New farmers just starting out and established farmers looking to expand markets have something in common: looking to the Land-grant University System to support their growth. Strong local farms strengthen local food systems and food security.
Here are a few examples of this work:
- When participant surveys indicated a need for more in-depth and hands-on farmer education, Idaho Extension educators responded using a performance-based learning model to create an online course curriculum and hands-on workshop series structured around basic core competencies and skills identified as needs of beginning farmers.
- In Kansas, new small-scale farmers and in-state producers were looking to increase sales. A series of three local meat marketing workshops across the state provided guidance on regulations, strategies for business promotion and marketing best practices.
- A webinar series, Funding Your Farm: Selling Your Story in a Business Plan, offered in Michigan enabled 142 participants to explore key uses of a business plan and what lenders look for. In a post-series evaluation, 88% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “I plan to use what I have learned to create a business plan for my farm.”
Source: National Impacts Database
More From: Alaska, Economic Development, Extension, Food Security, Food Systems, Idaho, Kansas, Kansas State University, Michigan, Michigan State University, North Central, Northeast, Profitability/Competitiveness, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Idaho, University of Vermont, University of Wisconsin, Vermont, Western, Wisconsin, Workforce DevelopmentShare this Post