truly local lunch, with as much local food as possible, and for the
remainder of our time we
will cover the rest of the key business functions.”
If you are a producer who would like to advance the level at
which your business operates, and perhaps break into new and larger markets,
the Market Ready program is a great place to start. Be sure to keep an eye on
our website for updates and listings for the next training session.
Please, remember to like us on Facebook
and follow us on Twitter (@KyMarketReady)!
You can also find our website at: www.uky.edu/fsic/marketready
Thank you for joining us as we endeavor to extend knowledge
and change lives! See you next time.
