Have you ever thought about farming, but did not know where to begin? Maybe you own property and want to know what you can do with it. Perhaps you already have an idea of what you want to do, but need help formulating a plan. Or maybe you have already started farming, but are looking for ways to make your farm more profitable.
If any of this is true for you, then NC Farm School might be for you. Yadkin County Cooperative Extension will be part of the Piedmont North Carolina Farm School in 2022, in collaboration with Davie, Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, and Randolph Counties.
NC Farm School is a unique program for new and transitioning farmers. The mission of this program is to increase the number of successful farmers in North Carolina. NC Farm School benefits attendees by connecting them to an entrepreneurial community of like-minded farmers and providing them with key business skills. Attendees are able to make important connections in business, networking and receive mentoring as they build their new ventures.
Farmers all over North Carolina have benefited from NC Farm School. Noah Miller, of The Miller Farm in Iredell County, returned home to the family farm after several years of studying and working abroad. Noah wanted to take his education and experience in sustainability and use it to transition the family’s farm to beef cattle from tobacco. He enrolled in NC Farm School to complement his previous education and experience. According to Miller, “NC Farm School emphasizes the big picture that we are not alone by introducing us to an entire network of support including teachers, agents, specialists, and other farmers ready to help.” Under his farming vision, he uses the land’s natural resources sustainably to ensure that the farm remains resilient for future generations.
David Allen, who started Tranquility Farm in Rowan County, wanted to find the best use for the century farm inherited from his wife’s family. NC Farm School guided him through finding the best options for his land. Today Allen and his family run a muscadine vineyard and greenhouse operation on the farm. Prior to attending NC Farm School, Allen’s tenure as police chief had given him years of managerial and supervisory experience and he had earned an MBA. Allen noted, “The most valuable advice that I received from farm school was farm for profit, not for production. Farm School help me develop the tools that I had and apply them to the agricultural ventures.”
Interested in applying? Applications are now being accepted for the 2022 NC Farm School, which will start in January 2022. Classroom sessions are planned to be held in person at the Davie County Extension Center, but will be based on North Carolina and NC State Extension guidelines for safety concerning COVID. One field day per month will be held at different locations in the six counties that are collaborating on NCFS. For more information, call Yadkin County Cooperative Extension at 336-849-7908 or visit 2022 NC Farm School.
