USDA'S BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (BFRDP) IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF USDA'S EFFORTS TO TRAIN THE FUTURE PRODUCERS OF AMERICA'S FOOD SUPPLY. THE BFRDP PROGRAM TYPICALLY FUNDS 40 TO 70 PROJECTS ANNUALLY. THESE PROJECTS REACH VERY DIVERSE AUDIENCES AND REPRESENT MANY INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO HELPING BEGINNING FARMERS. HISTORICALLY, FUNDED PROJECTS MET ANNUALLY TO SHARE IDEAS, APPROACHES, AND RESOURCES TO HELP THE PROGRAM ACHIEVE BETTER OUTCOMES. PROJECT DIRECTORS HAVE NOT MET IN-PERSON FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. THIS PROPOSED CONFERENCE WILL BRING PROJECT DIRECTORS TOGETHER TO PROVIDE TRAINING, SHARE RESOURCES, AND FACILITATE COLLABORATION TO HELP PROJECTS ACHIEVE MEANINGFUL RESULTS FOR THE BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS THEY SERVE.THE CENTER FOR FARM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (CFFM) AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA PROPOSES TO HOST AN IN-PERSON CONFERENCE FOR BFRDP PROJECT DIRECTORS FROM PROJECTS FUNDED IN 2021, 2022, AND 2023. THE CONFERENCE WILL HELP PROJECT DIRECTORS MORE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT THEIR PROJECTS AND BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO DELIVER TRAINING THAT ENABLES BFRDP PROJECT PARTICIPANTS TO SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCH THEIR FARM AND RANCH BUSINESSES. THE CONFERENCE WILL EMPHASIS HELPING PROJECT DIRECTORS FOCUS ON MEANINGFUL PARTICIPANT OUTCOMES AND EQUIPPING PROJECTS TO BETTER CONDUCT EVALUATIONS THAT ALLOW THEM TO MEASURE AND REPORT PROJECT OUTCOMES.SEVERAL REASONS JUSTIFY THE NEED FOR THIS CONFERENCE, INCLUDING THE IMPORTANCE OF BRINGING TOGETHER PROJECTS TO SHARE RESOURCES AND INSIGHTS, TO ENHANCE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF OUTCOME-BASED PROGRAMMING, THE IMPORTANCE FOR PROJECT EVALUATION TRAINING, AND THE NEED TO BETTER ENABLE COMMUNICATING THE SUCCESSES AND VALUE OF THE BFRDP PROGRAM TO EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.