Do What You Want and Start Farming Now

Confucius said “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” It seems as if more and more people are living by this maxim, and turning their lifetime dreams of operating a small farm operation into a reality, and so can you!

What you choose to do has most likely been a hobby up to this point. And whether you’re interested in horses, alpacas, growing and selling vegetables, or even a small wine operation, it’s time to realize you too, can turn these interests into a small business!

So, think about it – do you want to make a profit, or simply break even and offset operational costs? You should decide this and then begin writing your business plan. Not only will your banker want to see this, but it will be your business blue print and tracking device for your successes and areas of improvement.

It is no doubt that a business plan is a lot of necessary work. The good thing is that there are tons of resources available to help you get started such as this template from the Small Business Administration, our young, beginning, small and minority farmer section on our website, or even your local cooperative extension service. By using these resources, you will be able to customize your plan to specifically fit the mission and goals of your operation.

After all, if you believe Confucius’ maxim about work, you must also believe his feelings on preparation, as he said “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” And we think turning your hobby farm into a small business, is a step that’s well worth taking.

So, do what you want and start farming now! (And don’t forget to comment and let us know what you decide)