Breakout Sessions 1

• Fundamentals of Costing, Pricing, and Value, Wilson Hall A
  Making a food product that is new and interesting is the easy part. Next, we need to understand costing, overhead expenses, and setting your selling price so you make money. We’ll dive into each of these subjects and determine your unique value proposition. Join this workshop to learn the fundamentals of starting a food business from Peter Robertson, Food Brand Expert in Residence at the Food Finance Institute. (This workshop begins at 10:00 AM and ends at 11:45 AM)
  
  Speaker: Peter Robertson, Pasta Guru and Food Brand Expert in Residence, Food Finance Institute

• Slow Growth and Diverse Markets: Kaiserson Bee Company, Wilson Hall D
  Learn how Kaiserson Bee Company worked with the City of Eau Claire to allow urban apiaries in city limits, and how they now manage dozens of hive locations across the Chippewa Valley. Kaiserson Bee Company’s provides honey and infused products through its CSA and to other local markets. Thier partnerships with local producers have led to unique offerings like lavender, hot pepper, and tulsi honeys. The session also covers Kaiserson’s end-to-end processing practices and the cost structure of producing local honey.
  
  Speakers:
  • Drew Kaiser, Co-Founder, Kaiserson Bee Company
  • Cathryn Herlihey, Farm to Institution Specialist, UW-Madison Division of Extension

• Food Safety & Licensing in the County. What Does an Inspection Entail?, Wilson Hall F
  The county health department helps protect you and the public from harm, so you have a successful business. Learn from Nicole Kragness, Regulation and Licensing Division Manager for Eau Claire County, the services the county health department provides to food related business ventures, including inspections to help identify issues before they become problems that will harm your business.
  
  Speaker: Nicole Kragness, Regulation and Licensing Division Manager, Eau Claire City-County Health Department

• One-on-One Consultations, Wilson Hall E
  Ask questions and receive thoughtful feedback on your existing business or business idea.
  
  Consultant: Harlie Judes, Director, Small Business Development Center (SBDC) UW–Eau Claire

Breakout Sessions 2

• Fundamentals of Costing, Pricing, and Value, Wilson Hall A
  (This workshop began at 10:00 AM and ends at 11:45 AM)

• Unlocking Capital: Navigating funding options for small business owners, Wilson Hall F
  Kiva and other Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) offer funding options beyond traditional bank loans. Join this session to learn more about applying for loans and how CDFIs and gap funding can support small businesses at stages of development.
  
  Speakers:
  • Maysee Herr, PhD, Chief Executive Officer, Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce (HWCC)
  • Tobi LeMahieu, Fund Manager,Regional Business Fund, Inc
  • Isabella (Bella) Sgriccia, Kiva Capital Access Manager, Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)

• Library Resources: Field Trip to L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library
  *Attendees will meet in Wilson Hall Room D and then walk 374 feet to the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library for this field trip.*
  Explore the free business resources and services available at public libraries with UW–Madison Extension specialists and Eau Claire librarians. Discover the wide range of free resources available through libraries, universities, and open-access platforms, and gain hands-on experience using a library to find valuable information and access shared spaces. The tour will end with a hands-on experience in the RCU Dabble Box Makerspace, featuring equipment and supplies for button making, smart cutting machines, and 3D printing.
  
  Speakers:
  • Stephanie Schulz, Reference Services Coordinator, L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library
  • Stephanie Plaster, Farm Management Outreach Specialist, UW-Madison Division of Extension
  • Addison Vang, Hmong Community Food Systems Outreach Specialist, UW-Madison Division of Extension
• One-on-One Consultations, Wilson Hall E
  Ask questions and receive thoughtful feedback on your existing business or business idea.
  
