Tackling Farm Risk Management, One Bite at a Time
Agricultural Economics & Community Development
Charlotte Maxwell
Extension Agent
Clemson Cooperative Extension
Conway
Abstract
The Horry County Farmer2Farmer Meet & Eat began in January 2024 to bring a diverse group of farmers together to tackle risk management topics over a meal. The meetings are held once a month either at the local Extension office or on a host farm. Participants submit topic ideas at each meeting and a couple of months are set aside as networking and tabling meetings for the participants. All the topics chosen must fall under one of the five areas of risk- human, financial, marketing, legal or production. Topics covered between January 2024 and February 2025 include agritourism, local zoning, taxes, business structures, transition planning, liability insurance, NRCS, fencing, and local farmers markets. Guest speakers are discouraged from bringing a PowerPoint presentation, unless it is mostly visual, to promote a discussion-based learning environment. The group started with four farmers at the first meeting to an average of 15 farmers a meeting, the majority of whom attend each month. The participants have created business plans, developed local markets, strengthened their legal risk tolerance, developed transition plans, and built a community as a result of this program. Risk management topics are not easy to cover in traditional Extension programming. This program has created an environment that is conducive to tougher conversations and learning risk management strategies over a meal instead of a traditional lecture.
Authors: Charlotte Maxwell
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Charlotte Maxwell Extension Agent, Clemson Cooperative Extension, South Carolina, 29526