Here's a question; does anyone remember why we delayed our March get together until the second Tuesday of the month. Several of us do remember that we did make that choice but none of us could say why last night.
Our Guest Speaker was John Buffington from North Dighton, MA. John spoke about marketing from the farm. He highlighted several things for us to consider. The first was to develop a business Strategy. Then to identify your product line, followed by resolving to maintain a "consistency" in our products. If it is lamb shanks, don't substitute a Merino Shank into your Tunis Shank product line.......be consistent. John then led us through the thought process along the way to pricing and holding the price. What is the product, what markets are you after, where does your product fit in that market and can you differentiate your product to command higher pricing. When John finished, everyone seemed to have learned something to help in their own marketing efforts. Hats off to John Buffington!
Our Baaay State Blanket ladies are concerned that we may not have enough participation to make a go of it this year. Barbara Haberlin is going to poll the membership so make sure you answer the questions promptly. We need more producers who will continue to participate.
The April meeting is here at Greenwood Hill Farm and is our annual planning meeting. We hope to have the Farm Bureau folks here as well and it will a busy night. Make sure you come with some suggestions for next year's meetings.
Don't forget Nancy Miniter and her questionnaire; her May program is to bring all of that information together in an updated Resource Manual for each of us. If you need a copy of her questions, let her know and she can send you another.
Be sure to check out the "Resource" page on the web site. I am in the process of soliciting a fee from businesses whom choose to support our efforts in accordance with the fee schedule at the top of that page. Businesses on the page who do not desire to be listed will be removed. If you have a firm you do farm related business with that is not on the list let me know and we will try to get them on-board. When I am done, I will be reminding all of us to use these suppliers as they are the ones who are supporting our Sheep and Wool production.
Lamb and Wool prices are at an all time high. It's great to be a Shepherd!
