Elearning Course Ag Biz Basics

Young, Beginning, Small Farmer Veteran eLearning Course – Ag Biz Basics

Ag Biz Basics Program Goals: Participants will:  Develop a relationship with a loan officer mentor who will guide and direct your work throughout the course.  Develop an understanding of basic financial statements, credit scores, cash flow and how it impacts your farm and family.  Build a balance sheet and income statement for your farm.  Learn how to prepare to meet with a lender.  Be exposed to individuals from many faucets of agriculture and begin to build a network of resources and individuals to call on for help and mentorship.

Ag Biz Basics Vision: Create a fast paced training program for Farmer Veterans partnering with a loan officer mentor. Allow them to build a network of resources to call upon after the program is complete.

Ag Biz Basics Outline: The Young, Beginning, Small Farmer Veteran eLearning Curriculum will include four online modules consisting of interactive exercises, an objective test and application exercises. The training modules will be available on- demand anytime through any high speed internet connection – either at a farmer’s home, place of business or from a local Farm Credit office. Association employees will act as mentors, guiding farmers through the training and providing feedback on completed application exercises. A face-to-face leadership institute will be held upon completion for all graduates to allow them to network and apply what they learned in a group setting.

Curriculum topics will include:  Side by Side with your Lender

 Do you Cash Flow? Cash Flow Planning

 What are you worth Financially? Balance Sheet

 Did you make a Profit? Income Statement

1 PARTICIPANTS: Ag Biz Basics participants will be young, beginning, and small farmer veterans. Participants will either be the primary decision maker or have major influence in decisions involving the farming operation. Participants will be veterans of a branch of the armed services of the United States. Participants will farm and reside in North Carolina.

Cost of the Program:  Estimated actual cost of the program is approximately $1500 per participant.  Each participant will pay $100.00 at the start of the program.  Upon successful completion of the online course and attendance at the final meeting, Carolina Farm Credit will refund $100 to the participant.  Carolina Farm Credit will cover tuition, kickoff meeting, and final meeting and speaker fees.  The final investment is $0 per participant.  A kickoff meeting will be held on November 27, 2017. Carolina Farm Credit will provide a meeting space, and fund meals and speakers.

 The class will conclude with an overnight Leadership workshop in Raleigh, NC on January 10-11, 2018. Carolina Farm Credit will cover one hotel room for one night, meals and speakers for that workshop as well.

 Each participant will be responsible for their own transportation to the meetings.

YBS definitions:  Young Farmers are defined as those farmers, ranchers, producers or harvesters of aquatic products who are age 35 or younger.

 Beginning Farmers are defined as those farmers, ranchers, producers or harvesters of aquatic products who have 10 years or less farming or ranching experience.

 Small Farmers are defined as those farmers, ranchers, producers or harvesters of aquatic products who normally generate less than $250,000 in annual gross sales of agricultural or aquatic products.

Please call Allyson Brake at 800-521-9952 x2899 or email [email protected] with questions about the program.

2 Young, Beginning, and Small Farmer Veteran eLearning Course – Ag Biz Basics

Application for Farm Credit University eLearning Ag Biz Basics Program

Please follow the instructions below to apply for the Young, Beginning, and Small Farmer Veteran eLearning Course.

Instructions: 1. Complete the application completely and sign. 2. Application deadline: Must be postmarked by September 20, 2017 3. Return application to: Carolina Farm Credit Attn: Ag Biz Basics Application PO Box 1827 Statesville, NC 28687

Applicant Name ______Age ______

Spouse Name ______Age ______

Address ______

E-mail address ______

Phone______County ______

Emergency Contact: Name ______Phone______

If your spouse or business partner will participate in this course with you, please check below:

Spouse 

Business Partner  Name of Business Partner______

Please provide the names and ages of your children: 3 Children # ______Ages ______

Names ______

Formal Education of Applicant ______

Formal Education of Spouse ______

If you or your spouse works off the farm, please provide information about the position (company name, title, etc): ______

______

Are you a current Farm Credit customer?  Yes  No If yes, how many years? ______

Describe your farming operation - (commodities, size, years involved, family members involved, etc.)

______

Military Service: Retired: ___ Discharge Date: ______

Active Duty: ___ Expected Discharge Date: ______

Active Reserve: ___

Branch: ______

Business Structure:

______Sole Proprietorship ______Corporation ______Partnership

Do you have access to land?: ___ Yes ____ No Additional comments: ______

______

______List the farm and community organizations you are involved in (You may add another page if needed):

______4 ______

______

Please check ALL categories that describe you and your farm:

______Young Farmers are defined as those farmers, ranchers, producers or harvesters of aquatic products who are age 35 or younger.

______Beginning Farmers are defined as those farmers, ranchers, producers or harvesters of aquatic products who have 10 years or less farming or ranching experience

______Small Farmers are defined as those farmers, ranchers, producers or harvesters of aquatic products who normally generate less than $250,000 in annual gross sales of agricultural or aquatic products.

What do you hope to gain from completing Ag Biz Basics?

______

Signature of Applicant Date