January AgriProspects Workforce Development Network Webinar

January 15th, 2025, 3 PM – 4 PM ET

Join us for the AgriProspects Workforce Development Network January webinar showcasing innovative projects supporting agricultural entrepreneurship and the ecological land management workforce. Learn about Farm Business Coaching: Cultivating Entrepreneurship, a transformative program from the University of Maryland Extension that equips agricultural entrepreneurs with tools for success, and Permaculture for Professionals, led by Utah State University, which advances training in regenerative and ecological land management techniques. These initiatives, both recipients of AgriProspects Round 1 mini-grants, demonstrate practical solutions to workforce challenges while paving the way for broader educational impact. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights and connect with leaders driving workforce innovation in diverse fields. Read more about these projects and register below!

Farm Business Coaching: Cultivating Entrepreneurship

University of Maryland Extension offers a comprehensive coaching program for agricultural entrepreneurs in Maryland. This program is designed to help business owners set goals, access resources, and take actionable steps toward launching or improving their businesses. Originally a one-on-one initiative, the program transitioned to a virtual format in 2018, and in 2021, expanded with additional coaches, tools, and extended coaching periods. To date over 200 clients have benefited, with 92% rating the sessions as excellent and many reporting significant progress in areas like business planning, regulatory research, and market analysis. Building on this success, Maryland is launching a cohort coaching component, where participants work in small groups over eight weeks to create a comprehensive business portfolio, receive expert feedback, and prepare for future activities like product launches or funding applications. A curriculum based on this program will be developed for broader use across CES.

Permaculture for professionals: Developing pathways for a skilled workforce in regenerative and ecological land management

In 2023, a program team lead by Utah State University piloted an Extension-led Intermountain West Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC). Building on this pilot, the team plans to re-offer the course, explore the feasibility of hosting a PDC on the Navajo Nation, and develop two online Introduction to Permaculture Design trainings—one for CEU credit for landscape architects and another housed within the Extension Foundation’s Online Campus. The team aims to address gaps in the permaculture education pathway by researching barriers and identifying ways to better integrate permaculture principles into workforce development. These efforts will increase engagement with regenerative land management among landscape architects, educators, underserved communities, and the Navajo Nation.