Colorado Building Farmers and Ranchers Program

Colorado State University Extension in El Paso County is holding an online Colorado Building Farmers and Ranchers Program January 12- March 2, 2022, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm. Apply for this class at http://elpaso.extension.colostate.edu/classes-and-workshops/ before December 27, 2021. The Colorado Building Farmers and Ranchers Program is a non-credit series of classes focusing on the steps to help farmers and ranchers develop a business plan and to provide insight into how to identify and manage business risks specific to farmers and ranchers.
The course begins with creating a vision or mission statement, developing short- and long-term goals and instruction on how to perform a strength/weakness/opportunity/threat (SWOT) analysis which helps to identify a potential marketing niche, customer base, etc. During our eight weeks together, participants will also develop a strategic marketing plan to include product, pricing, placement and promotion goals and strategies, while identifying customers, costs, and competition. We will also address a variety of current risk topics including setting up an appropriate business structure; thinking about insurance for a farm business; planning for and responding to emergency situations; and recent changes in Colorado labor law and their impact on agriculture. We will round out the education you receive with understanding the importance of recordkeeping for decision making in business planning and how to use those records in your business decisions. Lastly, you will have the opportunity to present your business plan and receive feedback. Following the presentation of your business plan, you will receive a certificate of completion for the Colorado Building Farmers and Ranchers Program.