HOSTING FOOD & FARM TRAINING PROGRAMS AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN NORTH CAROLINA A Webinar for Small Business Counselors & Cooperative Extension HOSTED BY THE NC GROWING TOGETHER PROJECT AT THE CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL FARMING SYSTEMS Presented by: Tiffany Henry, Southwestern Community College SBC Robert Hawk, Jackson & Swain County Extension Director Tanya Weary, Vance-Granville Community College SBC Kyle Burwell, Vance-Granville Community College Workforce & HRD www.ncgrowingtogether.org | www.localfoodeconomies.org This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, under award no. 2013-68004-20363. Any opinions, findings, recommendations, or conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Our Agenda Today NCGT Introduction to Webinar & Overview of the GoTo Webinar Platform Presentation from Appalachian Farm School Presentation from Vance-Granville Food & FarmTraining Programs Question & Answer Session Welcome!
ABOUT THE PLATFORM • GoTo Webinar Platform – You will be automatically muted – this helps cut down on background noise and data overload! – You can interact with presenters by submitting questions through the Chat Box directly to Emily, who will make them available to our panelists. – If you have trouble during the webinar, send a private message to Emily by right-clicking on her name in the sidebar and selecting “Send Private Message.” • Your chat box questions will be answered during the Q&A session at the end of the presentation.
HAVE A GOOD IDEA? • After the webinar ends, you will Let us know if receive a link to the YouTube there are other video so that you can re-watch or share as you like! topics or • You’ll also receive a PDF version presentations of the presentation which allows you’d like to access to links and resources and see! contact information for the presenters.
N C G ROW I N G TO G E T H E R AT T H E C E N T E R F O R E N V I R O N M E N TA L FA R M I N G S Y S T E M S North Carolina Farmer capacity Growing Together is a • Food safety, market channels, five-year USDA-funded production techniques, buyer project aiming to connections strengthen and expand local and regional food supply Supply chain expansion chains and to model • Wholesale and institutional this work for other partner connections, geographies in the U.S. infrastructure assessment and business feasibility Producer & processor capacity • Resource development for meat, dairy, seafood, produce, and value-added products Supportive business environments • Local government integration; small business development and support for food-based entrepreneurs
APPALACHIAN FARM SCHOOL SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND JACKSON & SWAIN COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OFFICES W W W. S O U T H W E S T E R N C C . E D U H T T P S : / / W W W. C E S . N C S U . E D U / L O C A L - C O U N T Y- C E N T E R /
Appalachian Farm School Partnership between: Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center & Cooperative Extension offices of Jackson and Swain County
Appalachian Farm School launched in 2015 Where it all began? Partnerships are crucial to a programs success. How it was developed? Process for implementation. Typical enrollment.
Funding? CFWNC provided funding • for first two years Various local Agriculture • Partners. SCC’s SBC has and will • continue to support it moving forward.
More about the program.. ➢ Timeline for offering. (January – early March) ➢ Survey is provided in advance to evaluate current status and ensure that their needs are met. ➢ Based on their needs you can amend and combine sessions and include proper speakers throughout. ➢ The REAL curriculum used provides interactive student exercises. Each week attendees complete one element of their business plan in class and as homework. ➢ There is time in each class for a subject matter expert to share resources and technical advice on each topic.
Marketing! Working with partners to help • market the program. Flyer’s printed and placed • around community: Farmer’s Markets • Seed & Feed Store • Soil & Water • Extension office • Multiple radio spots – with • SBC, Extension and Farmer Local newspapers • Social Media • *Sample Flyer
Overview of AFS 1: Intro to Business Planning/ Local Resources (Speakers - SBC director & Cooperative Extension) 2: Exploring Agricultural Business Ideas- Self Assessment (Speakers - Experienced Farmer or Food Maker) 3: Market Feasibility (Speakers – NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Cooperative Extension, Local Marketing Specialist, Regulators) 4: Introduction to Financial Concepts & Feasibility Analysis (Speakers - Farm Credit, Local Bankers, CDFIs) 5: Creating a Marketing Plan (Speaker – Experienced Farmer or Food Maker) 6: Business Operations (Speaker – CPA, Experienced Farmer) 7: Financials (Speaker – CPA, Experienced Farmer, Tax Attorney) 8: Business Plan Presentations by Attendees (Special Guests return and provide feedback)
Following up…. ▪ Evaluations from participants at completion of program. ▪ Recap and follow up with Partners & speakers ▪ About 45-60 days post AFS reach back out to evaluate progress and what further assistance or resources are needed. Typical enrollment…. ▪ Average 20 attendees ▪ Experienced to start-ups ▪ Row Crop Farmer, Livestock Farmer, Beekeeping, Agritourism and More
Building sustainable farming through AFS and partnerships!
Playing to our strengths… ➢ Small Business Center Confidential one-on-one counseling providing assistance with business planning, marketing planning, cash flow and budgeting, access to capital and referral to various other resources ➢ Cooperative Extension Provide farm assessment and guidance with the regulatory assistance and technical assistance on the farm.
VANCE-GRANVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOD & FARM TRAINING PROGRAMS H T T P S : / / W W W. VG C C . E D U /
Vance-Granville Community College NC REAL Agricultural Entrepreneurship Progra m A collaboration between NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission grant program, VGCC’s SBC, and Cooperative Extension offices of Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren Counties
Time Line of Events • HRD Coordinator had discussed Ag. Entrepreneurship possibilities with TTFC in October, 2013 • SBC Director and HRD Coordinator discussed Partnership • SBC Director contacted NC REAL about classes • In Spring of 2014 we sent NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission grant proposal modification to systems office for review • Met with Vance County Co-op. Extension and Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market about classes and collaborations • VGCC has classroom space outfitted by college at the Farmers Market • SBC typically does not generate budget FTE but NC REAL Certificates are approved for FTE • Continuous planning for classes, recruiting students and marketing
• North Carolina Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning - educational programs and support for adults or youth interested in Entrepreneurship. • We have a local small business owner/ farmer who is the NC REAL Agricultural Entrepreneurship Instructor (Carrie Harvey of Harvey Hills Farm) • SBC typically does not generate budget FTE but NC REAL Certificates are approved for FTE
Carrie Harvey and Family of Harvey Hills Farm
Short video marketing VGCC’s NC REAL Agricultural Entrepreneurship Program https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeIjJKBCL Rk
NC REAL Agricultural Entrepreneurship Series Target Audience: • Adults interested in earning a livable wage with a farming business • Former Agri-Business Entrepreneurs who are interested in revamping family land to earn a profit as well as new prospective Agri-Business entrepreneurs. • Recruit from Employment office/NC Works Office • Recruit from/through Cooperative Extension offices • Market program at Farmers Markets in area. • Collaborations with Farm Bureau & Farm Credit offices
NC REAL Agricultural Entrepreneurship Program Curriculum: Class 1 – Introduction to Business Planning Class 2 – Exploring Agricultural Business Ideas: Self Assessment & Farm Assessment Class 3 – Marketing Class 4 – Business Operations Class 5 – Introduction to Business Financials Class 6 – Business Financials Class 7 – Pulling It All Together: Business Proposals Additional program requirement: VGCC Small Business Center One-on-One Confidential Counseling.
SBC Counseling • One requirement of program is for student to become a client of the SBC • They will attend an initial SBC counseling session • Focus of the initial session will include a reiteration of how to start a small business and how to write a business plan • SBC will also assist with other business matters such as - Determining cash flow - Ways to market the business • SBC will and does also serve as a resource to provide referrals and educational materials.
NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission Grant • Tuition for Students • Materials and supplies per student • Classroom materials • Half of instructor costs
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