May Meeting On "The New Small Farmer"

Announcing the May meeting:

“The New Small Farmer” – presented by Jane Eckert of Eckert Agri-Marketing

More and more, producers are looking outside the mainstream commodity market for new business opportunities – agritourism, agri-tainment, direct marketing and more. Jane Eckert, founder and president of Eckert Agri-Marketing, will discuss how growers are adapting and exploring new opportunities and niche markets.

Date: Tuesday, May 9, 2006
Time: 11:30 reception/registration; noon lunch & program
Location: Room East C on the Lobby Level of the Sheraton Plaza Tower, Westport
Cost: $20 per person

Register: Reserve your spot for this meeting by e-mailing gatewaynama@yahoo.com or calling 636/449-5040 by Friday, May 5.

About Jane:

Jane Eckert was raised on her family’s apple orchard outside of St. Louis, Missouri, and eventually pursued an executive career in corporate marketing for more than 15 years, working for such giants as Atlantic Richfield Oil Company. Combining her marketing expertise and her passion for agriculture, she returned to her roots as Vice President of Marketing for Eckert’s Country Store and Farms. Through her innovative ideas and through working closely with CVBs and tourism authorities, she helped develop the farm into one of metropolitan St. Louis’ most popular entertainment and tourist destinations, attracting 500,000 guests annually.

Jane has been featured in U.S.A. Today, Time and interviewed for hundreds of newspapers, magazines and radio shows throughout the country. In her speeches and workshops, she has helped thousands of tourism and ag professionals to see the financial benefits of promoting the niche product of agritourism. In 2001, Jane created Eckert AgriMarketing, a full-service marketing and consulting firm that offers a variety of services to the tourism industry and agricultural operations, helping them harvest the rewards of agritourism. As a reflection of that effort, Jane was given the outstanding leadership award by the North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association in 2005.

She has been an active member of Convention and Visitors Bureaus both in Missouri and Illinois. She is past president of the St. Louis Attractions Association, the Belleville Tourism in Illinois and The North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association. She is also a member of the National Speakers Association, the National Agri-Marketing Association, and has served both the Missouri and the Kansas Agritourism Councils.