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September 2014

 

 

It's time to register for the Alaska Farm Bureau Events in Homer! 


 

The registration form for the Friday Forum conference and Annual Meeting are now available on our website at: http://akfb.fb.org/friday-forum-registration. You can register by mail or online. 

 

The agendas for both the Friday Forum conference and the Annual Meeting are there as well.

 

The Early Bird registration fee for the Friday Forum conference ends on October 12th.  The registration fee includes a choice of soup and grilled chicken green salad or roast chicken.  After October 12th, the registration fee is $35.00. 


 

Remember these dates: 


 

Thursday, November 13th:  Free workshop "Advocate From the Farm Gate". Advocacy and Social Media for your farm and your farm business.


 

The workshop begins at 7:00 p.m.  Although there is no cost, please indicate you will be attending on the registration form.  Seating is limited due to the size of the room.


 

Friday, November 14th:  Friday Forum conference, Awards Banquet and Scholarship Auction.


 

Saturday, November 15th:  Annual Meeting.


 

Now is the time to make your hotel reservations.  Land's End Resort has reserved a block of rooms for us.  These will be released on September 30th.  After that date, rooms depend on availability.  Whether you make your hotel room reservation prior to the September 30 deadline or after, please tell them you are with the Alaska Farm Bureau.  The price we pay for our meeting rooms on all three days depends on how many hotel rooms are reserved for our events.  To make hotel reservations:  Telephone:  907-235-0400. 

 

Please read the rest of this newsletter for important news related to Alaska Agriculture. 


Happy Trails.....


Jane Hamilton
Executive Director
Alaska Farm Bureau


Life is Short - Eat Good Food - The Best Is Always Alaska Grown


 

 
 
EARN A FREE TRIP TO HOMER IN NOVEMBER!

Members who enroll five (5) new members earn travel and two nights to the Alaska Farm Bureau's Friday Forum conference and Annual Meeting in Homer on November 14th and 15th! Just be sure that your name is on their membership application to receive credit for enrolling them.  

Several members are well on their way as they have already enrolled new members.  

 

                                               Homer is beautiful in November!

 


SALCHA AG LAND BIDS DUE OCTOBER 17TH


 

The Division of Agriculture is selling a 100-acre parcel of agriculture land near Salcha. Bids will be accepted until October 17th, with the winning bid determined on the 22nd.  The land will be sold by sealed bid. The minimum bid - established by a fair-market value appraisal - is $40,500. Bidders must include 5% of their bid as a down payment, which will be returned if their bid is not accepted.

 

The land is subject to a 10-acre clearing requirement and agricultural covenant, which state that all activities must be agriculture or related in nature.  The land is in Salcha.  It accessed via Country Road, opposite the Richardson Highway from Harding Lake.  It is flat, with some wetlands and good soil. 


 A brochure describing the parcel is online at dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/landsale.  Copies of the brochure are available at the Fairbanks and Anchorage DNR Public Information Centers, the Division of Agriculture offices in Fairbanks and Palmer and placed around locations in Salcha, Delta Junction and Fairbanks. Call 374-3716 for brochure locations. Potential purchasers are encouraged to thoroughly review the sale brochure and personally inspect the parcel before bidding. 

 

For more information on the parcel, on bidder qualifications and auction procedures please see the brochure or contact any of the DNR Public Information Centers or the Division of Agriculture offices in Fairbanks or Palmer. 


 

ARRC - Lending to Farmers Is Our Business

 

Line of Credit loans for all farm-operating costs. (3 years) Chattel loans for equipment new or used (5 years on used 7 years on new). 
 

Real Estate loans for purchase or improvements to land (up to 20 years.)

 

All loans are 5 to 9 percent interest depending on credit and collateral.  Call Steve at 907-745-3390 or email at steve@arrc.us. 


 

FREE ADMISSION TO ALASKA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION CENTER DURING FRIDAY FORUM WEEKEND 

 

Wood bison at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Photo Credit AKWC.org

Mike Miller is offering free admission to the 

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Portage for Alaska Farm Bureau members as you travel to and from Homer for the Alaska Farm Bureau's November events. Regular admission price is $12.50 for adults. 


