Grow Your Farm Scheduled to Begin Sept 12th in St. Clair

Participants who enroll in the Grow Your Farm course will have an opportunity to:

• Tap into the knowledge of skilled, innovative farmers.
• Network with other farmers and make friends.
• Learn critical farm management skills such as creative financing and innovative marketing strategies.
• See local farming practices being used on real farms under a variety of conditions.
• Learn to view a farm as an interconnected system and learn how goals determine farming practices.
• Craft a tailor-made farming and business plan.
• Meet farmers who have diversified their products.

Training and support for beginning farmers and others who want to evaluate and plan their farm enterprise. Participants will attend a set of practical seminars and field days to learn and network. Instructors and farmers teach the sessions.

• Build networks 
• Create a mission
• Set goals
• Plan for profit
• Explore new agricultural alternatives
• Study practical legal issues
• Tour farms
•  Obtain new resources
• Gain technical advice
• Learn sustainable practices

Session 1: Identifying Values & Creating Goals, Monday, September 12th, 6:30 pm  - Dean Wilson, MU Ag & Rural Development Specialist along with Eric & Kathy Lober, Grass-fed beef, poultry, CSA
 
Session 2: Planning Your Farm, Monday, September 19th, 6:30 pm - Greg Tucker, MU Small Business Development Specialist along with Karen Davis, LU Horticulture Regional Educator, former producer of specialty cut flowers to over 30 local florists

Session 3: Farm Tour, Saturday, September 24th, 9:00 am TBA – Tentative schedule includes visit to farms with CSA, grass fed beef, natural pork, poultry and vegetable production

Session 4: Assessing Opportunities, Monday, September 26th, 6:30 pm - Miranda Duschack, LU Small Farms Specialist along with Todd Geisert, Pasture pork, roadside vegetable stand

Session 5: Recordkeeping, Monday, October 3rd, 6:30 pm - Ron Mueller, MU Small Business and Development Specialist along with Sheria Yancey, Farm Service Agency

Session 6: Walking the Farm, Monday, October 10th, 6:30 pm - David Price, LU Small Farm Specialist

Session 7: Farm Tour, Saturday, October 15th, 9:00 am - Stan & Sue Koch, Beef cattle, goats, Jersey cows, chickens

Session 8: Marketing Your Farm Products, Monday, October 17th, 6:30 pm - Connie Cunningham, Goose producer and GYF alumni Paul Krautmann, Organic vegetables, dry beans

Session 9: Understanding Legal Issues Monday, October 24th, 6:30 pm - Ken Bolte, MU Ag Business Specialist along with Debi Kelly, Missouri Beginning Farmers Program

Session 10: Presenting Your Farm Plan, Monday, October 31st, 6:30 pm

Who: Prospective farmers, beginners with limited experience and experienced farmers who want to make a "new beginning" with alternative methods.

Fee: $200 per farm business (2 people) Fee includes seminar materials, speakers, and a subscription to "Ag Opportunities" — a monthly e-newsletter from the Missouri Alternatives Center.

Registration Deadline: Friday, September 9, 2011 (Enrollment limited to 20 farms) Make checks payable to Franklin County Extension and mail to Franklin County Extension Center, 116 W Main Street, Union, MO

For more information, contact Dean Wilson, Ag and Rural Development Specialist, 636-797-5391.