NC Farm School AmyLynn Albertson Davidson County Cooperative

NC Farm School Amy-Lynn Albertson, Davidson County Cooperative Extension, Horticulture Agent Gary Bullen, NCSU Agriculture Resource Economics Extension Associate Bevin Fink, Owner/Operator Third Creek Cottage Gardens and 2012 Piedmont Farm School Graduate 1

NC Farm Schools • Why NC Farm School? • Changes in Agriculture and Consumer • Goals of NC Farm School • Increase the number of successful farmers • Increase the production of locally grown products within N. C. • Create a network of farmers who will cultivate viable markets for their products • NCSU’s Department of Agriculture and Resource Economic Goal: Improve/Increase Business Management Training for NC Farmers 2

NC Farm Schools v. Two Levels of Programs 1. NC Farm Schools Ø Multi-county Level Ø Seven month educational & outreach program Ø Based on the “Piedmont Farm School” 2. NC Executive Farm Management Program Ø Multi-state Level Ø Three to Five Days (& via Distance Education? ? ) 3

Piedmont Farm School v Target beginning and transitioning farmers v What is your interest in Farm School? 4

Do You Currently Own or Have Access to Land 5

How would you characterize your vision of your farm 6

What is your main interest in Farm School? 7

Piedmont Farm School v What makes the Farm School unique? – Seven month business seminars designed to give farm participants the tools to create viable business plans – Include seven farm field trips led by successful and experienced farmers and agricultural professionals – The farm visits are planned to reinforce the business sessions, and business sessions incorporate the lessons learned from farm visits. 8

PIEDMONT FARM SCHOOL • The Piedmont Farm School is an educational and outreach program that trains beginning and transitioning farmers with a strong commitment to operate successful small-scale, sustainable farms. • Sustainability: Not going broke paying your bills, feeding your family and having a little extra left over

Piedmont Farm School v. Business Planning Curriculum Ø Curriculum: ü Whole Farm planning ü Marketing Fundamentals And other Tools ü Record Keeping needed to develop a viable Business Plan ü Taxes ü Insurance & Liability Avoidance ü Succession Planning v Homework Ø Web based Ag. Plan* program to assist students develop a Business Plan 2012: 32 Students, 80% finished the course with a written business plan outline v Workbooks Ø Building a Sustainable Business A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for 10 Farms & Rural Businesses*

Piedmont Farm School Business Classes Gary Bullen discussing the difference between dreams and goals Grower/Producer Lee Menius speaks on marketing Amy Lynn Albertson relating field tours with business planning Planning team prior to check in 11

Piedmont Farm School v Field Trips Ø Seven Field Trips Ø Different Agricultural Focus/Trip üSmall Fruit & Vegetable Operation üPasture Pork & Beef Operation üMushrooms, Hops, Specialty Crops Ø Led by Experienced Farmers & Extension Professionals üSeven County Agents were assigned a specific month to organize a Field Trip üFarmers had to share their failures and successes and specifically whether they were profitable or not 12

Piedmont Farm School Field Trips Wild Turkey Farms HRNursery Buffalo Creek Creamery Huffman’s Peaches 13

Piedmont Farm School v 2014 School Ø 39 Students with a waiting list for 2015 Ø Extension Team is developing a training manual so the program can be replicated Ø Cost Sharing/Funding üStudents Individual Students = $200 Couples = $250 üCounty Farm Bureau funded field days in their county üCarolina Farm Stewardship provided funds 14

Piedmont Farm Schools Testimonials 30% of the 2013 Graduates said they made more money than in 2012 as a result of the Piedmont Farm School “This is the greatest Extension program I have ever participated in. ” “There has never been an Extension program this good in all of my years of attending meetings. ” “This program helped me realize my dream of keeping the family farm. ” “ I would recommend this program to anyone” “All that we have learned and experienced has, in our estimation, saved us about two years of hit and miss and is priceless. ” “Now, after taking the farm school course, I finally feel capable of making reasonable decisions pertaining to planning” 16

Piedmont Farm Schools Awards Won Extension Team that Developed the Program: Amy-Lynn Albertson Darrell Blackwelder Danelle Cutting Stephen Greer Michael Roberts Amanda Taylor Mark Tucker Jamie Warner *Winner North Carolina Association of County Agricultural Agents Search for Excellence in Young, Beginning, or Small Farmers/Ranchers 2013 **Winner Southern Region of the National Association of the County Agricultural Agents Search for Excellence in Young, Beginning, or Small Farmers/Ranchers 2013 ***National Finalist National Association of County Agricultural Agents Search for Excellence in Young, Beginning, or Small Farmers/Ranchers 2013 Take away : This is a Proven Program! E a 17

NC Farm Schools Proposal v. The NC Farm School will build on success of Piedmont Farm School v. NC Farm School is piloting three new farm schools v Grow Farm School to 4 -6 per year v. Make program self sufficient within 5 years v. Charge fee of $250 for individual v $300 for couple v. Farm School offered in cluster of 4 -6 counties v Considering 1 -2 special workshops 18

CURRENT NC FARM SCHOOLS Foothills: Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln Piedmont: Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stokes, Surry, Yadkin Sandhills: Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Scotland, Richmond

Future NC Farm Schools? Upper Mountain: Ashe, Allegheny, Caldwell, Watauga, Wilkes Southern Piedmont: Anson, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, Union Triangle: Durham, Franklin, Granville, Orange, Vance, Warren, Wake North East: Bertie, Chowan, Camden, Currituck, Gates, Hertford, Pasquotank, Perquimans Southeast: Duplin, Jones, Lenoir, Pender, Onslow 20

NC Farm Schools Proposal v. NC Farm School Target Audiences v. Limit Class to 30 participants Ø Small & Medium Size Farmers Ø Beginning Farmers Ø Commodity Specific Farmers Ø CSA/Local Agriculture Ø Prior Military Service v. Training Teams Ø Two Member Teams Ø One Focuses on Business Management Ø One Focuses on Agriculture & Coordinates Other County Agent Activities 21

NC Farm Schools Proposal v. NC Farm School Expected Outcomes v 75 -100 farmers trained and certified v. Develop an information centered network that will help sustain and nurture farm school graduates v 79% Farm School participants complete course v. A comprehensive farm business curriculum will be developed. v. Will be available for subsequent training for new educators v. Create local inventories of resources, successful farm businesses and new opportunities v. Develop business case studies to capture successes of the program 22

The Farm School Experience • Third Creek Cottage Gardens – Fink Family, Cleveland NC 23

Success Story thirdcreekcottagegardens. wordpress. com 24

Future for NC Farm School? v. Discussion/Questions? 25