2014 Agripreneur Series to Begin January 16, 2014

Boone, North Carolina – Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture announces the 2014 Agripreneur (Agriculture Entrepreneurship) series beginning Thursdays in January 2014 from 6 to 8 pm. Attendees will receive business and marketing instruction specific to farm operations in this 4-part series. There is no cost to attend.

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, facilitated by Arlene Childers, Certified NC REAL trainer along with an agriculture expert guest speaker from the local farming community.  Registering for all four workshops is highly recommended.

Topics and guest speakers for the series are:

·         January 16 – Agriculture Entrepreneurship & Business Planning,
Guest speaker: Carol Coulter, Heritage Homestead

·         January 23 – Market Research and the Marketing Plan

Guest speaker: Hollis Wild, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project

·         January 30 – Business Operations,

Guest speaker: Holly Whitesides, Against the Grain Farm

·         February 6 – Business Financials,

Guest speaker: Barbara Smith, Farm Service Agency, Loan Officer

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Small Business Center, Watauga County Cooperative Extension, the High Country Workforce Development Board, and Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture co-sponsor the series. Seating is limited, only two registrations per family. Register for workshops individually at www.cccti.edu/smallbusiness. Descriptions and speaker bios can be found at www.brwia.org/agripreneur. For more information contact Evelyn Asher at easher@cccti.edu or 828-297-8121.