'Sister Schubert' keynote speaker for Food Entrepreneur Conference in Auburn April 8-9

Do you have a great cupcake recipe you'd like to take to the next level? Or maybe you raise cattle or catfish and would like to grow your livestock business, but you don't know much about finding financing or creating a marketing program.

Wherever you are in growing your business, the third annual Food Entrepreneur Conference is an invaluable opportunity to network with other food entrepreneurs and learn from successful business owners who started out with little more than an idea.

One of them is Patricia "Sister Schubert" Barnes, who started baking dinner rolls using her grandmother's recipe and now sells bakery products across the country. Barnes will be the conference's headline speaker.

The two-day conference will take place April 8-9 at the Auburn University Research Park in Auburn. Coordinators are the Auburn University Food Systems Institute and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

In addition to getting advice from other food entrepreneurs, attendees will learn from retail buyers and marketing and finance experts. They will also have the opportunity to learn about important safety regulations and labeling requirements from Auburn University experts.

Breakout sessions on a variety of topics include:

- Cottage Food Law

- Food Processing/Catering/Foodservice/Bakery

- USDA Meat Products

- Food Trucks Food for Thought: Business Aspects of Running a Food-Based Business

- New Systems, New Products

Local and regional representatives from the food industry and core faculty from the Food Systems Institute will answer questions such as: Where can I find financing for my new food business? What should my marketing plan include? Is my product truly "organic?" What information should my label include?

For more information and to register online, go tohttp://aufsi.auburn.edu/food-entrepreneur-conference-2015/. Registration is $150 before April 1 and $200 after April 1.