Program Learning Outcomes
- Develop business plans and structures that will set farms up for success in the markets of their choice.
- Understand the social and environmental context and consequences of agricultural practices in order to make informed decisions on how they would run a successful and conscientious agricultural business.
- Draft farm planning documents to support a smooth growing season.
- Implement farm planning and record keeping documents to improve farm operation.
- Develop an awareness of, and begin mastering, the physical and organizational skills to work on and operate a farm
- Understand the principles and practices of how to keep plants, soil, people and ecosystems on and around your farm healthy
- Develop awareness of Eco-systemic thinking in your farm system and your place in the greater community
- Build connections with local food system organizations.
- Demonstrate efficient task management based on physical and operational systems
- Understand how to effectively develop and maintain records to evaluate the success of the operation
Advance Your Career
Running a farm requires a wide range of specialized skills, if you are looking to work in local food networks you will benefit from any number of the skills that you will develop in the program. If you are looking to start a new career in food production or are interested in expanding the skills you already have, this program will teach you tools to use in the field, in the office, with your staff, and at the market. These tools will help you to be able to operate a farm business or become an invaluable team member in an already existing organization.
To Apply
Please send a cover letter, and a resume by March 30 to our program director, Matt Turino (illinois-ssf@illinois.edu). The cover letter should describe why you are interested in the program and what skills and experience you would bring to it.
Areas of Employment
- Farmer
- Farm Manager
- Food Access Organizations
- Farmers Market Manager
- Local Food/Farm Support Organizations
- Garden Coordinator
- Food production and processing