From extreme weather and equipment breakdowns to labor shortages, market disruptions, and disease outbreaks, farms face an increasing number of risks that can threaten business continuity. This session will help farmers identify vulnerabilities within their operations and develop practical contingency plans to respond when the unexpected occurs. Participants will learn risk assessment strategies, emergency planning tools, and decision-making frameworks that can help minimize losses and improve farm resilience. Through real-world examples and interactive discussion, attendees will leave with actionable steps to prepare for disruptions and keep their farms moving forward, no matter what challenges arise.

*  Introduction to Contingency Planning
A foundational session introducing farms to the six major risk categories every operation faces: marketing, production, financial, legal, human resource, and technology. Using real-world scenarios, attendees will learn the five-step contingency planning framework (risk assessment, business impact analysis, risk management tools, goal setting, and documentation) and leave with a worksheet to start assessing their own farm's risks.
8:30am - 9:00am
Renee Wiatt - Purdue University
Maria Marshall - Purdue University

*  Farmer to Farmer Networks as a Risk Management Strategy
When challenges arise, farmers often turn first to other farmers. Whether responding to extreme weather, equipment failures, labor shortages, market disruptions, or personal emergencies, strong farmer-to-farmer networks can provide critical support that helps farms weather uncertainty and recover more quickly. This session explores how community connections and informal and formal farmer networks serve as powerful risk management tools. Participants will hear examples of successful farmer collaborations, resource sharing, collective problem-solving, and peer-to-peer learning that have strengthened farm resilience. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for building relationships and networks that can help reduce risk, increase adaptability, and create stronger farming communities.
9:00am - 9:30am
Jen Silveri - Michigan Food and Farming Systems
Terri Barker - MI Food and Farming Systems, BRIESA, LLC
Mariel Borgman - Michigan State University