Released: March 03, 2004

Ag Marketing Workshop Scheduled for March 19

MANHATTAN, Kan.— When it comes to marketing, entrepreneurs have three options says Patty Clark, director of agriculture development at the Kansas Department of Commerce. Learn to love it, hire someone else to do it or go out of business.

Most Kansas entrepreneurs marketing their own value-added products opt for the first choice, though some may never learn to love it or have much success with it. But help is out there, said Jana Beckman, coordinator of the Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops.

Beckman is a collaborator in the Guided Explorations in Value-Added Enterprises project, which, in cooperation with the Kansas Agriculture Innovations Center and the Kansas Department of Commerce, is sponsoring a marketing workshop for agricultural entrepreneurs. The event will be held March 19 in Topeka.

Vincent Amanor-Boadu, director of Value-Added Business Development at K-State will be the featured presenter.

Amanor-Boadu will discuss elements of a marketing plan, the value of positioning and quality communications and promotional planning. Participants will gain hands-on experience in writing a marketing plan, as well as work with other entrepreneurs to examine different market segments and target audiences. Discussions will also be held on product positioning and communicating features and benefits to consumers.

The workshop registration fee is $10 and includes lunch. Registrations are due by March 12. For more information, contact Karen Pendleton at (785) 843-1409 or email karenp@pendletons.com.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Lisa Solomon
lms4577@ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News