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A Beginning Farmer Training Program

Registration for Winter Field School is Now Open!

The Field School is a beginning farmer training program that provides students with an overview of small-scale farming in East Tennessee. It is taught by more than 20 farmers and agricultural professionals and is hosted by the Appalachian RC&D Council, Green Earth Connection, and many area partners. Please email Rachel Slaughter, Agriculture Education Program Director, (slaughter@arcd.org) if you have any questions or would like more information.

Register for the 2024 Winter Field School
Register for a Winter Field School Scholarship

Field School Students Can:

  • Tap into the knowledge of seasoned farmers and agriculture professionals from across the region.
  • Meet like-minded people who are also looking to take their passion for farming to the next level.
  • Learn how to connect with the local food scene, with government resources, with new ideas, with markets for farm products, with legal guidance, and with proper laws.
  • Workshop their ideas with their peers, experienced farmers, and industry experts to get specific feedback and invaluable insights.

See previous topics covered at Field School on our YouTube Channel.  


Winter Business Intensive (WBI)

The Winter Business Intensive (November-March) has 8 classroom sessions on writing a business, financial and marketing plan for your farm. 

Program Cost

Winter Field School tuition is a sliding scale of $99 – $299 per farm (with a maximum of 2 people per ticket) for all 8 sessions November-March.
Register and read more details about dates, topics, and what’s included here: https://arcd.networkforgood.com/events/75492-winter-business-intensive-field-school-2024-25

Students who qualify as veterans, minority, or limited resource beginning farmers can register for a scholarship seat in our Winter Field School here:
https://arcd.networkforgood.com/events/75494-2024-25-winter-business-intensive-scholarship-registration

What’s Included?

  • 8 classroom sessions held November-March on a variety of business, marketing, and financial planning topics.
  • Presentations by agricultural experts from USDA Extension, NRCS, Farm Service Agency and more, plus experienced farmers providing an insider’s look into their operations
    (see full list of sessions at the registration link).
  • Printed and/or digital resources compiled by ARCD staff to accompany certain topics.

Who should attend?

  • Beginning farmers looking to learn from local farmers and experts.
  • Experienced farmers who are looking for new ideas or looking to expand their operations.

Workshop Dates & Topics:

  • Nov 7: Introductions & Getting Started
  • Nov 21: Visioning Your Farm & Assessing Your Resources
  • Dec 12: Farm Infrastructure & Natural Resource Plan
  • Jan 9: Markets & Marketing
  • Jan 23: Business & Financial Management
  • Feb 20: Sustainable Production Planning
  • Feb 27: Entrepreneurship & Risk Management
  • Mar 13: Loans, Grants, & Support Programs
  • Mar 27: Graduation Celebration and Presentation of Business Plans

Tennessee Ag Enhancement Program (TAEP) Credits

The Field School Winter Business Intensive is accredited by the TN Department of Agriculture, so graduates can qualify for up to 2 Education Credits toward the Producer Diversification Cost-Share Program. Education credits are good for up to 3 years from the end of the class. We are the first non-UT program to be accredited! (Summer Field School does not qualify for Education Credits at this time.)

What Students Are Saying

“I joined the Field School just to research and learn. But I was so inspired that I jumped right in with growing vegetables for the farmers market on a half-acre.” – Susan McKinney (Small Batch Farm)

“I was so inspired after the first session that I filled out my business plan objectives that night. But things changed a lot during the year. My plan is now more realistic for what we are able to do” – Steven Mallory (Hope Farms)

“The field visit to Myers Farm was a game changer for me. I built a stage platform on my farm and we’ve already had two concerts with 100+ people at our first event. It’s really helped me get our name out in the community.” – Richard Calkins (Harbin Hills Farm)

“I’ve been farming for 20 years and I wasn’t sure I would learn much, but I really did learn a lot. We changed our plans after going through the Field School and doing more research. We plan to go the agritourism route to educate people about honey bees and sell real local honey.” – Jay Heselschwerdt (Sweet Life Farm)

Gallery

group-2016-high-tunnelGroup shot at Harbin Hill Farm in Mountain City, December 2016

  • Buffalo Trail Orchard with Phil Ottenger July 2017

  • Gibson Berry Farm with Duane Gibson July 2017

  • First time farmer, Susan McKinney, at her new booth at the Jbo Farmers Market

  • River House Farm with Melissa Rebholz, April 2017

  • River House Farm's greenhouse, April 2017

  • On-farm classroom space at Harbin Hill Farm, Dec. 2016

  • It was 10 degrees outside, but teaching season extension has been a priority across our youth and adult education

  • On a farm tour at Myer's Family Farm and Pumpkin Patch with Vera Ann Myers, June 2017

  • Learning about fencing and rotational grazing at Dotson Farm, March 2017

  • Tour of the not-quite finished Mountain Harvest Kitchen in Unicoi, May 2017

  • Presentation on TN Dept of Ag food processing laws with Mike Brown, from TDA.

  • Students doing a hands on activity at the first Field School in Nov 2015

  • Stephanie Bernard presenting on her farm business plan at the August 2017 graduation party.

  • Some FS students meeting Jean-Martin Fortier at a workshop in Pikeville, KY

  • On tour at Crouch Farm, Summer 2015

Partners

We are so grateful to the partners who have already committed support, either through teaching or through financial sponsorship. Thanks to all UT Extension teachers, NRCS, FSA, TDA, to all farmers, and the 20+ professionals who will teach at the Field School over the course of the year.

The ARCD’s Field School is supported by the Beginning Farmer and Ranchers Development Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

Farm Bureau, provides classroom and kitchen space for us for free at their Jonesborough location.

Dana York, retired 2014 Associate Chief USDA-NRCS, has moved back home to Northeast Tennessee with ambitions to spend the next phase of her career training new beginning farmers in our region. Dana is the Field School’s Lead Facilitator and Curriculum Consultant. Having worked in the Chesapeake Bay watershed where nutrient management is lifeblood, her strength is coaching you to plow a straight row between cost-effective and conservation farming that leads to better soil, water quality, and profits.

Washington County Community Foundation (then the Harris Fund) sponsored our Friends of Ag breakfasts for 2 years, allowing us to research community needs and evolve a Field School program.

Future Harvest, based out of Maryland, graciously allowed us to borrow their beginning farmer program title of Field School and has advised us on materials. For more information on their great work in the Chesapeake food-shed: www.futureharvestcasa.org