Begin a Business Plan: check

We did it! Break out the hat, tassel and champagne, we graduated! Well, I'm not sure it's really graduating, but we do have a certificate to prove we did something! We recently took a 12 week course titled Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Business Planning. It was offered by the Washington State University Extension (does that make us Cougs now? gasp!) and covered the aspects of writing a business plan specific to farming. We discussed risk management, finances, mission and vision statements, succession plans, employee management and marketing. Our biggest disappointment came when we just didn't have enough time to research and write after working our other jobs and doing the chores needed to get the garden going for the spring. But now we have things to think about and a good outline. We were also able to network with established farmers and other professionals in our area as well as with other beginning small business adventurers like ourselves.