 The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Alaska's wildlife through public education, conservation, and quality animal care to displaced, orphaned and injured animals.  The center provides up close viewing of a great variety of animals such as moose, wood bison, elk, musk oxen, bears, caribou, black-tailed deer, lynx, and others along with Snickers, the popular porcupine.  Be sure to visit their gift store as well. 


 Mike is the founder and Executive Director of the Conservation Center as well as an active Alaska Farm Bureau member. Be sure to take advantage of his generous offer! Thank you Mike!! 

 


   


 

EXHIBITOR/VENDOR SPACE REGISTRATION FOR HOMER

 

We are accepting reservations for the Alaska Farm Bureau's Friday Forum and Annual Meeting at Land's End Resort in Homer on November 14th and 15th.

 

There are 10 tables available inside the meeting for your display on both days.  It is expected that you will be able to set up on Thursday evening, November 13th.

 

Tables are $75/for Farm Bureau members and $100 for non-members.  Click here for registration form. You can pay for your table by mail or online using this link:

 

Friday Forum Vendor Reservation


ALASKA FARM BUREAU PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

Photo credit: Nancy Tarnai

 

  There is still plenty of time to take  some picturesque scenes around your farm, ranch, farmers markets, and your garden. 


 

The deadline to submit photos is October 1st. 

 

Don't forget about your children or livestock either! 

 

There are three categories:  

  • Farm Animals, 
  • Farm Scenery, and 
  • Country Children

A $100 first prize will be awarded in each category.  Those attending the Friday Forum and Annual Meeting in Homer on November 14th and 15th will select the "People's Choice" from among all the photographs entered.  That winner will also be awarded $100.00.

 

Photographs will be judged on the following criteria:  creativity, originality and human interest.  

 

The photographs should be digital and e-mailed to AKFB executive director janehamilton99737@yahoo.com.  

 

Photos can also be mailed to PO Box 760 Delta Junction AK 99737.  The deadline is October 1st.  

 

Copies of the photographs may be used by the Alaska Farm Bureau to promote agriculture in our membership brochures, website and Facebook.  Credit will be given to the photographer if their photo is used.

 


 
AKFB CLASSIFIED ADS

 

Fairbanks Farm For Sale:  Arctic Roots Farm and Bed and Breakfast at 1293 Esro Road, off Chena Hot Springs Road.  The parcel includes 25 acres of brome grass, 30 acres of birch forest, a 1-acre moose proof orchard/garden, a 20'x 48' high tunnel and a 20' x 48 greenhouse with drip irrigation.  There are 3 homes - a farmhouse and two modern homes which are used as an agra-tourism bed and breakfast, a large shop with a heated utility room, a large barn with sheep handling corrals, a chicken coop, root cellar, and 30 acres with a 5' stock fence.  Contact owner Chris DuBois at 907-750-1514 for more information.  It is listed with Joe Russo at Russo Reality.  Joe can be reached at

907-460-8555.

 

Rams for Sale:  Black Welch Mountain rams.  Very gentle.  $300 each.  Nancy Davidian and Chris DuBois, Arctic Roots Farm.  Contact them at 907-750-1514.

 

Land For Sale:  70 acres in Salcha.  It has Richardson Highway frontage and is near Milepost 315.  There is a small stream on the property.  $42,000.  Contact Ann Geise at 907-895-4466.

 

Wanted:  Locally Grown Food:  The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies hosts a number of camps and overnight programs at our Peterson Bay Field Station throughout the course of the summer.  We provide meals for participants during the programs and would like to source more of our food locally and sustainably.  The Center is a 501 c 3 environmental education organization in Homer.  It was established in 1982.  E-mail Melanie@akcoastalstudies.org for more information. 

Telephone: 907-235-6667.

