! Facilitating value chain development without costly new infrastructure - an NGFN webinar Jan 22nd webinar Bringing you four different opportunities to make good on your New Year resolution to spend more time on professional development... Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser<http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=38f3faf377&e=c0f3995a83>. [The National Good Food Network]<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=71889c70c4&e=c0f3995a83> National Good Food Network Webinar Talk Is Cheap … and Efficient Facilitating value chain development without costly new infrastructure Thursday, January 22 3:30 - 5:00pm ET (12:30 - 2:00 PT) Free! Register Now<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=59c136f341&e=c0f3995a83> Let's face it: food hubs are sexy! So are other Good Food infrastructure projects, such as region-scaled meat processing plants. And for good reason: these businesses are often filling gaps or bottlenecks in regional and local food systems. However, sometimes it's not a LACK of infrastructure that leads to bottlenecks; it is incomplete or inefficient USE of the infrastructure that stymies the system. "Value Chain Coordinators" are people who work to connect the dots in a value chain. They ensure the right people, goods and resources connect with each other. Most often value chain coordinators work outside day-to-day business operations, a vantage point that offers a unique perspective on the optimal solutions in a regional market. Join us for this expanded webinar diving deep into the approaches people across the country are taking to improve the food system without costly new infrastructure. Ann Karlen, Fair Food; Todd Erling, Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corp.; Steve Warshawer, La Montanita Coop; Lauren Gwin, Niche Meat Processors Assistance Network; Debra Tropp, USDA Moderator: Jim Barham, USDA Reserve your spot - click here<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=93f0649faf&e=c0f3995a83> ________________________________ ________________________________ And Don't Miss This!! Farm to School Toolkit and Webinar Series Brought to you by: Colorado Farm to School Started Jan 6, but catch the rest of the webinars! Learn more and REGISTER NOW!<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=caa8a21dd5&e=c0f3995a83> [https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125/images/b40e7818-0f3b-4cf2-b834-8adaef1331a8.png] The Farm to School Evaluation Toolkit The Farm to School Evaluation Toolkit<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=c5efb5badc&e=c0f3995a83>, created by the Colorado Farm to School Task Force<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=1bdb32e33c&e=c0f3995a83> and Spark Policy Institute<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=88d042f057&e=c0f3995a83>, is a resource to help farm to school programs of all sizes, in all states, undertake evaluation. Evaluation can serve many purposes for farm to school programs, including enabling implementers to demonstrate program success or progress. Evaluation information collected allows users to better communicate program impact to funders, parents, school leadership, and other stakeholders. Evaluation can be a tool to recruit new funders. It can also be useful for program improvement. The FTS Evaluation Toolkit provides simple, straightforward information about how to design and implement evaluations of school gardens and other farm to school activities. In a succinct ten pages, the FTS Evaluation Toolkit Guide walks users through each step of the evaluation process, including how to prepare for an evaluation, identify outcomes, select and adapt measurement tools, complete an evaluation plan, implement an evaluation plan, and use evaluation results. The Farm to School Evaluation Toolkit Webinar Training Series The FTS Evaluation Toolkit Webinar Training Series<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=f9cb99f2b1&e=c0f3995a83> is a free five-week webinar training series that guides participants through the evaluation process and provides them with knowledge and tools to implement evaluations of FTS programs. Each webinar runs for one hour and covers a specific evaluation topic, including Toolkit Overview and Evaluation Plan Design; Outcomes, Indicators, and Measures; Choosing and Adapting Tools; Collecting and Analyzing Data; and Reporting Evaluation Results. Upon completion of the webinar series, participants will have a better understanding of the evaluation process, the resources needed to undertake an evaluation, and access to tools to implement an evaluation. Benefits of attending the live series include: * Eligible for five contact hours of continuing education credits * Participation in the FTS Evaluation Toolkit Google Group for peer-to-peer learning * Up to four hours of free technical assistance to plan/implement your FTS evaluation * Ability to interact with trainers and participants on the webinar Sign up<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=6e836585b3&e=c0f3995a83> for the Winter/Spring 2015 series today! [http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-facebook-128.png] Like us on Facebook<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=d836fb5b69&e=c0f3995a83> [http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-twitter-128.png] Follow on Twitter<https://www.twitter.com/ngfn/> [http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-forwardtofriend-128.png] Forward to a Friend<http://us1.forward-to-friend1.com/forward?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=38f3faf377&e=c0f3995a83> [https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125/images/ee070e86-bbe7-480e-8809-a7b340ea61e8.gif] Later this Winter... A Look Back, A Path Forward: Lessons Learned from the Food Hub Vanguard, Volume 1 Feb 19 3:30 - 4:45p ET Register now!<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=fc02888cb7&e=c0f3995a83> Grasshoppers Distribution in Louisville, KY was in the vanguard of innovative food hubs. After seven years and directing over $2.25 million into the hands of local farmers and food entrepreneurs, they closed their doors in Dec 2013. Join us for this deep dive looking at their many transitions within its lifetime including changes in business model and leadership. Register now!<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=900663454d&e=c0f3995a83> [http://gallery.mailchimp.com/653153ae841fd11de66ad181a/images/transparent.gif] And in the Spring... The Million Dollar Question: Breakeven and viability for different food hub models Mar 19 3:30 - 4:45p ET Register now!<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=c3f563445e&e=c0f3995a83> How much volume does it take for a food hub to be a viable business? Food hub managers, planning commissions, funders, support organizations, economic development commissions and investors are all asking this same question! Of course this is difficult to answer with a single number since there are diverse food hub models and management structures. And context matters : the region of the country, urban vs. rural, and others. This webinar peers in the operations and financial books of several illustrative examples of different hypothetical hubs to tease apart those “magic numbers” – where each model reaches profitability, and true viability. Register now!<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=39fcaccf40&e=c0f3995a83> follow on Twitter<https://www.twitter.com/ngfn/> | forward to a friend<http://us1.forward-to-friend1.com/forward?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=38f3faf377&e=c0f3995a83> Copyright © 2015 Wallace Center at Winrock International, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email on behalf of the Wallace Center at Winrock International. Our mailing address is: Wallace Center at Winrock International 2121 Crystal Drive Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22202 Add us to your address book<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage1.com/vcard?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=11f12f3497> ngfn.org<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=df9d3edb5d&e=c0f3995a83> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> www.wallacecenter.org<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=22a379415e&e=c0f3995a83> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> www.winrock.org<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=b009b314c9&e=c0f3995a83> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> ________________________________ The Wallace Center supports entrepreneurs and communities as they build a new, 21st century food system that is healthier for people, the environment, and the economy. The Center builds and strengthens links in the emerging chain of businesses and civic efforts focused on making good food—healthy, green, fair, affordable food—an everyday reality in every community. Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people in the United States and around the world to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources. ________________________________ Not on our email list? Sign up here!<http://wallacecenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=e5f76f0349&e=c0f3995a83> view email in browser<http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=f6e853d37c1ed4db967a79125&id=38f3faf377&e=c0f3995a83>