Starting a new family farm can be difficult for many, but a local extension educator is giving people a place to start. 

Reagen Tibbs, Commercial Ag Educator with the University of Illinois Extension serving Logan, Menard, and Sangamon Counties, explains that this June he will be introducing the Farm Business Foundations program. This new initiative is built to teach new farmers about getting into the industry. 

Tibbs is the creator of this program, and he indicates that the idea came from the community, which agrees that the extension has a lot of resources for production, but lacks when it comes to the business side of farming. 

Something that Tibbs heard frequently in his conversations with local producers was the need for succession plans. With the increasing average age of the American farmer, producers are looking towards passing their properties down to their descendants. 

The sessions will take place on June 10th, 17th, and 24th in Springfield. Registration costs $10. Get your spot by visiting extension.illinois.edu/lms