L.E.A.F. Workshops to Cover Using Social Media for Farms and Starting a Farm

CCE-Chautauqua Announces Upcoming L.E.A.F. (Learn. Empower. Achieve. Farm.) Workshops
-by Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (January 23, 2017) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Agriculture Program will offer 2 workshops next week as part of their 2016-2017 L.E.A.F. (Learn. Empower. Achieve. Farm.) Workshop Series. On Wednesday, February 1st from 6pm to 8pm there will be a workshop at the Ag Center on “Using Social Media for Your Farm”. On Saturday, February 4th from 10am to 12pm at the Frank Bratt Agricultural Center there will be a workshop entitled “So, you Want to Start a Farm?”

The “Using Social Media for Your Farm” Workshop, will be held on Wednesday, February 1st from 6pm to 8pm at the Ag Center. It is no secret that the Internet has drastically changed how we market and sell our products. Today's customers are Internet savvy and expect more than a quality product – they also expect a level of interaction and engagement from the businesses they buy from. This workshop will provide tips and tools to help you set up your social media platforms (Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, etc.) and use them strategically to expand your customer base, sell more products and generate more revenue. Kate Moody, this workshop’s instructor, is a Business Advisor with the Small Business Development Center at Jamestown Community College, where she coordinates the Social Media Marketing Certificate program. As an entrepreneur herself and a former Chamber of Commerce executive, Kate brings 15+ years of experience in small business marketing, sales and training.

“So, You Want to Start a Farm?” will be Saturday, February 4th’s Workshop topic, to be held from 10am to 12pm at the Ag Center. This workshop is for participants who have ever dreamed of having their own farming operation! Topics covered will be broad and include enterprise selection, insurance, marketing, and resources for future exploration of owning your own farm business. The instructor for this workshop will be Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in Animal Science and Ag Business Management, and owns and operates a diversified livestock farm.

The L.E.A.F. Workshop Series is open to the general public, including homesteaders, beginning farmers, established farmers looking to diversify and grow, agriculture enthusiasts, and everyone in between! The 2016-2017 Workshop Series will feature 23 workshops to be held in October and November of 2016 and February of 2017. This season’s L.E.A.F. Program is made possible through the generous support of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

Each workshop will be 2 hours long and led by an experienced instructor. The cost to attend is only $5/family/workshop and light refreshments will be offered. The L.E.A.F. workshops are designed to be interactive, so participants are encouraged to bring their questions and ideas to this collaborative environment! All of the workshops will be held at the Frank W. Bratt Agricultural Center located at 3542 Turner Road in Jamestown, NY.

Pre-registration is required prior to the workshop to allow for adequate time to prepare printed resources and materials. Interested participants can register online by visiting www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua/leaf1617, by emailing kaw249@cornell.edu, or by calling 716-664-9502.

The L.E.A.F. Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua) in line with the County’s 20/20 Comprehensive Plan. CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated January 23, 2017