Have you been thinking about starting a farm and feel ready to start the process? Whether you’re an aspiring farmer or a grower looking to refine your business skills, our Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Farm Business Planning short course is designed to help you lay the groundwork for a successful business plan.
About the Course
Our course feautures 3-weeks of online activities, 3 virtual live meetings, and 2 (optional) in-person field days in north central Florida. The 3-week online course provides a flexible and engaging learning experience that fits into a busy schedule. The program is tailored for aspiring and beginner farmers, ranchers, and agricultural entrepreneurs looking to develop a solid farm business plan. Our course lessons assist you with:
- Choosing Farm Enterprises – Identify the best fit for you.
- Defining Your Vision & Goals – Clarify your mission and objectives.
- Business Planning – Provides strong building blocks for your farm business plan.
- Legal & Operational Setup – Navigate registration, permits, and regulations.
- Marketing & Social Media Strategy – Understand the basics of marketing and develop a plan to reach customers.
- Farm Financing & Financial Planning – Explore funding options and budgeting.
Registration
Since 2019, more than 256 participants have taken advantage of our learning materials. We cap enrollment at 35 participants to make sure participants get all the support they need. This annual course is very popular, so secure your spot today by registering HERE. Enrollment closes August 3rd, or earlier if capacity is reached.
The course enrollment fee ($100) includes:
- Access to online content and 3 virtual live meetings.
- Two field days (with light refreshments).
- Two books (Building a Sustainable Business and Florida Direct Marketing Handbook).
- Individualized feedback on your business plan – upon request.
Why Enroll?
Our course is designed for flexibility and engagement. Over the course of 3 weeks, explore content at your own pace with interactive live sessions every Thursday (for the duration of the course) from 11:00 AM to 1 PM, scheduled to fit into your lunch break. Each week includes two lessons with recorded presentations, worksheets, videos, and quizzes. Engage in discussion forums to connect with instructors and fellow participants, exchange insights, and strengthen critical thinking. Upon completion, earn a certificate to show proof of participation in a farm management curriculum program as described by the USDA FSA loan programs.
Online access from August 13 through September 4, 2026 with Live Sessions on Thursdays (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM).
Two field days will be offered for course participants:
1. September 4th, 9:00AM to 12:00PM, at the North Florida Research & Education Center – Suwannee Valley in Live Oak, FL.
2. Date to be determined in August or September at a farm in north central Florida.
Course Platform & Requirements
The course is hosted on Canvas, an easy-to-use e-learning platform. Participants must complete all lessons, quizzes, and discussions to receive their certificate of completion.
For questions or more information
- About the course: Dr. Kevin Athearn (athearn@ufl.edu) or Dr. Tatiana Sanchez-Jones (tatiana.sanchez@ufl.edu)
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