 

Vendors for Center Market Wanted:  The Center Market at The Mall at Sears in Anchorage is looking for vendors with unique Alaska Grown or produced products.  The Center Market is a year round, indoor farmers market.  We are looking for vendors to join us on Wednesdays for this spring.  We will start our Saturday market in August.  For more information, e-mail Alex Davis at adfarmorganic@gmail.com.

 

For Sale:  2008 Dodge 3500 Pickup.  4 door crew cab, 6.7 l inline diesel engine, turbo charger, duel rear wheels.  Black with Leer Topper.  5th wheel attachment, 6 speed automatic.  Excellent condition with all the bells and whistles. Super chip included.  151,000 miles.  Please call Jeannie Pinkelman in Delta Junction at 907-895-4006 or 895-4594.

 

Updated:  Farm for Sale in North Pole:  A 9 acre farm/tourism lodge at 2100 Nelson Road in North Pole.  See photos at Stars and Stripes or Madden real estate sites.  A 20'x40' attached, insulated greenhouse, fully landscaped grounds, tree nursery, large vegetable garden (only natural fertilizers used), pasture, woods in blueberries and cranberries.  There is a 2-story log lodge, Greatland triple-pane windows, stainless commercial kitchen, 2-bed, three bath, covered porches, and gazebo.  Good well water.  $299,000.  Two additional acres with airstrip access available.  Website:  chenalakesfarm.com.  Contact Tracy Pulido at info@chenalakesfarm.com.

 

Price Reduced: 40 Acres for Sale in North Pole:  Gorgeous parcel that is a mix of large spruce, birch, willow and grassland.  East borders Chena Lake Recreation Area at the end of Repp Road in North Pole.  Great spot for farm, rural estate or hunting/fishing aurora-viewing lodge.  Can be subdivided into 5-acre lots.  Short walk to river or lake.  Road access, power about � mile away.  Very private, but easy access to town.  Owner financing is available.  $99.000 OBO.  Contact Tracey Pulido at info@chenalakesfarm.com.  See photos on Fairbanks Craigslist.

 

 

Classified Ads ARE FREE to Alaska Farm Bureau Members.  Submit your ad to the newsletter editor at janehamilton99737@yahoo.com
or phone 907.803.4752.

 WHAT'S GOING ON

 

  

September 30th:  Deadline for Forage Crop Insurance.  Policies are available in Fairbanks North Star, Kenai Peninsula, Matanuska-Susitna, Southeast Fairbanks, and Valdez-Cordova borough.  Visit with your crop insurance agent to learn specific detail for the 2015 crop year.  A list of agents is available at all USDA Service Centers or at the Risk Management website at: www3.rma.usda.gov/tools/agents.

 

September 30th:  Deadline to make your hotel reservations with Land's End Resort at the discounted rate for the Alaska Farm Bureau Friday Forum and Annual Meeting.  Call them at 907-235-0400 or 1-800-478-0400. Be sure to mention that there is a block of rooms reserved under the name Alaska Farm Bureau when making your reservation in order to receive the discount.

 

End of September/October:  Distribution of applications for the Organic Certification Cost-Share Assistance Program.  Applications will be distributed through Barbara Hanson at the Division of Agriculture.  Contact her at 907-761-3854 or Barb.Hanson@alaska.gov.

 

October 1st:  Photo Contest entries due.

 

October 1st:  Ballots will be mailed to vote for the candidate to represent your chapter on the Alaska Farm Bureau Board of Directors. 

 

November 13th: Workshop:  "Advocate From the Farm Gate." No charge, but space is limited, so reserve you space on to the registration form for Homer events.  Workshop begins at 7:00 p.m. at Land's End Resort in Homer. 

 

November 14th: Friday Forum Conference, Awards Banquet and Scholarship Auction at Land's End Resort in Homer.

 

November 15th: Alaska Farm Bureau's Annual Meeting in Homer, Alaska.


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FARM BUREAU MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

 

Join the Alaska Farm Bureau and SAVE!  

 

Members of the Alaska Farm Bureau receive MANY great benefits, just for being a member!  

 

Click here to see a complete listing of benefits offered to our fabulous members!  


 

Membership is only $40 a year! Join today and support Alaska agriculture!