By Kate Halstead, WSU Extension
EVERETT, Wash. – New and current farmers will gain skills in business planning and direct marketing in an in-depth course starting Sept. 22 at the Washington State University Snohomish County Extension Cougar Auditorium in McCollum Park, 600 128th St. SE, Everett.
Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Farm Business Planning (http://ext100.wsu.edu/snohomish/ag-ent/) will continue 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 8, plus 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on two Saturdays, Oct. 24 and Nov. 7.
Class size is limited and pre-paid registration is required. Cost is $275 per farm/family. Register online at http://AgEnt.brownpapertickets.com or download the form at http://ext100.wsu.edu/snohomish/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/Cultivating-Success-2015.pdf and mail with a check.
The business planning course will cover evaluating resources; research and planning; legal and management issues; marketing strategies; budgets and financial statements; and cultivating capital resources. The course will emphasize financial and legal issues unique to farm-based businesses.
Participants will develop a business plan they can literally take to the bank to finance a new enterprise or expand a farm-based business.
Guest speakers will include bankers, business professionals and successful farm owners.
Instructor and small farmer Holly Small has been developing, leading and expanding WSU Snohomish County Extension’s Cultivating Success courses to excellent reviews since 2009. She has become a go-to authority for local farmers looking to expand opportunities and production while developing long-term sustainable operations. A WSU graduate in animal science and agriculture economics and education, she has worked for Northwest Farm Credit Services as a loan officer and the Nestle Regional Training Center at Carnation Farm in public relations.
For more information on the course, contact Small, hollynthompson@wsu.edu, or Kate Halstead, khalstead@wsu.edu or 425-357-6024.
Course sponsors include Snohomish Conservation District, Western Extension Risk Management Education, USDA RMA, Moss Adams LLP and Northwest Farm Credit Services.
Contacts:
Holly Small, WSU Snohomish County Extension, 360-629-3081, hollynthompson@wsu.edu
Kate Halstead, WSU Snohomish County Extension, 360-794-6081, khalstead@wsu.edu