Twenty-five new farmers and ranchers in Sonoma County will develop business plans and learn from farm veterans in a new program made possible by a $700,000 federal grant.
Nearly 100 beginning farmers and ranchers applied for the nine-month AGROpreneurship program offered at Santa Rosa Junior College's Shone Farm near Forestville. The aim is to help new farmers build successful businesses.
Those who complete the program may be eligible to lease county land deemed suitable for food production, organizers said.
"Our goal is to increase farmers and food," said Stephanie Larson, director of the county's UC Cooperative Extension Office.
The class met for the first time Friday and toured the 365-acre college farm. Classes will take place once a month, and participants will have additional opportunities to meet with about 15 mentor farmers and with experts from SRJC's Small Business Development Center.
Several participants said they signed up and paid the $450 program fee so they could become better entrepreneurs.
"We want to hone our business plan and we want to focus on what will be successful in our vegetable and fruit operation," said Susan Bryer, who helps run Shelton's Market Garden in Sebastopol.
Much of the produce from the year-old organic operation goes to Shelton's Natural Foods Market in Healdsburg, but the garden also has a farm stand and sells to neighbors and others.
Jaime Enriquez of Graton said he hopes to raise cattle as his family did in the state of Morelos, Mexico.
"I really want to start my own business, but I don't know how," said Enriquez, who has worked in the home painting and wallpaper business.
Tooti Bevill hopes to raise heritage animals and heirloom vegetables on 35 acres near Windsor. She said she signed up for the program, "so I don't become overwhelmed and underfunded."
The program is sponsored by SRJC, the UC Cooperative Extension and the community group Latino Service Providers. The county's Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District is a supporter.
The U.S. Agriculture Department provided the program's three-year grant.
Torrey Olson, one of the mentor farmers, said many prospective farmers struggle in understanding the business side of agriculture.
"It's fairly easy to grow a plant," said Olson, who with his wife, Lucy, has owned Gabriel Farms near Graton for a dozen years. "It's an entirely different endeavor to grow a plant and harvest it and package it so that somebody wants to buy it .
.
. I think it's invaluable for these guys to learn that from the start." Paul Bozzo, one of the program's two instructors, said part of business planning involves identifying potentially profitable niche markets."You step back and ask, &‘Is this the right market for me?'
Paul Bozzo, one of the program's two instructors, said part of business planning involves identifying potentially profitable niche markets.
"You step back and ask, &‘Is this the right market for me?'
" said Bozzo, principal for the 10X Group consulting firm in Santa Rosa. Participants and mentor farmers also will be able to interact on an online forum, which eventually will grow to include those who join the program's classes over the next three years."What I think is unique about having this class is there will be a tremendous opportunity for networking and collaboration and partnering with this group of new farmers and ranchers," said Laura Mendes, the program's other instructor.You can reach Staff Writer Robert Digitale at 521-5285 or robert.digitale@pressdemocrat.com
Participants and mentor farmers also will be able to interact on an online forum, which eventually will grow to include those who join the program's classes over the next three years.
"What I think is unique about having this class is there will be a tremendous opportunity for networking and collaboration and partnering with this group of new farmers and ranchers," said Laura Mendes, the program's other instructor.
You can reach Staff Writer Robert Digitale at 521-5285 or robert.digitale@pressdemocrat.com
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