Have you been thinking about making your hobby vegetable garden into a part-time business?  Are you considering raising goats?  Or perhaps you are a full time farmer and want to add a pumpkin enterprise to your corn and soybean operation.  If you ever thought about starting a farming operation, then the Grow Your Farm Program is for you.  The Grow Your Farm program will connect you with successful farm operators and business experts.  The program will be offered at the University of Missouri office, 301 3^rd St, Hillsboro, starting at6:30 pm on January 20^th and running on eight consecutive Tuesdays.  The course also includes two Saturday farm tours in the area.

Grow Your Farm is a business planning course.  Most sessions will focus on business planning and the process of selecting enterprises that can be profitable, based on an individual’s resources and skills.  Most sessions will have farmer presenters that will share their experiences, challenges, and successes.  Some of the presenters’ operations include selling produce, eggs, meat, flowers, registered beef cattle, goats, peppers, pork, chicken, bedding plants, small fruits, organic production, and value added products.  An emphasis will be placed on marketing, with presentations by successful farm marketers.

Class size will be limited to 15 operations with two members from each farming operation.   The registration fee is $250 and provides each operation with one set of course materials. Registration must be received by January 16^th and is on a first come, first served basis.  The Grow Your Farm Course is for everyone, both those beginning or considering a farming enterprise as well as established farmers that are considering changing their operations.  It is applicable to small part time farms and to larger commercial farms.

For more information about program contact Debi Kelly, Horticulture/Local Foods Specialist, at 636-797-5391. You can also find the program brochure with the registration form at the Jefferson County Extension Center.