This 10-hour small farm management college is designed to help landowners examine potential ways to increase profits from their small acreage properties. The program is open to all new or aspiring farmers, new rural landowners, small farmers. and farm families looking for new ideas. During this college, participants will be challenged to develop realistic expectations for their new farm business. They will receive information about getting started, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of their property and developing a farm business plan.
Dates: November 3rd, 5th, 10th and 12th, 2026 6:30-9:00pm
Location: Tri-County Board of Mental Health Training Rooms A&B, 1280 N. County Road 25A, Troy, Ohio 45373
Fee is $80 for the first family member Each additional family members is $40. Each family receives only one binder of resources.
Participants are expected to attend every session.
Register here Deadline to register is October 22!
Session Descriptions
Session 1: November 3, 2026 Getting Started on Your New Farm Business
- Developing real-life expectations for your farm Assessing your property and resources
- Developing your family and farm mission, goals and objectives managing farm and family income and expenses
- What is a farm business plan and why do you need one?
Session 2: November 5, 2026 You Can't Measure What you Don't Track
- Recordkeeping for farm business
- Using enterprise budgets to project farm income
- Introduction to farm taxes
Session 3: November 10, 2026 The Legal Side of Farm Financial Management
- Legal structures for farms
- Farm leases and contracts
- Licenses and permits for selling farm food products Liability concerns for farms
Session 4: November 12, 2026 Money, money, money! The Financial Side of Small Farm Management
- Developing farm and family balance sheets
- Developing financial statements for your farm
- Farm financing options Developing your farm business plan