Join us as a Conference Volunteer

Support VABF & receive great discounts!

VABF will consider and accept work-trade volunteers on a rolling basis until December 15th, 2024.

To join us as a work-trade volunteer:

1. Fill out the Application for Volunteer Work-Trade.

2. Check your email for the acceptance letter from media@vabf.org. If you are accepted as volunteer you will be provided the appropriate discount code for your selected work-trade option. You will also be sent a link to pick your work-trade shifts.

3. Use the discount code to register on our Registration Page.

4. Book your lodging and plan your travel! Rates go up once the room block is filled. Visit our Lodging & Travel page for more information.

5. Stay tuned for e-mails with updates prior to the Conference.

New for 2025: All volunteers (Conference & Pre-Conference) will be required to participate as Room Host for all sessions they are joining. Room Host duties include checking registration badges at the session door prior to the session beginning, giving the speaker a notice of time 10 minutes prior to the end of the session, and, most importantly, being the point of contact for the Speaker if any technical difficulties or questions arise (you will be responsible for communicating any issues to the Volunteer Coordination immediately for resolution). Room Host duties do not contribute towards the Work-Trade shifts.

All volunteers will be able to pick their Work-Trade shifts. Shifts will be available for sign up after your application is accepted. Work-trade shifts are typically 2-3 hour periods at a time. Work-trade tasks may include but are not limited to: checking name badges at meal times, helping at the registration/info desk, assisting tradeshow exhibitors, helping with the Silent Auction and Taste of Virginia Expo, assisting with VABF merch sales, and assisting in establishing a headcount of session participants.

You may apply for Conference or Pre-Conference Work-Trade ~ or for both!

Fill out the Volunteer Work-Trade Application here.

Volunteer Work-Trade Options & Information

· Conference Work-Trade Volunteer

·· 6 hours of work-trade during the Conference = 50% discount on Conference Registration

·· 12 hours of work-trade during the Conference = 95% discount on Conference Registration

Conference Registration includes Saturday, January 11th & Sunday, January 12, 2025.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch and appetizers on Saturday and breakfast and lunch on Sunday.

Available shifts for conference work-trade include registration/info table, monitoring the silent auction, assisting exhibitors setting up, assisting Taste of VA vendors, checking breakfast and lunch badges, assisting with VABF merch sales, inventory and stocking, aiding in communication amongst staff and speakers, and other forms of assistance to Conference & VABF staff.

· Single-Day Conference Work-Trade Volunteer

·· 3 hours of work-trade during the same day as your registration = 50% off in exchange for either Saturday only or Sunday only

Work-trade hours must be completed on the same day as your registration. ie. If you are joining us for “Saturday only” you must complete the 3 hours of work-trade on Saturday.

· Pre-Conference Work-Trade Volunteer

60% discount to the Pre-Conference Workshop of your choice on Friday, January 10th in exchange for

·· 2 hours of work-trade during the Pre-Conference = 60% off of a half-day workshop

·· 4 hours of work-trade during the Pre-Conference = 60% off of a full day workshop

Pre-Conference Registration only covers the Pre-Conference Workshop of your choice on Friday, January 11th and does not provide admittance to the Conference on Saturday & Sunday.

Pre-Conference Volunteers must purchase their own Friday lunch buffet ticket during registration if they would like to partake in the ticketed buffet lunch on-site.

Available shifts for pre-conference work-trade include registration/info table, assisting exhibitors setting up, merch table sales, stocking and inventory, and movie presentation assistance.

Important Notes:

·· Volunteers are responsible for their own travel and lodging. Visit our travel & lodging page for information on room block rates in the Hotel Roanoke and in other hotels nearby.

·· Work-Trade Volunteer Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until December 15th, 2024.
All applicants will be contacted via email no later than 2 weeks after their application is submitted.

·· Discount codes will apply to the conference registration rate available when you purchase your registration (Early Bird Oct 21 – Nov 25 / Regular Nov 26 – Dec 31 / Late Jan 1 – Jan 9).

·· Work-trade discount codes cannot be applied to Ag Student or Farm Intern rate.

·· Please do not share discount codes. The discount code that will be provided to you on acceptance is only for individuals who have filled out this form and been accepted for work-trade. Anyone who uses the discount code without going through the process of application and approval will be barred from the conference.

Questions?
Contact Eryn with questions about volunteering/work-trade via email at media@vabf.org

Join us as a Conference Volunteer!

Fill out the Volunteer Work-Trade Application here.

Conference Financial Aid / Scholarships

VABF has a very limited number of Full Scholarships available for our 2025 Conference.

Financial Aid recipients will receive 100% of the cost of Conference Registration covered.
No work-trade/volunteer time is required in exchange for the scholarship.

Conference Registration is for Saturday, Jan 11th & Sunday, Jan 12th, 2025 and includes breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. The Conference Registration Scholarship does not cover Pre-Conference Registration.

Scholarship recipients are responsible for their own travel and lodging. Please visit our travel and lodging page for more information on room rates and hotel blocks.

If you would like to apply for both the Full Scholarship & Work-Trade program, we will consider your Scholarship application independently of your availability to volunteer. (Applying for volunteering will not cancel your scholarship opportunity.)

If you are selected for the Full Scholarship, no volunteering will be required. If you are not accepted for the Full Scholarship, we will connect with you on your interest in work-trade instead.

Scholarship awards will be granted based on:

· Need: Financial aid is intended for those who would not be able to attend this conference without it. We will not ask for documentation to support your self-determined selection to apply for Financial Aid.

· Experience / Future Plans: We seek to support individuals who have invested their time and energy into the field of sustainable agriculture and/or intend to have a future career based in biological and sustainable agriculture.

Applications will be closed on November 18th for review.

All applicants will be contacted via email no later than Monday, December 2nd, 2024.

Confirmation / Release of Financial Aid:
*** Applicants who are accepted must respond via email with their confirmation of acceptance by Monday, December 9th.
If confirmation is not received by December 9th, the Financial Aid offer will be revoked and offered to the next available applicant.

Each individual must submit their own application.