FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 09/20/2022
Contact: Jenni Roop
Agriculture Education Communications Manager
276-608-8972
jroop@asdevelop.org
https://asdevelop.org
Duffield, Va. – Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD), is now recruiting students for the 2022-2023 season of its Winter Business Intensive, the second session of the SWVA Field School. Designed for beginning farmers, participants will gain knowledge on business planning, finances and marketing, all geared toward helping them create sustainable and profitable small farms. Aspiring and beginning farmers are encouraged to apply. Classes are held the first and third Thursday of each month. Registration is free and required. Interested individuals can register at www.asdevelop.org/fieldschool. Questions should be directed to Jenni Roop, Agriculture Education Communications Manager at: jroop@asdevelop.org.
This season’s Winter Business Intensive is held from November 2022 to February 2023 with 8 FREE intensive classes designed to set beginning farmers on the path to a successful career in agriculture production. Sessions will be held on various topics including: visioning and assessing resources, farm infrastructure and natural resources, markets and marketing, business and financial management, sustainable production planning, entrepreneurship and business management and loans, grants and support programs.
To provide emerging farmers with more tools for success, ASD’s Field School program holds trainings in the summer and winter each year. ASD’s Field School is taught by 20+ farmers and agricultural professionals at various locations to highlight the variety of opportunities that are available.
In 2021, Appalachian Sustainable Development hosted Southwest Virginia’s first annual Field School as part of the expanded offerings of its Agriculture Education programs. The program’s expansion is funded by The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE) with a focus on serving the specific needs of military veterans in Central Appalachia.
About Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD)
Living Better. Locally. It’s what drives ASD’s commitment to propel its mission to build a thriving regional food and agriculture system that creates healthy communities, respects the planet, and cultivates profitable opportunities for Appalachians. Since 1995, ASD has been working in Central Appalachia, providing hope, and making a difference for the people who call the region home. What began as opportunities for struggling tobacco farmers to grow fruits and vegetables have become lasting solutions to regional challenges that impact economic development, workforce development, food access, health, and wellness. Over the years, ASD has expanded its reach from northeast TN and southwest VA to include partners in WV, OH and KY, enabling the organization to bring resources back to the region. For more information, visit: https://asdevelop.org.
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