By Kate Halstead, WSU Extension
EVERETT, Wash. – Helping people gain the knowledge needed to farm successfully is the focus of two courses in the Cultivating Success series from Washington State University Extension.
First in the series, Sustainable Small Farming and Ranching, will be 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 23-Dec. 9 at WSU Snohomish County Extension’s Cougar Auditorium, 600 128th St. SE, Everett. The course will repeat starting Jan. 20.
The second course, Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Farm Business Planning, will be 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 24-Dec. 10, in the same location. It won’t repeat until fall 2015.
Each course will include two all-day Saturday events.
Class size is limited and pre-paid registration is required by Sept. 22. Cost for each 12-week course is $275 per farm or family. Go to http://www.snohomish.wsu.edu/agriculture/cultivatingsuccess for links to online and mail-in registration.
Sustainable Small Farming and Ranching gives participants a broad overview of production and marketing options to create, sustain and grow a viable small farm enterprise.
Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Farm Business Planning features local guest speakers – including bankers, business professionals and successful farm owners – with emphasis on the financial and legal issues unique to farm-based businesses. Participants are guided in developing a business plan.
Course facilitator is Angus beef rancher Holly Thompson, who has led Cultivating Success courses for the past several years. She is an animal science and agriculture economics graduate of WSU, where she earned an MS in agriculture education. She has worked for Northwest Farm Credit Services as a loan officer and for the Nestle Regional Training Center at Carnation Farm as public relations and conference center manager.
Course presentation is sponsored by WSU Snohomish County Extension and Snohomish Conservation District. For more information on the course and registration, contact Kate Halstead at khalstead@wsu.edu or 425-357-6024.
Contact:
Kate Halstead, WSU Snohomish County Extension, 360-794-6081, khalstead@wsu.edu