Young and Beginning Farmer Program with UD
Grow Your Farm. Strengthen Your Skills. Build Your Future.
Join the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension and Horizon Farm Credit for a hands-on educational program designed specifically for young and beginning farmers.
Event Details
📅 Date: Saturday, August 29
⌚Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
📍 Location: 866 N. DuPont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901
💲 Cost: FREE (Registration Required)
🍽️ Lunch: Mission BBQ + refreshments provided
Why Attend
Whether you're just getting started or looking to expand your operation, this one-day program delivers practical insights you can immediately apply to your farm business.
You’ll gain:
- A clearer understanding of crop insurance and risk management
- Confidence in navigating financing and working with lenders
- Practical knowledge of financial statements and tax structures
- Strategies for smart, sustainable growth
- The opportunity to network with other young and beginning farmers and industry leaders
Agenda
9:30 – 10:00 AM
Check-In & Registration
10:00 – 10:30 AM
Introduction to Crop Insurance
Speaker: Nate Bruce, University of Delaware Farm Management Specialist
10:30 – 11:00 AM
Market Research and Analysis
Speaker: Kofi Britwum, University of Delaware Professor of Farm Management
11:00 – 11:15 AM
Break
11:15 – 11:45 AM
Know Your Lender
Speaker: Ben Somers, Horizon Farm Credit
11:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Understanding Key Financial Statements
Speaker: Rachel Eck, Horizon Farm Credit
12:15 – 1:15 PM
Lunch (Provided – Mission BBQ & Refreshments)
1:15 – 1:45 PM
Financial Considerations for Expanding the Operation
Speaker: Maureen O'Shea Fitzgerald, Blackbird Business Advisors
1:45 – 2:45 PM
Farm Business Tax Entities
Speaker: Tracy Garofalo, Top Notch Accounting
2:45 – 3:00 PM
Post-Program Evaluation
This event is brought to you by the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, a service of the UD College of Agriculture and Natural Resources — a land-grant institution. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. If you have special needs that need to be accommodated, please contact the office two weeks prior to the event.
Have Questions about the Event?
Contact Nate Bruce, Farm Business Management Specialist, University of Delaware Cooperative Extension at 302-856-7303 or at nsbruce@udel.edu.