New and Small Farm College

OSU Extension
New and Small Farm College

The New and Small Farm College is an eight-week program that introduces new and seasoned farmers to a wide variety of topics. Typically beginning in January, the program teaches participants how to set goals, plan, budget, and where to find resources if they choose to start a small farming operation. The course will lay out how to manage financial and farm records.

Check back in the fall for our 2020 dates and locations!

Extension Educators will illustrate many different enterprises that can be profitable on land as small as one acre. The educators will show the benefits and pitfalls of each enterprise so that the participant will be able to pick and choose what may work best for them and what suits their interest. To round out the experience, a tour will be held around area farms so that participants can see first-hand how small farm life works, and also make contacts of practicing farmers in the area.

Topics covered in the program include:

  • Getting started in the planning process
  • Sources of assistance
  • Agricultural legal issues
  • Insurance considerations for the farm
  • Inventory of natural resources
  • Financial and production record keeping
  • Crops and horticulture production
  • Animal production
  • Marketing

Sample Course Outline

Class Dates: Thursdays (day varies by location)
• January – March

Class Times:
• Light dinner at 6:00 pm
• Classes are from 6:30 – 9:00 pm

Cost:
• Price includes one 3-inch binder of resource materials, meals and dessert each night, and 1 soil sample evaluation
• Additional family member discount available (does not include a notebook).

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