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Young and Beginning Farmers: Participate in AgBiz Masters to Sharpen Your Business Skills

February 9, 2010

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Learning sound business concepts has never been more important, especially for today’s young and beginning farmers. AgBiz Masters is an interactive, educational learning series designed specifically for young and beginning farmers interested in honing their business and financial management skills. This program is an excellent learning opportunity for current farm owners and operators as well as those that will become part of the farm management or ownership in the near future.

AgBiz Masters takes a blended learning approach where participants complete on-demand, eLearning modules and activities, coupled with face-to-face regional seminars that are led by leading industry experts. It is a two-year series where participants enroll in one year of the program at a time. Year one includes five eLearning modules offered through Farm Credit University that cover the following topics:

• Megatrends of Agriculture

• Strategic Business Planning

• Preparing for Your Lender

• Constructing a Balance Sheet

• Constructing an Income Statement and Cash Flow Projection

In addition to the modules, participants will take part in on-line discussion forums and exams as well as complete individual assignments. Two in-person learning sessions will be held regionally throughout Pennsylvania to supplement the on-line material and allow discussions and feedback among participants and facilitators.

Thanks to the generous support of program partners and a grant received from the Pennsylvania government, the program cost can be as low as $60 to participants enrolling for the first year. This is more than $340 off of the original cost and a tremendous value for today’s young and beginning farmers. Couples and/or business partners may participate in the program together for the individual person price since they will access the same on-line material. As an added incentive, AgChoice customer-owners enrolled in AgBiz Masters will earn seven SmartStart credits each year!

To learn more about this program, please check out our attached AgBiz Masters flyer and registration form. For any additional questions, please contact Raechel Sattazahn at 800-349-3568 ext. 6016 or rsattazahn@agchoice.com. Participants must register by February 18, 2010 to start the program this spring. If an interested participant does not have access to high speed internet at his/her home or business, program coordinators will assist in finding a nearby location with available internet access.

AgBiz Masters is supported by a network of agricultural organizations including: Acuity Advisors and CPAs, AgChoice Farm Credit, Agricultural Veterinary Associates, Center for Dairy Excellence, Center for Farm Transitions, Dairy Farmers of America, Dairy One Cooperative, Inc., Dairylea Cooperative, Inc., Elanco Animal Health, Kutztown University SBDC, Lancaster Dairy Farm Automation, Inc., Lancaster DHIA, Land O’Lakes, Inc., Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative, MSC Business Services, Pa. Farm Bureau, PennAg Industries Association, Pennfield Dairy Profitability Team, Select Sire Power, Triple H Construction and Westfield Group.

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