Winter Business Intensive Field School 2024 - 25

New this year - sliding scale payment! The average cost to run Winter Field School per participating farm is $3,500 including materials and staff time. In order to combat raising the cost for our participants, we have decided to adopt a pay-what-you-can model. We encourage you to self-evaluate your financial situation and purchase a ticket based on what you feel you can afford for your farm. Tuition covers the cost for one farm (max of two individuals).

Location: The workshops will be in person at Farm Bureau in Jonesborough, TN. View the complete schedule and detailed workshop descriptions here. Workshops will be taught by 20+ agricultural experts and beginning farmers. The program is based in East Tennessee with lots of location specific information to Tennessee residents and farmers. You must be able to drive to in-person workshops held in Jonesborough, TN.

Read more about the full benefits of the program at our website: arcd.org/field-school.

The registration price includes:

• 8 in-person sessions held November – March on business planning, farm finances, and marketing
• 20+ agricultural experts from USDA Extension, NRCS, Farm Service Agency and more, plus experienced farmers providing an insider’s look into their operations
• A copy of the book Whole Farm Management and a printed resource binder with everything you need for the class.
• Access to additional resources talked about in each class

Workshop Dates & Topics:

1. Nov 7: Introductions & Getting Started
2. Nov 21: Visioning Your Farm & Assessing Your Resources
3. Dec 12: Farm Infrastructure & Natural Resource Plan
4. Jan 9: Markets & Marketing
5. Jan 23: Business & Financial Management
6. Feb 20: Sustainable Production Planning
7. Feb 27: Entrepreneurship & Risk Management
8. Mar 13: Loans, Grants, & Support Programs
9. Mar 27: Graduation Celebration and Presentation of Business Plans

All workshops will be held from 6-9pm at Jonesborough Farm Bureau. The address for in person classes will be 1103 Boones Creek Rd. Jonesborough, TN 37659.

FULL Scholarships Available! Please register here if you are a veteran, minority farmer, or limited resource farmer (https://lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov/DeterminationTool...). You qualify for a full scholarship. 20 scholarships available!

Tennessee Ag Enhancement Program (TAEP) Credits: The Field School Winter Business Intensive is accredited by the TN Dept of Agriculture, so graduates can qualify for up to 2 Education Credits toward the Producer Diversification Cost-Share Program. Education credits are good for up to 3 years from the end of the class. We are the first non-UT program to be accredited!

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This work is supported by the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Grant #2021-49400-35615 from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council's workshops require advanced time, effort, and expense to plan and host. As such, it is policy of ARCD to issue refunds for registration fees only in the event that the workshop is cancelled or in extreme circumstances. In order to receive a refund for extreme circumstances, registrants must communicate with the workshop coordinator at least 48 hours prior to the event so that their spot may be offered to someone on the waitlist. Refunds will not be issued after a workshop begins.