MU Extension’s “Grow Your Farm” Program to Help People Plan Farm Enterprises

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FROM UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI EXTENSION
SOUTHWEST REGIONAL NEWS SERVICE

Contact: Patrick Byers, Horticulture Specialist
Headquartered in Greene County

Tel: (417) 881-8909
E-mail: byerspl@missouri.edu

 

Hollister, Mo. – “Grow Your Farm” is an educational program offered by University of Missouri 

Extension that is designed to help landowners interested in farming for the first time and current 

farmers wanting to start new enterprises.

 

“Grow Your Farm” includes eight class sessions and two farm tours and will connect people 

investing in a farm career with successful farm operators and business experts according to 

Patrick Byers and Tim Schnakenberg, horticulture and agronomy specialists with MU Extension.

The course are being offered at the Hollister City Hall in Hollister. Classes meet once a month 

from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. starting April 18 and continuing through October 24, 2016. Two classes 

will meet in April.

 

Sessions will focus on business planning and selecting enterprises that can be profitable, based 

on an individual’s skills and resources. Planning your farm, keeping track of finances, marketing 

your farm products and understanding legal issues are just some of the topics addressed.

“This is a unique opportunity for growers and producers to connect with University of Missouri 

Extension specialists in horticulture, agriculture business, natural resources and community 

development. These specialists can offer their expertise in small farm production, marketing, and 

increasing outcomes for small farm profitability,” said Byers.

 

Scholarships to cover the training fee of $200 are available to the first 10 registrants through a 

grant with Missouri Enterprise and the City of Hollister from the USDA for the Hollister Farm to 

Table project.  “Register early for the scholarship,” urges Byers.  The training fee covers 2 

people from a farm or household, and includes the cost of a course notebook, additional 

textbook, and group sessions with guest speakers, farm tours, and refreshments. Each additional 

person per household/operation may attend for $50 per person.  


For more information contact Patrick Byers at the Greene County Extension office by telephone 

at (417) 881-8909 or online at http://extension.missouri.edu/greene.  Registration for the Grow 

Your Farm program will be through the Taney County Extension Office, at 417-546-4431.

 

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