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AGAware program empowers the next generation of farmers with financial and business tools

Most farmers may not call themselves CEOs, but that’s exactly what they are—and through AgSouth Farm Credit’s AGAware® program, young, beginning, and small farmers across the Southeast are getting the financial tools and business training they need to successfully lead their operations.
Special to Grice Connect
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AgSouth Farm Credit

“The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways.” – John F. Kennedy

Farmers are CEOs

Most farmers would never consider themselves a CEO – but that’s exactly what they are. They are the chief decision makers, overseeing a business. They also wear the hat of mechanic, meteorologist, agronomist, veterinarian, engineer, nutritionist, and more.

Farming today truly is a business and requires knowledge not just of how to grow crops and raise livestock, but also how to manage both finances and risk.  With a tight farm economy, understanding how to manage the farm finances and using records to make decisions is more critical than ever.

At Farm Credit, we want your farming operation to be successful.  Whether you are coming home to the family farm, starting a first-generation business, or if you grow row crops, livestock, or vegetables, we recognize the need for all farmers to know more about business and financial management.

AGAware serves the next generation

In 2011, AgSouth Farm Credit created the national award-winning AGAwareâ program to help ensure that future farmers will be prepared and strong financially so they may continue doing what it is they love. It’s been Farm Credit’s mission for more than one hundred years to serve farmers and rural America.

AGAware® consists of both farm finance training workshops for young, beginning, and small farmers as well as community awareness events to help make consumers aware of what farmers actually do to put food on everyone’s table.

Since the AGAware® program was established in 2011, more than 1000 farmers in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina have taken the classes and graduated from the program.

2025 Farm Finance Trainings

The AGAware® Workshops introduce farmers to a variety of financial related topics critical to running an operation. These topics include Balance Sheets, Income Statements, Family Finance & Family Budgeting, Risk Management, Accrual Income, Applying for Financing, Preparing a Business Plan, Technology & Record Keeping, FSA/SBA and Other Programs.

AGAware® is also certified for FSA Direct Borrower Training Credits in GA, NC, and SC.

The training is open to anyone who wishes to develop a better understanding of how to run a successful farming operation, of any type and size.

All classes are held from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and a free lunch will be provided. Workshops will be held at the following GA, NC, and SC locations:

Thursday, July 10 ǀ Calhoun, GA ǀ UGA Extension, Gordon Co. | 1282 GA-53 Spur SW

Tuesday, July 29 ǀ Douglas, GA ǀ Douglas Atrium Event Center| 114 N Peterson Ave #100

Wednesday, Aug 13 | Florence, SC | ArborOne Office | 800 Woody Jones Blvd 

Thursday, Aug 14 ǀ Pendleton, SC ǀ Clemson Kresge Hall | 415 Charlie White Trail

Thursday Aug 21 ǀ Carthage, NC ǀ Moore Co. Ag Center| 707 Pinehurst Avenue

For more information about AGAware, contact Heather Brannen at [email protected] Jessica Bassett at [email protected] or Kate Nobles at [email protected]