Salisbury farmers chosen for business course

STATESVILLE – Carolina Farm Credit announces that participants for the seventh annual Ag Biz Planner course have been chosen.

The Ag Biz Planner program is an e-learning financial and business planning course whose curriculum includes budgeting and other money matters essential to a farm’s success. Each couple is paired with an experienced Carolina Farm Credit loan officer to mentor them throughout the program.

This year, five couples were chosen to participate, including one from Salisbury.

Adam and Hannah Parson from Salisbury will be mentored by Mark Robertson, a loan officer from Carolina Farm Credit’s Mocksville Branch. The Parsons farm 500 acres of row crops and small grain.

“This year’s selected Ag Biz Planner participants have diverse agricultural backgrounds. This program will allow them to examine their operations and find areas for improvement. This program is just another way that Carolina Farm Credit helps support agriculture and our local communities.” said Carolina Farm Credit CEO Vance Dalton.

Carolina Farm Credit is offering the Farm Credit University online program in conjunction with the Farm Credit Associations in North Carolina and Virginia. Participants will have the opportunity to interact and benchmark with producers from the other associations throughout the program and network at a conference at the conclusion of the program in Raleigh.

Farm Credit’s e-learning program targets young, beginning, small and minority farmers throughout the state. Highlights of the program include modules that cover financial planning, understanding income statements, cash flow and the smart use of credit on the farm. Each participant will have completed a business plan for their operation by the conclusion of the class.

Carolina Farm Credit is a stockholder-owned cooperative providing financing to full and part-time farmers and agricultural-related businesses and also provides financing for the construction and purchase of homes in 54 counties through 36 branch offices.

Community agency seeks people for internship

Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency Inc. Career and Education training program is looking for high school and GED graduates between the ages of 18-24 who are ready to begin their employment careers and explore Career Readiness/Occupational Skills Training through a limited internship and work experience.

This opportunity will foster a paid job that promotes talent development and employable skills.

All interested persons should call Shenita Russell or Debra Moncrief (youth development specialists) at 704-633-6633.

Joann P. Diggs, serves as director of the program.

Rowan Chamber workshop

On Thursday, Dec. 3, will present a workshop called A Passion for Service.

A study of over 500 retailers and restaurants revealed that service is lacking in most businesses. Ninety-seven percent of companies studied failed mostly on lack of courtesy, skimpy product knowledge, not listening, no respect or negative attitudes.

Courting new business can cost up to five times more than strengthening relationships with current clients.

Ninety-six percent of unhappy customers never complain about discourtesy, but 91 percent of them will not buy again from a business that offended them.

Customers can now instantly blast their anger at a business through Facebook, Twitter or YouTube and it can go viral in your community.

The workshop will be held at The Gateway, 204 E. Innes St., second floor board room, from 8:30-11a.m. or 1:30-4:30 p.m.  Attend or send half your staff in the morning and half in the afternoon. Registration is $119 each or $109 for five or more. Non members pay $199 each. To register, call 704-633-4221 or email cdeese@rowanchamber.com

More information? Free Workshop Brochure or www.apassionforservice.com