The first annual food conference presented by Butler Community College in cooperation with Kansas Small Business Development Center and K-State Extension will be held Tuesday November 9 in Wichita.

The event will run from 8 am to 4 pm at the Sedgwick County Extension Education Center and will feature experts on topics ranging from how to get your food business started to food manufacturing guidelines and marketing techniques. An expert from the Food and Drug Administration will be on hand to get you up to speed on all the latest regulations.

The conference also features a keynote address from successful food entrepreneurs Mark and Nancy Galloway of Blacksmith Coffee. A panel of food entrepreneurs will answer questions following lunch.

Breakfast and lunch are included in the $30 registration fee.

Tentative Schedule

8:00 – Registration & Booth Time

 8:30 – Introduction

 8:35 – Keynote – Blacksmith Coffee

 9:00 – Technical Track

            9:00 – 9:40 – Food Manufacturing Rules and Regulations, David Arvelo

            9:40 – 10:20 – What you Need to Know about Food Manufacturing, Fadi Aramouni

            10:20 – 10:30 – Break & Booths

            10:30 – 11:10 – Food Trends that will Shape Your Business, David Mace

            11:10 – 11:50 – Title TBD, Tiffani Price

 11:50 – Lunch – Sponsored by KSBDC, Booth Time

 12:20 – Panel Discussion facilitated by Mari Tucker, Kansas Department of Commerce

                        Panel:   Shon Hansen, Alma Creamery LLC

Lea Bradley, Bradley’s Bones

Brad Farmer, Farmer’s Fallow Deer Farm

Tricia Holmes, Holmes-Made Salsa

 1:00 – Break & Booth Time

 1:10 – Business Track

            1:10 – 1:50 – The Basics of Starting Your Own Food Business, Ken Elliott

            1:50 – 2:30 – Writing an Effective Business Plan, Donald Cain III

            2:30 – 2:40 – Break & Booths

            2:40 – 3:20 – Distributing and Marketing Your Food Product, Becky Walters

            3:20 – 4:00 – Avoiding Production Pitfalls in a Growing Business, Rebecca McMahon

4:00 – Adjourn