<Back | Home | Basics | Departments | Get Involved | Site Map | What's New

Home>Get Involved >Action Alert>21 JAN 2005

Tilling the Soil of Opportunity

A Business Planning Course Using NxLeveL Agricultural Entrepreneurship Curriculum

In three sessions:

March 8 & 9, 2005
March 22 &23
April 5 & 6

At Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County
2715 Rte 44
Millbrook, NY

About the course

Tilling the Soil of Opportunity is a business training course using NxLeveL curriculum. Each attendee will leave the course with a comprehensive business plan to act as a blueprint for future growth. At each session, guest speakers such as small business attorneys, bankers, insurance agents, marketing consultants, and successful entrepreneurs, all with experience in serving the farming community, will be available for consultation.

Who Should Attend

This course is for Agricultural Entrepreneurs who have started or are thinking of starting or expanding an agricultural based venture. The materials are specifically designed for people who are searching for innovative ideas and enhanced marketing opportunities in the area of value-added agriculture.

Topics and guest speaker subjects

• Taking stock of your resources
• Business concept, mission & goals
• Legal structure of business - regulations, contracts & leases with a
  small business attorney with agricultural business knowledge
• Management from the ground up - insurance issues
• Marketing issues - with a marketing consultant
• Marketing strategies - advertising media representative
• Budgeting, record keeping & accounting- Agriculture accountant
• Cash flow & financial statements - panel discussion including
  agricultural entrepreneurs doing value-added
• Financing - Banker with experience lending to Agricultural businesses
• Business growth issues & strategies

About NxLeveL

The NxLeveL Agricultural Entrepreneurial Training Program was developed by the Western Entrepreneurial Network at the University of Colorado at Denver under a grant from the US WEST Foundation.

The sessions

Each 2-day session will cover several topics.

The sessions build on each other, so attendance at all sessions is mandatory. Guest speakers and instructors will be available after class for consultation. Attendance at the 3 hours of consultation on Day 1 of each session is mandatory. Attendance at the 3 hours of consultation on Day 2 of each session is optional.

Cost of the Course

Cost of participation is $250 per registrant. Spouses and partners are encouraged to attend at a reduced rate of $175. This fee includes books, 3 dinners, and 3 breakfasts. Lodging is not included.
Scholarships will be available on a limited basis. They are provided by the NYSFVI for NYS agricultural production businesses.

Day 1 of each session begins at 12:00 p.m. and ends at 9:00 p.m. Dinner is provided.
Day 2 of each session begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 12:00 p.m., with consultation available until 3:00 p.m. Breakfast is provided.

How to register

Due to the nature of this workshop, registration is on a first come first serve basis and limited to the first 20 people. For more information and to register please contact Cheryl Leach at (315) 787-2622.

--

Extension Support Specialist
Northeast Center for Food Entrepreneurship
Cornell University/NYSAES
630 West North Street
Geneva, NY 14456
Ph: (315) 787-2622 fax:(315) 787-2284
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/necfe/

<Back | Home | Tour | Calendar | Contact Us | Funding | Join Now