The Process:
The seminar is composed of 4 sessions, held once a month, that focus on specific topics in goal setting, resource development, financial management, risk management, and effective marketing strategies. The program is business-planning aimed at giving you the tools to succeed. NCFS includes farm visits at working farms led by innovative, experienced farmers, and agricultural professionals with each session. NC Farm School not only has business sessions and tours successful farms but we come to your farm or your land to help you take inventory and understand the next steps to kick off your business planning process.
The Tools:
Our tools include a student webpage, specialized entrepreneurship curriculum, business development case studies, farming cost of production tools, marketing guidelines, and step-by-step instructional help. The web-based Ag Plan, developed by the University of MN, allows NC State Extension educators to work remotely with students while developing a business plan. NCFS provides a multimedia format to facilitate the process of planning new farm enterprises.
The Motivation:
We expect each participant to have good attendance and have a functional business plan at the end of eight class sessions. To receive a certificate of completion students must have attended six out of the eight of the business sessions and have a draft of their business plan written. Upon successfully completing the NCFS training, participants are awarded a certificate of completion. Graduates of the program are involved with the schools as speakers, field day hosts and currently serve as mentors for the new participants.
