Take your farm business to the next level with this 10 week course!

Hosted by WSU Extension Regional Small Farms Program and sponsored by Craft3. Cultivating Success courses are a program of the statewide WSU Food Systems Program.

October 10 through December 19th*

Wednesdays, 6-8:30pm

$260 per farm

Plus! Field trip to local food expo and farmer/chef networking event in Port Townsend Sunday Nov. 4, 10am 12:30pm

*Please note date changes: Class moved to Thurs Nov. 1st 6-8:30pm (No class Halloween Wed. Oct 31) and no class week of Thanksgiving Wed. Nov. 21

A unique combination of guest speakers, in class discussion and assignments, this course dives into the business side of running a farm, from sales and marketing to financial management. At the end of the course, you will have the core elements of a business plan to guide your farm forward.

Topics include:
-Licensing and permitting
-Market analysis and trends
-Branding
-Operations
-Personal planning
-Accounting and bookkeeping
-Finances and taxes
-Insurance

The goal of this course is to develop a detailed agricultural business plan. To that end, students will be expected to progressively develop their plan over the course of the twelve weeks and submit it for review and comment by instructor. Weekly reading assignments will compliment lectures. Students will be required to read this material, reflect upon it, and assimilate the material into their business plans. Additional in-class and at-home exercises will be assigned. Class attendance is necessary to facilitate acquisition of business and entrepreneurial skills.

To earn course certification, students must turn in their business plan and complete the in-class presentation component.

Course Objectives:
-To cover all aspect of small business planning and management,
-To develop a business plan for use in an agricultural enterprise, and
-To expose students to the tools necessary to develop a sustainable business.