Rolling Applications

​Register FOR SFB today | Scholarships available

Apply Now!

Stateline Farm Beginnings® (SFB) is an in-depth course designed to help aspiring and beginning farmers plan and launch a sustainable farm business. 

Why Farm Beginnings® ?

 Farm Beginnings participants learn product and financial management skills, explore emerging farm opportunities, and network with and learn from experienced regional farmers. Course presenters bring professional experience and individualized perspectives from rural and urban landscapes in the Chicago, Rockford, Milwaukee, Madison and surrounding regions.

The course is broken into two distinct semesters: Farm Dreams Intensive and Farm Business Intensive. 

Part 1: Farm Dreams Intensive

In Farm Dreams Intensive (FDI) you will develop a plan for your farm and farm products. These product management skills will help you transform your ideas into a well developed, cohesive, and actionable farm pitch.

FDI Activities Include:

• Tailoring core business values
• ​Storytelling 
• Planning for profitability
• Setting up a customer relationship management system
• Strategizing for customer acquisition and retention  
• Developing and presenting a farm pitch

⇢ Sign up for this course by itself, or
⇢ Sign up for the complete Stateline Farm Beginnings® program.

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Part 2: Farm Business Intensive

In Farm Business Intensive (FBI) you will learn, practice, and apply crucial farm financial management skills to your farm business. These skills will help transform your farm pitch into a business plan ready to share with a loan officer.

FBI Activities Include:

• Choosing the best legal structure for your business 
• Examining profitability by product           
• Learning how to analyze, create and use a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement
• Assessing risk and risk management needs         
• Understanding taxes and financial reporting requirements

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⇢ Farm Business Intensive can be taken by Farm Dreams Intensive grads, and by farmers with 3+ years of farming experience. 
⇢ SFB alumni who want to fine-tune your financial skills can audit the class for free.​

Interested in taking FBI by itself?

1. Fill out the application and scholarship request if desired
2. Schedule a meeting with us 
3. Prepare for the interview
4. Meet with us
5. Submit your application!

*The Stateline Farm Beginnings® year-long program (both FDI and FBI) is an Illinois FSA approved Borrower Training Vendor program, and fulfills 2-years of the farm business management experience requirement for farmers to qualify for a USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Direct Farm Ownership loan. ​

Scholarship assistance is readily available
Scholarship applications and instructions are in the Application Packet and are reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply Now!
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​We welcome and provide a safe space for all, including LGBTQ+ individuals, women, BIPOC, immigrants, and US military veterans.

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Have questions?

Email: farmertraining@learngrowconnect.org

Apply Now!

 Not ready to plant your farm dream?

Consider joining Upper Midwest CRAFT, our farmer training alliance
​for access to farm news, learning opportunities, and community.