The Entrepreneurship Project brought 22 Missourians to California to gain first-hand knowledge of agricultural trends. Participants saw how different ventures operated and how that would be applicable to their own business models. Northern California is unique in that it has a budding agricultural industry with business models that could work in Missouri.
“It’s interesting, especially to us, to see what they do with the land out here,” said Brandon Fahrmeier, a participant from Lexington, Mo.
The Entrepreneurship Project took aspiring Missouri farmers to Sonoma Valley, Calif. The agricultural entrepreneurs in Sonoma Valley taught the Missouri participants about their successful enterprises.
Instructors, Dr. Randall Westgren and Peter Hofherr spent 10 hours of the second day teaching participants about the financial aspects necessary to start and maintain an agricultural enterprise.
The aspiring agricultural innovators got into three groups to hypothetically plan the next 5 years of Cowgirls Creamery’s business plan. Each group would have implemented ideas learned from the previous day’s tours. Every single participant brought something to the table and impressed the two instructors.
Members of the Entrepreneurship Project finished the day working on a case study. The study examined the financials of a company and the group decided as a whole if the company could afford to expand and the risks involved with all immediate future decisions.
The Entrepreneurship Project flew Missourians 2000 miles from home to Petaluma, Calif. The participants got a behind the scenes look at four unique and successful agricultural operations. Each of the operations was run by an entrepreneur.
The day started at 8AM with a visit to Green String Farms. What really resonated with the participants was the fact that the farm’s founder Bob Cannard started the farm with only $1,200 and managed to keep it organic since its inception.
Secondly there was the Cowgirl Creamery, an organic cheese producer located in Point Reyes Station, Calif. The Creamery prides itself on being a small company with a high demand.
Around 2pm participants visited Tara Firma Farms. This farm taught participants the importance of educating the public about organic farms and the local food movement.
A video highlighting the tours will be posted soon.
After completing two modules, in Kansas City, Mo., and St. Louis, Mo., The Entrepreneurship Project is off to Sonoma Valley, Calif., this week . The project will show Missouri participants California’s diverse agriculture industry through introducing the participants to successful entrepreneurs and through tours of a variety of agricultural production operations. Along with exciting tours, this module includes engaging courses and group activities on finance, branding and marketing. Check out The Entrepreneurship Project’s upcoming week in Sonoma Valley, Calif.
The Entrepreneurship Project took participants beyond the produce boxes to reveal the inner workings of a variety of successful agricultural ventures in St. Louis, Mo. From Fair Shares CSA offering local and seasonal foods to Winslow’s Home and Farm store serving up savory and seasonal dishes at every meal, St. Louis is bustling with new food ventures and ideas.
“I liked what Fair Shares CSA was doing with working with farmers and consumers,” said Dan Pugh, a participant in The Entrepreneurship Project. “I liked how they organized weekly shares and the variety by using multiple farmers.”
The tours highlighted different produce businesses including some Community Service Agriculture (CSA) programs, where consumers can directly purchase fresh and local produce from farmers. With participant Maude Bauschard’s goal to develop and manage a local produce and food hub, she enjoyed seeing the logistics behind Fair Share’s CSA operation. Bauschard said the in-class lessons were highly beneficial in helping her gain an understanding of the financing needed to run her own successful CSA program.
“It’s my weak point but now I feel confident that I can read financial documents,” Bauschard said.
Another participant, Brandon Fahrmeier, found the St. Louis module enlightening in his goal to develop a formal business structure for his family’s farm and winery business. He said the finance lessons helped him gain a stronger and more complete understanding of the numbers.
“Focus and take off the rose-colored glasses,” Fahrmeier said. “Analyze it and look at the numbers.”
While part of the module focused on analyzing numbers and financial plans, some participants gained insight on themselves too. Andrew Van Engelenehoven said The Entrepreneurship Project is teaching him to ask better questions, of others and himself. And, participant Dan Crafton said the project is showing him the amount of work necessary to turn his ideas into a profitable venture.
“Always stay flexible, enthusiastic, energetic and focused on the venture,” Crafton said.
Next stop for participants is Sonoma Valley, Calif., where The Entrepreneurship Project will introduce the Missourians to more successful entrepreneurs and continue to help the participants develop their venture plans.
BADSEED Farm and Market in downtown Kansas City talks with participants about the local food movement in Kansas City.
Participants in The Entrepreneurship Project’s second cohort toured several successful agricultural ventures in Kansas City. The module offered insight on building a powerful brand, bootstrapping a business and understanding the power of supply chains.
The first ever Mid-Mo Entrepreneurial Summit is this February 4 in Columbia, Mo. For people looking to learn more entrepreneurship or to meet other entrepreneurs, this is a local opportunity to get started. The summit also hosts a cash-prize venture pitch contest, Boone County Idea Bounce Competition. To register or for more information on the summit, click here.
Watch as participants celebrate their graduation from The Entrepreneurship Project! The first cohort was a success as participants learned about entrepreneurship through a variety of lectures, tours of different agriculture ventures in Missouri and California, and completed in-depth venture plans. The participants graduated with new ideas and a boost of confidence in their goal to start an agricultural production business. Good luck and great job graduates!
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