Winter Business Intensive Graduation and Potluck

Field School Graduation Marks the End of the Series

The Field School Graduation and Potluck on February 2 will bring participants in Appalachian RC&D’s 2026-27 Winter Business Intensive together for the season’s final gathering.

The event follows eight classroom sessions held from October through January covering the major business decisions farmers face as they start, strengthen or expand an agricultural operation. Appalachian RC&D describes the Winter Field School as a farm-business training program that brings together agricultural professionals and experienced farmers to provide practical tools participants can apply to their own operations.

The graduation and potluck give participants a chance to close out the learning process, reconnect with other group members, and recognize the work completed throughout the series.

Eight Sessions Cover the Farm Business

The Winter Business Intensive begins with Getting Started and moves through a sequence of increasingly specific farm-management topics.

Participants examine farm visioning and available resources; infrastructure and natural-resource planning; markets and marketing; business and financial management; sustainable production planning; entrepreneurship and risk management; and loans, grants, and support programs.

Together, these sessions encourage farmers to view the operation as a complete business rather than focusing only on production.

For beginning farmers, the series can provide a framework for turning ideas into a realistic plan. Established producers can use the same process to evaluate expansion, new enterprises, changing markets or investments in infrastructure.

Graduation Recognizes More Than Attendance

The Field School Graduation marks the completion of a structured educational commitment extending across several months.

Appalachian RC&D says the Winter Business Intensive includes presentations from more than 20 agricultural professionals, including representatives from Extension, USDA agencies, other agricultural organizations, and experienced farmers. Participants also receive take-home resources and practical tools intended for use on their own farms.

The final gathering gives farmers a chance to reflect on what they have learned and consider which ideas they want to carry into the next growing season or business year.

The potluck also creates space for the peer relationships that develop during a multi-session program. Those connections can remain useful after the formal classes end as farmers continue working through similar production, financial, and marketing challenges.

TAEP Credits Add Practical Value

Graduates of the Winter Business Intensive may also qualify for up to two education credits toward Tennessee’s Agricultural Enhancement Program Producer Diversification Cost-Share Program.

Appalachian RC&D says the Tennessee Department of Agriculture accredits the Winter Business Intensive and that qualifying education credits remain valid for up to three years after the class ends.

That gives the series an additional practical benefit for Tennessee farmers considering future Producer Diversification investments.

A Final Gathering for the 2026-27 Class

The February 2 Field School Graduation and Potluck closes a program built around helping farmers make stronger business decisions and connect with agricultural resources across Northeast Tennessee.

The gathering is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Langston Centre in Johnson City.

Participants should check with Appalachian RC&D for final instructions about the potluck, attendance requirements, and any graduation details as the event approaches.

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