The Winter Business Intensive is the second session in the SWVA Field School. The session is made up of 8 FREE intensive classes designed to help set beginning farmers on the path to a successful career in agriculture production.
During these classes, students will participate in topics such as business planning, sustainable practices, financial management, marketing, and more.
**SWVA Field School Events are sponsored by funding through the USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement for up to 3 years. When the funding period ends, there may be a cost associated with the program.**
Class will be held at the Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator with an online option for those who are unable to attend in person.
Each class will begin promptly at 5:30PM and end no later than 7:30PM. Attendance is FREE but, registration is required.
| Introduce the program, support staff, coursework and expectations | 5:30PM – 6:00PM | |
| Participant Introductions | 6:00PM – 6:30PM | |
| Getting Started: What went right and what went wrong? | 6:30PM – 7:10PM | Dylan & Denita House – Creative Seeds Farm |
| FSA Farm Numbers, Homework Overview | 7:10PM – 7:20PM | |
| Wrap Up | 7:20PM – 7:30PM | |
| Homework Review | 5:30PM – 6:00PM | |
| Values & Vision Statement | 6:00PM – 6:30PM | |
| Farm Start Up: Vision and Assessment; Roadblocks and Successes | 6:30PM – 7:10PM | Trevor Hansard, Red Tail Grove |
| Homework Overview | 7:10PM – 7:20PM | |
| Wrap Up | 7:10PM – 7:30PM | |
| Homework Review | 5:30PM – 6:00PM | |
| 4 core principles of soil health management | 6:00PM – 6:45PM | Mary Sketch and Eric Bendfeldt, 4theSoil |
| Soil health, reading a soil test, what weeds indicate about your soil, and more | 6:45PM – 7:15PM | Scott Jerrell, VATech Cooperative Extension |
| Homework Overview | 7:15PM – 7:25PM | |
| Wrap Up | 7:25PM – 7:30PM |
| Collect questions for panelists | 5:30PM – 5:40PM | |
| Farmer & Market Panel Discussion Discuss partnerships, marketing strategies, and communication | 5:40PM – 6:20PM | Adam Pendleton, AH Justen Dick, Kelly Ridge Farm Dylan and Denita House, Creative Seeds Farm David Wallace, Reeds Valley Farm |
| Market Readiness presentation, market channel assessment guide | 6:20PM – 7:00PM | |
| Homework Overview | 7:00PM – 7:15PM | |
| Wrap Up | 7:15PM – 7:30PM |
| Homework Review | 5:30PM – 6:00PM | |
| Business & Financial Management | 6:00PM – 6:45PM | Myrisa Christy, KCARD |
| Farm Credit Knowledge Center and Financial Opportunities | 6:45PM – 7:15PM | Tina Puckett, Farm Credit |
| Enterprise Budgets overview and exercise | 7:15PM – 7:25PM | |
| Homework Overview, Wrap Up | 7:25PM – 7:30PM |
| Homework Overview | 5:30PM – 5:45PM | |
| Sustainable Production Practices | 5:45PM – 6:25PM | Danny Boyer, NRCS |
| Agroforestry 101 | 6:25PM – 7:05PM | Emilie Tweardy, ASD |
| Homework Overview | 7:05PM – 7:15PM | |
| Wrap Up | 7:15PM – 7:30PM |
| Homework Overview | 5:30PM – 5:40PM | |
| Business start up basics, Info about SBDC has to offer small businesses, and Q&A | 5:40PM – 6:25PM | Cindy Fields, SBDC |
| Insurance considerations, risk management, and Q&A | 6:25PM – 6:55PM | Shawn Roark, Farm Bureau |
| Homework Overview & Business Plan Q&A | 6:55PM – 7:15PM | |
| Wrap Up | 7:15PM – 7:30PM |
| Homework Overview | 5:30PM – 5:35PM | |
| Conventional Agriculture Loans | 5:35PM – 6:05PM | Haley Blevins, First Bank & Trust |
| Grant Writing Basics | 6:05PM – 6:45PM | Della McGuire, Grant Writer, ASD |
| Business plan Q&A and presentations | 6:45PM – 7:15PM | |
| Wrap Up/Closing Gathering planning | 7:15PM – 7:30PM |