Immense learning from our first formal Agpripreneur Training Program experience!

Posted by Kblanchard on October 11, 2011

Zenaida and Modesto want to grow corn and beans here, as they did in Mexico.

Jaime is looking into land where he could build a coop and raise chickens with other training participants.

Jose is eager to start working towards owning his own farm — he dreams that his children could experience growing up in the country like he did.

These are just a few of the visions being realized by some of the twenty-one participants in the first-ever Agripreneur Training Program of the Rural Enterprise Center, which just came to a close with a graduation ceremony last month.
The training program began in May, and almost every participant stayed dedicated to the classes through the summer. The program included in-classroom farm business planning and some in-field experiential learning.

The classroom training was dynamic, as participants worked through all aspects of fundamental business planning: finances, human resources, marketing, communications, and operations. We learned and laughed through many role-playing experiences, reflected poignantly on personal values and how they play out in a business, and struggled (and triumphed!) through many new financial-management skills and building a chicken coop together!

At the end of the training, every participant completed an introductory business plan that will serve as an excellent baseline for the further opportunities for land and financing that we hope to be able to connect them to as their agripreneurial plans develop.

When asked how she thought the training would assist her in the future, one trainee responded, “What won’t help me? Everything I learned is going to help me! This training is something that will help a small family business grow.” Another participant commented that she is glad that the training will help her “get ahead and not fall into problems.”

We have learned as much (if not more!) from this training as the participants, and the coming months will include immense evaluation of our training curriculum and process, to include all the great feedback gleaned from participants. We’ll also be giving ongoing support to participants, to help them continue to develop their business plans and connect with all necessary resources.

Stay tuned for much more information in the coming months — there will be many opportunities to support the exciting plans of this first class of training participants!