Education Standards
Farm Business Plan Resources Worksheet_Teacher's version
Farm Business Plan Resources Worksheet
Farm Business Plan Lesson Evaluation
Reading Technical Text to Identify Needed Resources to Develop a Basic Farm Business Plan
Overview
The purpose of this lesson is build on a previous lesson that teaches how to take out a farm loan.
This lesson is designed for adult learners who are pursuing a career in farming. It focuses on reading scientific and technical texts (Grade 6) related to farming business plans. It will help learners identify the resources necessary to develop a simple farm business plan. The learners will have the opportunity to apply their acquired knowledge in class activities such as discussion to analyze case studies and develop the basic outline of their resource sheet.
Warm Up
Time: 5 minutes
Ask, “Have you ever had to fix something or learn how something works? What did you do?”
Students volunteer their experiences.
Ask, “What steps did you have to take to fix that broken equipment or learn how to use something?”
Write their answers on the board; have students take notes
Student notes => how their ability to problem solve can be applied to something they've never done before.
Introduction
Time: 20 minutes
Say, “The purpose of this lesson is to help you get started with your own farm business plan. By the end of the lesson, we’ll have heard from a start up farmer just like you, we’ll have taken a look at the basics of a farm business plan, and then you’ll draft a resource sheet to help you develop your own plan.”
First, let’s take a look at Ryan Wiebe, NC A&T State University 2014 Small Farmer of The Year.
As you watch this video ask yourself,
Why do you think Ryan succeeded?
What do you think is the most important lesson learned from Ryan’s experience?
Show Wiebe video.
Note:
Be sure to point out the importance of Ryan’s mentor (Claude) if no one else does.
Also the importance of other resources such as the Cooperative Extension (support organizations will come under a variety of names).
Point out the farm started small; required help and a lot of hard work
Student notetaking on what strikes them as important in the video.
Presentation / Modeling / Demonstration
Time: 20 minutes
This part of the lesson helps learners to identify the specific resources that are available for farmers to make a useful business plan.
Note: for the teacher to demonstrate use of the AgPlan resource, he or she must register and name their own business plan. To use the tools and resources, students must register as well. The teacher must communicate at least three days before class.
Go through each section of the farm plan with a brief explanation:
Executive Summary
Business Description
Operations
Marketing Plan
Management and Organization
The Financial Plan
Emphasize to learners that they’re not expected to have all of this information. The objective of the lesson is to help them identify who can help with each part of the plan.
Note: the basic categories of the plan in the AgPlan resource have several subcomponents. It is not necessary to address these; tell the students that they should only be concerned with the top level of the each part of the plan, e.g. Business Description, Operations, and etc.
Distribute a paper version of the farm business plan resource worksheet to those who need it.
Note: the farm business plan resource worksheet should be distributed electronically before the class with a short description and how it will be used.
Explain the three parts of the worksheet: Business Plan Item, Description, Resource columns
Go to the Executive Summary portion of the AgPlan resource. Show the four tabs: description, resource, example, and comments (comments is for adding your own comments to the plan).
Show how students might summarize the description of the cover letter (it should not simply be a copy and paste exercise).
Show how to include given resources in the resource column of the farm business plan worksheet => Show them how to add links to the text.
Show one other resource that may help with the cover letter (students must identify at least one source outside the AgPlan resource for each farm business plan item.
Example resource website for helping students complete the worksheet;
Click on Step 1, “Important Considerations”
Go through these questions with learners. Facilitate discussion.
Point out the available farm plan assistance.
By the end of this segment of the lesson, the first line of the business plan resource worksheet, Executive Summary, should be completely filled in on showing on the screen.
The students will have a blank Farm Business Plan Worksheet in front of them or on their computer screen.
By the end of this segment of the lesson, the first line of the business plan resource worksheet, Executive Summary, should be completely filled in on showing on the screen.
Guided Practice/Evaluation
Time: 15 minutes
Have learners fill out the next item in the plan: Business (Farm) Description by identifying at least two resources that can help them with this. They may also fill in the details of these two items if desired.
Review together
Clarify any questions or difficulties in understanding or doing the task
Students should have the next item in the plan: Business (Farm) Description completed, which includes a brief defintion and two resources that can help them develop this part of the plan.
Application
Time: 30 minutes
Have learners denote on their worksheet where they are going to get help in finding the information they need to complete their farm business plan. Show them how to add links to the text.
Note: it is not enough to copy a top-level web address, e.g. “www.sba.gov”. Students must identify specific web pages for each particular element in the resource list.
Note: if students cannot identify a resource for each section by the end of class, it is to be done as homework. All business plan resource worksheets are submitted to the teacher for final evaluation and feedback.
Students should have their worksheets filled out or nearly so.
Some sample business plans and worksheets for reference: