This one-day workshop is designed to help beginning farmers develop the practical management and business skills needed to build successful and resilient farm enterprises. While production skills are essential, long-term farm viability also depends on effective planning, resource management, financial decision-making, and market development.

Led by agricultural educator and farm business specialist Hugh Farrell, participants will explore how to assess and manage farm resources, set realistic goals, evaluate market opportunities, and develop a farm business plan that aligns with their values and available resources. Through presentations, discussions, and hands-on exercises, attendees will learn tools for improving farm profitability, managing risk, and making informed decisions about land, labor, equipment, and finances.

This workshop is ideal for beginning farmers, incubator participants, gardeners transitioning to market production, and anyone interested in developing a sustainable farm enterprise.

Presenter Bios: 
Hugh Farrell stepped in as the executive director of the Indiana Cooperative Development Center in March, 2025. He has a background in developing housing cooperatives and organizing community land trusts. In addition, he has a long history of collaboration within the cooperative food sector, helping to build pipelines that train practitioners in kitchen and agricultural cooperatives. Passionate about Indiana and its cooperative potential across both rural and urban communities, Hugh brings a deep commitment to fostering cooperative development. He earned a degree in history from Indiana University in 2013 and is currently pursuing a PhD focused on the 20th-century history of zoning, development, and family structure in the Midwest.

Schedule of events:

9:00 AM – Welcome and Introductions 

9:30 AM – Assessing Farm Resources and Opportunities - Land, soil, infrastructure, equipment, labor, and community assets

10:45 AM – Break

11:00 AM – Building a Farm Business Plan - Mission, vision, goals, enterprise selection, and business structure

12:00 PM – Lunch and Networking

1:00 PM – Financial Planning for Beginning Farmers - Recordkeeping, budgeting, cash flow, pricing, and risk management

2:15 PM – Market Development and Sales Strategies - CSA programs, farmers markets, restaurants, wholesale, and value-added products

3:15 PM – Farm Walk and Resource Assessment Exercise - Applying resource management concepts at Daisy Garton Community Farm

4:00 PM – Developing Your Farm Action Plan - Participants create next-step goals and priorities for their operations

4:45 PM – Questions, Discussion, and Closing Remarks

5:00 PM – Workshop Adjourns

Additional information:
If you have any questions about the event, please reach out to Sofia Caracci at  [email protected] or 888-906-6737 Ext. 721.