Our programs
Small Farms
“The Farm Emergency Preparedness training we received from the Small Farms team encouraged us to finally get a SafeShed that is a place for us, our employees, and our farm visitors to safely go in case of a tornado.”
~ Lynn Bolin, New Day Dairy, Clarksville
Clients: Farmers, acreage owners, service providers
Services:
- Small Farm Sustainability website
- Farmer profitability research and training
- Food safety trainings and on-farm readiness reviews
- MarketReady trainings for farmers ready to scale up sales
- Value-added enterprise analysis
- Visit Iowa Farms agritourism resources
- Iowa SARE grant opportunities
- Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC) online resource database
Contact: Christa Hartsook, (515) 294-4430
Food Systems
“Design assistance from the Food Systems team helped us strengthen our relationships with local schools. They helped our partner schools visualize all the possibilities for implementing farm to school, and make a decision that was right for their needs.”
~ Kate Olson
Cass County Extension and Outreach
Clients: Community coalitions, city planners, non-profits, county extension staff
Services:
- Coalition development and strategic planning including vision, mission, and core value development
- Community Food Systems process: a multi-year program for design and development of food systems
- Community Food Systems assessment for sectors and assets
- Research including farm to school programs, community development strategies, local food markets, and more
- Technical assistance ranging from market and branding promotion, urban gardens and farms, farm to school programs, shared-use kitchens, etc.
- Certifications: Mapping 101, Local Food Leader, and Community Food Systems
Contact: Courtney Long, (515) 460-3227
Enterprise Development
“The services provided to us through the Enterprise Development team have been invaluable as we contemplated an expansion plan. We would not be moving ahead had it not been for their expert help.”
~ Shaughn and Jerry Roorda
In’t Veld’s Meat Market, Pella
Clients: Small business owners, entrepreneurs, start-ups
Services:
- Review and compilation of business feasibility study for startups, new product development, or businesses wanting to diversify into another product or marketplace
- LaunchU entrepreneurship training, which incorporates business plan feasibility into a formal business plan
- Food or agricultural business plan development, including pitch for financing
- Business feasibility analysis with three years of financial projections and statement of review
- Integration with other service providers as appropriate, including Small Business Development Centers, USDA Rural Development, Iowa Institute for Cooperatives, Iowa Bankers Association, Iowa Finance Authority, Professional Developers of Iowa, and others
Contact: Brian Tapp, (515) 294-4417