’23 – ’24 Winter Business Intensive Agenda
The Winter Business Intensive is the second session in the SWVA Field School. The session is made up of 8 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. The Winter Business Intensive is $50 and includes all 8 classes, printed lesson binder, and a copy of “Whole Farm Management: From Start-up to Sustainability”
All SWVA Field School sessions are free to military veterans and active duty.
Class time and location
Address: 100 VHCC Drive, Abingdon, VA 24210
Class will be held at the Virginia Highlands Community College in ISC 107 (see map) with an online option for those who are unable to attend in person.
Each class will begin promptly at 6:00PM and end no later than 8:00PM. Registration is $50.
This session is offered for FREE to Military Veterans.
Agenda
Class 1: Introductions & Getting Started
Thursday, November 2
| Introduce the program, support staff, coursework and expectations | 6:00PM – 6:30PM | ASD |
| 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 | ASD |
| Wrap Up | 7:20PM – 7:30PM | ASD |
Class 2: Visioning & Assessing Your Resources
Thursday, November 16
| Homework Review | 6:00PM – 6:15PM | |
| Values & Vision Statement | 6:15PM – 6:45PM | |
| Farm Start Up: Vision and Assessment; Roadblocks and Successes | 6:45PM – 7:25PM | Trevor Hansard, Red Tail Grove |
| Homework Overview, Wrap Up | 7:25PM – 7:45PM | |
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Class 3: Farm Infrastructure & Natural Resources
Thursday, December 7
| Homework Review | 6:00PM – 6:30PM | |
| 4 core principles of soil health management | 6:30PM – 7:10PM | Mary Sketch and Eric Bendfeldt, 4theSoil |
| Soil health, reading a soil test, what weeds indicate about your soil, and more | 6:10PM – 7:50PM | Scott Jerrell, VATech Cooperative Extension |
| Homework Overview, Wrap Up | 7:50PM – 8:00PM |
Class 4: Markets & Marketing
Thursday, December 21
| Collect questions for panelists | 6:00PM – 6:15PM | |
| Farmer & Market Panel Discussion Discuss partnerships, marketing strategies, and communication | 6:15PM – 7:15PM | 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 | 7:15PM – 7:45PM | |
| Homework Overview, Wrap Up | 7:45PM – 8:00PM |
Class 5: Business & Financial Management
Thursday, January 4
| Homework Review | 6:00PM – 6:30PM | |
| Business & Financial Management | 6:30PM – 7:15PM | Alli Hullet, KCARD |
| Farm Credit Knowledge Center and Financial Opportunities | 7:15PM – 7:45PM | Tina Puckett, Farm Credit |
| Enterprise Budgets overview and exercise | 7:45PM – 7:55PM | |
| Homework Overview, Wrap Up | 7:55PM – 8:00PM |
Class 6: Sustainable Production Planning
Thursday, January 18
| Homework Overview | 6:00PM – 6:15PM | |
| Sustainable Production Practices | 6:15PM – 7:00PM | Danny Boyer, NRCS |
| Agroforestry 101 | 7:00PM – 7:45PM | Emilie Tweardy, ASD |
| Homework Overview, Wrap Up | 7:45PM – 8:00PM |
Class 7: Entreprenuership & Risk Management
Thursday, February 1
| Homework Overview | 6:00PM – 6:15PM | |
| Business start up basics, Info about SBDC has to offer small businesses, and Q&A | 6:15PM – 7:00PM | Cindy Fields, SBDC |
| Insurance considerations, risk management, and Q&A | 7:00PM – 7:30PM | Shawn Roark, Farm Bureau |
| Homework Overview & Business Plan Q&A, Wrap Up | 7:30PM – 8:00PM |
Class 8: Loans, Grants, & Support Programs
Thursday, February 15
| Homework Overview | 6:00PM – 6:15PM | |
| Conventional Agriculture Loans | 6:15PM – 6:45PM | Haley Blevins, First Bank & Trust |
| Grant Writing Basics | 6:45PM – 7:30PM | Della McGuire, Grant Writer, ASD |
| Business plan Q&A and presentations | 7:30PM – 7:50PM | |
| Wrap Up/Closing Gathering planning | 7:55PM – 8:00PM |