  Consultant: Harlie Judes, Director, Small Business Development Center(SBDC) UW–Eau Claire

Breakout Sessions 5

• Creating the Next Business Venture and Marketing It, Wilson Hall A
  Paul McDonald, founder of McDonald Company, will share his experience with establishing multiple food, education and entertainment businesses, including Goldsmith Café & Coffee Bar, Five Star Catering, Big Man Fat Cookie, and Cow Caviar Cheese.
  Learn what to consider when starting a new venture and how to get the word out about it.
  
  Speaker: Paul McDonald, Serial Entrepreneur

• AI Solutions for Supplier Management, Wilson Hall D
  This session will explore how small food businesses can streamline supplier management and compliance with AI. We’ll discuss why supplier management is critical to address early, practical strategies to build and implement a strong supplier program, and how to enhance audit readiness through automation. Participants will also receive free resources to help get started!
  
  Speaker: Shangyanyan Li, Co-founder, BruceAI

• Growing your Business After Year One: Tootsie’s Tea, Wilson Hall F
  Join Lizz Tsosie Stachura in a conversation that explores the joys and challenges of expanding her small business, Tootsie’s Tea. Lizz will share her experience transitioning Tootsie’s Tea to a new warehouse, navigating city and county permitting processes, securing grants, scaling up production, and staying connected to community initiatives.
  
  Speaker: Lizz Tsosie Stachura, Owner, Tootsie’s Tea

• One-on-One Consultations, Wilson Hall E
  Ask questions and receive thoughtful feedback on your existing business or business idea.
  
  Consultants:
  • Jacob Haupt, Director of Business Development, Western Dairyland EOC, Inc.
  • Business Development Specialists of Western Wisconsin Women’s Business CenterOne-on-One Consultations

Breakout Sessions 6

• Workshop: Grant Writing 101, Wilson Hall F
  This workshop covers the basics of grant-writing, including key terms, best practices, and funding considerations when applying for grants.
  DATCP will share insights from a reviewer’s perspective, while Tootsie’s Tea will offer their experience as a small tea producer navigating the grant-writing process. Together, the speakers will provide valuable guidance and practical tips for successfully applying for grants.
  
  Speakers:
  • Grace Puc, Agriculture Program Specialist, Division of Agricultural Development, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture
  • Lizz Tsosie Stachura, Owner, Tootsie’s Tea

• Sprouting Solutions: Facilitated Peer Learning Session, Wilson Hall A
  This interactive, participant-driven session provides a structure for you to explore your own pressing questions and exciting opportunities in local food systems. Designed to foster peer learning and collaborative problem-solving, this session offers a facilitated space to connect, contribute, and learn from one another.(This workshop begins at 10:00 AM and ends at 11:45 AM)
  
  Speakers:
  • Cathryn Herlihey, Farm to Institution Specialist, UW-Madison Division of Extension
  • Garret Zastoupil, PhD, Community and Leadership Development Educator, UW-Madison Division of Extension

• Direct-to-Consumer Point of Sale Systems: More Than Just a Card Reader, Wilson Hall D
  If you don’t have a POS system yet, or are only using it to run credit cards, this session will dive into setting up your system to capture valuable information that can create powerful reports to help you make production and sales decisions.
  
  Speaker: Anna Thomas, Farm Finance Specialist, Food Finance Institute
• One-on-One Consultations, Wilson Hall E
  Ask questions and receive thoughtful feedback on your existing business or business idea.
  
  Consultants:
  • Jacob Haupt, Director of Business Development, Western Dairyland EOC, Inc.
  • Business Development Specialists of Western Wisconsin Women’s Business CenterOne-on-One Consultations

Breakout Sessions 6

• Meet with an Exhibitor

• Sprouting Solutions: Facilitated Peer Learning Session, Wilson Hall A (This workshop began at 10:00 AM and ends at 11:45 AM)

• One-on-One Consultations, Wilson Hall E
  Ask questions and receive thoughtful feedback on your existing business or business idea.
  
  Consultants:
  • Anna Thomas, Farm Finance Specialist, Food Finance Institute
  • Business Development Specialists of Western Wisconsin Women’s Business CenterOne-on-One Consultations