Agripreneurship Series Begins in January

Location: Agriculture Conference Center Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Register online www.cccti.edu/smallbusiness

Further questions: easher@cccti.edu

The Agriculture-Entrepreneurship Series provides education to entrepreneurs who want to begin a farming business and to farmers wanting to transform their farm into a thriving business. The 4-part series includes real-world scenarios and hands-on activities. Each session features an education session along with a local agriculture expert guest speaker. A class outline is provided below.

Agripreneur Workshop Series Outline

1/16/2014 - Exploring Agriculture Entrepreneurship & Business Planning The Agriculture-Entrepreneurship Series provides education to new and existing farm entrepreneurs. In this seminar, attendees will identify the personal qualities and skills of successful entrepreneurs, and learn about community analysis and business feasibility. Participants will identify tools necessary to write a successful business plan to serve as a guide for their business. Guest Speaker: Carol Coulter, Heritage Homestead

1/23/2014 – Market Research and the Marketing Plan In this seminar, attendees focus on the importance of market research and target market when developing a marketing plan. Learn how Marketing Mix decisions can be made using the 5 P's of Marketing. Attendees identify target market segments and develop a marketing strategy for a sample business using SWOT Analysis. Guest Speaker: Hollis Wild, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project

1/30/2014 – Business Operations In this seminar, attendees will identify key human resource concerns, discuss different forms of legal structures and the advantages and disadvantages of each type of structure. Additional topics include licensing and zoning, trademarks, copyrights, patents, and insurance. Guest Speaker: Holly Whitesides, Against the Grain Farm

2/6/2014 – Business Financials Learn the various alternatives to financing a small business and the risks involved. The seminar introduces breakeven analysis as a tool to assist the entrepreneur in measuring financial feasibility. Activities identify the kinds of data needed to project the revenue, start-up, and operating costs of a business. The seminar helps attendees develop an understanding of cash flow and break even analysis and its relationship to business planning. Guest speaker: Barbara Smith, Loan Consultant, Farm Service Agency