LINCOLN, Ill. - University of Illinois Extension recently held a successful Farm Business Foundations program that provided producers with the skills and tools to be effective managers of their farm businesses. This program was conducted in partnership with the Sangamon County and Menard County Farm Bureaus and Farm Credit Illinois.
Over the course of three sessions, the program covered a wide range of key topics including business planning, financial management, record keeping, marketing strategies, risk management, and succession planning. The participants who attended the program felt the information was valuable, and having access to the resources used during the program can help them navigate the complexities of running a farm business.
Reagen Tibbs, commercial agriculture educator serving Logan, Menard, and Sangamon counties, and organizer of the program, stated, “Farmers are not just producers – they are business owners. This program was designed to give them the tools and confidence to make informed decisions that lead to long-term success and prosperity.”
Illinois Extension is committed to supporting the agricultural community through educational programs and resources. To ensure the information is accessible to all producers, all materials from this program are now available online. This includes slide decks, worksheets, and handouts. These materials are open to anyone, regardless of whether they registered for the program. Access to the materials can be found at this link: https://go.illinois.edu/FarmBusinessFoundationsMaterials.
For any questions about these resources or future agricultural programs offered through Illinois Extension, please reach out to Reagen Tibbs by emailing rgtibbs@illinois.edu or by calling the Logan County Extension office at (217)732-8289.
Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact the event coordinator. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your needs.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.