Organisation of on-farm training and demonstration days: a roadmap (Deliverable 6.4)

On-farm training and demonstration days are great opportunities to share experiences, increase knowledge and develop relationships among actors concerned by agriculture and food. To complement classroom training, on-field and on-farm training provides great opportunities to demonstrate how particular practices are carried out; they let people interact and explore a range of subjects. However, organising such events requires careful preparation. Events can range from one-hour field meetings that gather, on short notice, participants from the local area; to large-scale all-day events for up to 500 participants involving many stakeholders. Things to consider when planning a workshop or a demonstration: 1) It starts with an idea and brainstorming: what do we want to demonstrate and what do we want partici-pants to know more about after the event? Who is this relevant for? 2) Timeline and social context: make a detailed and realistic plan for the event, planning in advance. 3) Location supporting structures and material: chose the pertinent location for the on-field demonstration or workshop. 4) Costs and budget: consider funding from other projects sharing similar activities. 5) Invitation and announcement: identify the target group and others who might have interest in participation, sending invitations via relevant communication channels and clarify how to sign up for the event. 6) Develop a program: make a draft for a realistic program and have in mind what to demonstrate and who the target group is. 7) Logistics of the event: this covers activities such as ordering food from caterers with references and other practical matters.