NC Farm School Registration Now Open
Sara
Drake
Extension Agent, Livestock & Forages
The NC Farm
School program offers eight business-planning seminars taught by Extension Specialists and Agents. These sessions give students the
tools to match a crop or animal operation to their current goals, land resources, and marketing opportunities. The school
is easy to fit into a busy schedule by providing evening classes every other week from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. that focus on
different areas of agricultural business. Classes cover practical steps in goal setting, resource assessment, financial management,
and effective marketing strategies. The goal of NC Farm School is to allow a pathway of success for farmers to generate successful
businesses.
The program also includes field trips to working farms,
many of which completed our program and operate successful farms. Participants learn economically sustainable farming
methods in a range of production systems, including fruits, vegetables, specialty crops, poultry, animal husbandry, and agritourism.
One of the features of the NC Farm School is getting one on one time with NC State University
specialist trained in agricultural business, marketing, production system evaluation, and business startup. These consultations
are invaluable to help saving student’s time and money and getting their farm business up and running. In
addition, students will meet a local agent who can help them follow through with their plans, connect them to
local resources, and ensure they have a sound production system in place.
Registration for the 2020 NC Farm Schools is now open. Schools will be held in Roxboro, NC; Concord, NC; and
Taylorsville, NC. The school will run from January until May. The dates for the classroom sessions at the Concord
location are January 14 & 28, February 11 & 25, March 10 & 24, and April 7 & 21. The day-long field
trips will be February 19, March 18, April 15, and May 6. There will be a graduation on May 27. The cost is $399
per person or $599 for two people. For more information or to apply online, visit https://ncfarmschool.ces.ncsu.edu/ncfs-programs/2020-nc-farm-school/.
