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
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
- Learn the terms and concepts you’ll need to know when working with a bank.
- Understand the loans available to farmers and how to choose the right lender.
- Learn what is required on a credit application and how to wow lenders with your submission.
- Understand alternative financing and when it may be right for you.
OUTCOMES:
- A clear understanding of when, where, and how to pursue financing through a bank
- Practical guidance that will ensure you are successfully secure and utilize your loan financing
Funding your Farm through Equity
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
- Learn how to prepare for raising equity – including building a solid business model, financial projections, and legal documentation.
- Understand different types of investors and alternative financing strategies.
- Learn how to structure a capital stack so you can match sources of funding with specific business needs.
- Learn common fundraising pitfalls and best practices for securing investor funding.
OUTCOMES:
- Knowledge of how to strategically prepare, structure, and pursue equity investment to support the growth of your farm
1:1 Consulting
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
- Apply what you’ve learned to your specific business
- Get feedback on your financing approach
- Identify next steps to move forward with confidence
OUTCOMES:
- Knowledge of how to strategically prepare, structure, and pursue equity investment to support the growth of your farm
This is right for you if …
You have a plan to increase profit but need funding to make it happen
You’re not sure whether you should aim to get a loan, grant, or equity
You’ve tried on your own to get financing, without success
You’ve completed our Financial Foundations for Farms training or have a similar level of financial management
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
Included in the Training:
- 3 live virtual workshop sessions (2 hrs. each)
- 50-minute one-on-one expert consulting session with our Farm Program Manager
- Dozens of financial tools and resources to start using immediately
- 1-year Unlimited Learner Pass for our on-demand courses
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).
Funding Your Farm’s Future
Scholarship opportunities are available, learn more.