COURTESY OF AGRIBUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS GROUP
Left, Financial Services Officer Robert Winders has become a mentor for Mary Mizeo Bevier, who is taking part in a new program designed to teach young farmers how to successfully manage their operation.
Mary Mizeo Bevier of Clayton, is taking part in an innovative program designed to educate young, beginning, small, and minority farmers about successfully managing their farm operations.
The Farm Credit University Ag Biz Planner program teaches financial and management skills for young farmers. Farmers gain a sound foundation for keeping their farms growing.
AgCarolina Financial, the financial farm cooperative serving eastern and central North Carolina is sponsoring eight participants and has teamed up with four other North Carolina and Virginia farm credit agencies to sponsor the program.
The college-level, online course began in 2011 and takes about six months to complete. In addition to budgeting and financial and management skills, the course emphasizes how to capitalize on and navigate the challenges in agribusiness. By the end of the course, participants will design a strategic business plan for their own businesses. Mizeo operates a greenhouse business that produces herbs, vegetables, flowers, and makes lavender crafts.
“This group of farmers faces unique challenges and it is important to the future of agriculture and rural communities. Running a successful agricultural operation is hard work and the challenges are considerable. But by the end of the program, these farmers are equipped with the skills to keep their operation moving forward for the long term,” says Dr. David Kohl, a retired Virginia Tech agricultural finance and business management expert. Kohl developed the program.
In its third year, the on-demand, 10-module computer course was designed for farm credit institutions. Financial services officer from AgCarolina Financial Robert Winders, a financial services officer working out the Smithfield branch office of AgCarolina Financial, mentors participants like Bevier as they work through the course.
