Business 101 for Farmers
The first ever REAL Ag-Entrepreneurship Short Course was held this spring at Edgecombe Community College at the Rocky Mount Campus. The REAL Ag-Entrepreneurship Short course is part of the Regional Ag-Entrepreneur Development Initiative funded by the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. The curriculum, developed by NC REAL, covers the basics of the business planning process for the farm business. The farm-based businesses included sellers at local farmer’s markets, specialty crops, and meat goats. During the eight week course participants assessed their business idea, created a marketing strategy, developed business financials, and planned their business operations. Six local farmers completed the course and presented their businesses at the last class. The second REAL Ag-Entrepreneurship Short course is currently being offered at Wilson Community College.
NC REAL (Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning) and the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Government are leading the Regional Ag-Entrepreneur Development Initiative. The primary community supporters are the Small Business Centers of Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson and Halifax Community Colleges and the Cooperative Extension offices of Wilson, Nash, Edgecombe, Halifax, and Northampton Counties. The overall goal of the project is to develop the capacity of the entire Upper Coastal Plain region to assist tobacco farmers and other affected by the tobacco industry develop or expand new farm-based businesses. Current and aspiring agricultural entrepreneurs are encouraged to take the REAL Ag-Entrepreneurship Short Course when it is offered in their area and to take advantage of the small business resources provided at their local community colleges and at the county cooperative extension offices. By creating a network of ag-based small business support, more farmers will get the tools they need to create new, successful farm businesses throughout the region.
The next step of the project will be to train REAL facilitators throughout the region to deliver the REAL Ag-Entrepreneurship Short Course. The training will be offered over the summer and new REAL Ag-Entrepreneurship Courses will be offered in the fall and winter. For more information about this program please contact Malinda Todd at NC REAL at 919-781-6833 ext.126 or Malinda@ncreal.org.