Success StoryBeginning Farmer Series



Beginning Farmer Series

Author: Joseph Ray

Planning Unit: Boyle County CES

Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy

Plan of Work: Home Resource, Financial Business, and Farm Management Education

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Over the last year Boyle County has had an influx of young, new, and beginning farmers move into the county. The beginning farmers range in farm background, experience, operations. The Boyle County ANR and Horticulture Agents have received many calls from beginning farmers on a wide range of subjects from funding opportunities to other resources. 

To meet the needs of the growing number of beginning farmers in the county and surrounding area the Boyle County ANR and Horticulture Agents developed and implemented an educational program series during the fall months. The series focused on providing participants with a foundation of knowledge to build the farming enterprise with. The topics covered in the series included building a business plan and record keeping, an introduction to the FSA and funding sources, farm design and layout.  University of Kentucky Extension Specialist were brought in as guest speakers for subjects and also utilizing partner organization such as USDA FSA, Kentucky State University, KCARD. 

Of the participants from the first session 80% indicated their farming operation didn't have a business plan. After attending this session 75% of participant without a business plan indicated they are likely to create a business plan for their farming operation. 100% of participants who attended the second session learned about a new funding source. The third session covered farm design and layout, 100% of participants walked away having learned new considerations when planning farm infrastructure, also 100% of participants report they were likely to very likely to improve their farm infrastructure after attending this session. 






Stories by Boyle County CES


Teens Rebuild New Orleans

about 6 years ago by Kimberly Ragland

In the fall of 2017, the Boyle County 4-H Teen Club set a goal of traveling out of state to complete... Read More


Teens Learn and Grow at Teen Conference

about 6 years ago by Kimberly Ragland

Through the 94th Annual Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference, 8 4-Hers from Boyle County developed leadershi... Read More