Move beyond basic financing. Learn how to structure loans, grants, and equity into a capital strategy that supports real growth—from hiring your first employees to building facilities or expanding production.
Investment: $250
Includes live instruction + a 1:1 consulting session.
Comparable advisory engagements often exceed $1,000.
What You’ll Gain
Financing a farm business rarely follows a simple path. Most growth requires combining multiple funding sources—from traditional loans to community lenders, grants, and creative equity structures. In this training, you’ll learn how to:
- Match the right type of capital to your specific business goals
- Understand what banks, alternative lenders, and investors are really looking for
- Build a capital stack that supports sustainable growth
- Avoid costly missteps when taking on debt or outside investment
Common Growth Scenarios
That We Work On
- Expanding into value-added production (co-packing or building a facility)
- Structuring financing to support hiring and operational growth
- Improving bookkeeping to guide day-to-day and strategic decisions
- Entering farming as an investment or second career with available capital
👉 Partner 👈
Organizations
We welcome referrals of growth-ready farmers seeking to raise capital and scale their operations.
What to Expect
Funding your Farm with Grants
- Understand the types of grant opportunities available to farm businesses
- Learn how to identify grants that align with your project and goals
- Gain practical tips for preparing stronger grant applications and managing grant funds effectively
Funding your Farm with Loans
- Understand traditional lending—and its limits
- Explore alternatives like CDFIs, regional loan funds, and utility-backed financing
- Learn when and how to use debt effectively
Funding your Farm through Equity
- Evaluate when grants are worth pursuing—and when they aren’t
- Understand equity in a farm context, including structures that protect long-term ownership
- Identify the right investor fit based on your goals and values
One-to-One Consulting
- Apply what you’ve learned to your specific business
- Get feedback on your financing approach
- Identify next steps to move forward with confidence
This Training Is Designed for Farms That Are Ready to Grow
You’ll get the most value if:
You’re generating $100K–$250K+ in annual sales
At least one person is working in the business full-time
You’re preparing to hire staff or transition into a management role
You’re exploring investments like equipment, processing, or facilities
You’re actively seeking capital and open to debt or outside investment
You want your financial systems (QuickBooks, Xero, etc.) to inform decisions—not just report results
Who This Is Not For:
This may not be the right fit if:
1. You’re pre-revenue or still validating your business model
2. You’re looking for introductory funding basics
3. You’re not yet ready to pursue growth through outside capital
(Consider starting with Financial Foundations for Farms.)
Participants Say …
“With our trainer’s background in banking, he knew what a loan officer would be looking for when a farmer is applying for financing. This really helped me as a young small business owner to be more aware of the whole picture of financing, banking and lending. We recently got a $95,000 loan for a refrigerated vehicle through RFSI, which is helping us grow our business.”
— Ryan Sullivan, Sullivan Family Farm
Meet Your Instructor: Andy Larson
Andy loves to get to know his clients in-depth and provide critical consulting in areas key to farm financial and organizational health. Before joining FFI, Andy worked as an Agriculture and Commercial Loan Officer at German American State Bank, where he had the opportunity to provide commercial credit to scores of local farmers and family businesses in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Prior to his time at the bank, Andy spent a decade working in Extension for Iowa State University and the University of Illinois, working with farmers at every stage, from startup to transitioning to the next generation. He served as state coordinator for North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.
Andy formed his work ethic and his land ethic growing up on a dairy farm in northernmost Illinois. In 2013 he relocated his young family to the acreage where his grandparents retired, and they grew their backyard chicken hobby into a free-range egg business selling local retail stores, restaurants, and farmers markets. Outside of business hours, you can find him washing and packing eggs, building or fixing something on the farm, or volunteering with an area sustainable and alternative agriculture non-profit. Andy and his wife have three school-age daughters.
Andy earned his Master of Business Administration from Iowa State University and also holds degrees in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (University of Illinois) and Anthropology and Environmental Science (Notre Dame).
Ready to Build Your Capital Strategy?
Secure your spot and start making financing decisions with clarity and confidence.
Funding Your Farm’s Future
Scholarship opportunities are available, learn more.