The purpose of this grant is to expand and strengthen the NC Farm Management Training Schools. The Schools educate growers on strategies for successfully accessing new or emerging market opportunities and building lasting relationships between growers and buyers. Participants prepare business plans that are reviewed by NCSU and extension professionals and attend monthly field trips with a different agricultural focus each trip. The farm schools have a class size of 30 farmers. Golden LEAF funds will support four new Farm Management Training Schools in the next year and development of a standardized curriculum.
