Excerpts from the Preface: "Enhancing Opportunities for Small Farmers and Ranchers," summarizes the main goal of the 4th National Small Farm Conference. To enhance economic opportunities and the quality of life for small farmers and ranchers, our role as professionals is to facilitate programs and services by providing financial and technical assistance and ensure that research is conducted for successful development of alternative enterprises or creating new crops and special niches. Bringing together approximately 750 professionals from throughout the nation encourages dialogue and the exchange of ideas that will trickle down to small farmers and ranchers. This conference provided a forum for the development of strategies to maximize existing resources for the prosperity of small farmers and ranchers; enhance the ability of producers to maximize marketing opportunities; provide an effective and adequate income safety net for small farmers and ranchers; develop and strengthen programs to meet small farm specific needs; enhance the development and use of risk management tools; provide support for agricultural research, education, and outreach; and promote programs designed to maximize results and emphasize measurable outcomes. The conference focused on the following six tracks: 1) alternative enterprises, (2) marketing strategies, (3) risk management, (4) bridging gaps in programs and services, (5) organic agriculture, and (6) professional/program development
