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Agricultural Entrepreneurship Course Helps New and Existing Farmers Develop Road Map for Financial Success

Bremerton, Wash. – Farming can be a wonderful lifestyle, but achieving financial success requires that farmers view their operations as a business. Beginning farmers must look at their enterprise as a new business with all the careful planning that entails, while existing operations considering diversification or expansion must carefully evaluate how any changes might impact land, labor, capital, and management resources.

WSU Kitsap County Extension will offer a 12-week “Cultivating Success: Agricultural Entrepreneurship” course to help new and existing farmers gain skills in business planning and direct marketing as well as dealing with the financial and legal issues unique to farm businesses. The course starts Wednesday, January 14, 2009 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the WSU Extension Classroom – Room 406, Norm Dicks Government Center 345 6th Street Bremerton, WA.

This in-depth business planning course covers evaluating resources, planning and research, legal and management issues, marketing strategies, budgets and financial statements along with how to cultivate money resources. During the course, participants will develop a business plan they can literally take to the bank to finance a new enterprise or expand an existing farm business.

Course facilitated by Arno Bergstrom, WSU Kitsap County Extension Director, Jerry Darnall, Kingston, WA pork producer and Diane Fish, Seabeck farmer and WSU graduate in animal science.  This team just completed teaching the Fall 2008 Sustainable Small Acreage Farming class.

The course features a full line-up of local guest speakers including bankers, business professionals, and successful farm owners. In addition, there will be two Saturday field trips to see how other thriving farms are turning business plans into profitable reality.

Class size is limited to 25; register ASAP to hold your spot. Cost for the twelve-week course is $225 and pre-registration is required. To register, contact Arno Bergstrom at (360) 337-7225, email Arno Bergstrom, or download the form a http://kitsap.wsu.edu/ag/business_course.htm and mail with your check.

For more information on the course, contact Arno Bergstrom at awbergstrom@wsu.edu. For more information on the Cultivating Success program, visit www.cultivatingsuccess.org.

Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, and sexual orientation. Evidence of non-compliance may be reported through your local Extension Office. Persons with a disability requiring special accommodation can request accommodation 21 days before training at (360) 337-7225. If accommodation is not requested in advance, we cannot guarantee availability on-site.

Arno Bergstrom
WSU Kitsap County Extension
345 6th Street Suite 550
Bremerton, WA 98337
360.337.7225
awbergstrom@wsu.edu
http://kitsap.wsu.edu/
Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office.