Advanced Workshops

The advanced workshops outlined below provide opportunities for a deeper dive into relevant topics for the emerging farmer audience.  These workshops are offered on an à la carte basis and will held either in-person or online via Zoom.  In-person advanced workshops are $50 per person (includes lunch) and will be held at various locations across the state of South Carolina. Online advanced workshops will be held via Zoom and are $35 per person.  SCNBFP Class of 2024 cohort members can receive a discount on workshops using their assigned promo code.

These workshops will usually be between 4 and 6 hours in length.  Workshop descriptions and dates are below.  Workshop locations and times will be provided closer to the workshop date.  Advanced workshop dates and times are subject to change.

Registration Questions and Refunds
If you have a workshop logistic or content question please contact the workshop coordinator listed for each workshop (see below).  If you have a registration question or you can no longer attend a workshop that you have registered for please email Ben Boyles at boyles2@clemson.edu to request a refund.  Note: refunds can only be issued before the workshop registration deadline.

2025 Advanced Workshops

Scaling your Farm Business for Wholesale Success Workshop

Thursday, March 13, 2025
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

*ON-FARM!*

In-Person Workshop Location
City Roots Farm
1005 Airport Blvd
Columbia, SC 29205

Get your farm business wholesale market ready!

Learn about production and packaging needs, food safety considerations, and market access opportunities when selling your products through wholesale markets in South Carolina.

This on-farm workshop will provide an opportunity to see the wholesale marketing process first-hand from a farmer who currently sells through wholesale market channels.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch (SCNBFP Class of 2024 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: March 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Jim Johnson, SC SBDC, JIMMYMJ@mailbox.sc.edu

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Climate-smart Practices for Forage and Livestock Systems Workshop

Thursday, March 20, 2025
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

In-Person Workshop Location
Edisto Research and Education Center
64 Research Street
Blackville, SC, 29817

This multidisciplinary workshop will focus on climate-smart management practices for forage-livestock systems aiming to enhance forage production and sustainability of operations.

Topics include forage production, animal nutrition, carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions related topics.

There will be hands-on demonstrations including:

  • Forage defoliation frequency and intensity and soil health
  • Nutrient cycling, litter decomposition and carbon sequestration
  • Forage field scouting and stand assessment

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in follow-up online educational sessions and one online course being released soon.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch (SCNBFP Class of 2024 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: March 17, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Liliane Silva, Clemson Extension, lseveri@clemson.edu

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Getting Out of Nature’s Way: Soil Health in Practice for Grazing and Vegetables Workshop

Thursday, March 27, 2025
9:30 AM - 2:30 PM

In-Person Location:
The Porch Fellowship
423 Piedmont Highway
Piedmont, SC 29673

Learn soil health principles and dig deeper into the practices that increase soil health for both grazing and growing.

Learn about four experiments that you can do on your own farm to determine soil health and bring home testing tools!

Tour Pecan Dale Farmstead to see their regenerative grazing program and Farm in the Wildwood to learn about their intensive soil health focused market farming that includes a farm stand, agritourism, high tunnel, cover crops, intercropping, CSA, and restaurant sales.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00 (SCNBFP Class of 2024 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: March 25, 2025 at 12:00 Noon
Coordinator: Kristen Roberston, kirobertson@greenvillecounty.org

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Farm Pond Management Workshop

Wednesday, April 2, 2025
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM

In-Person Location:
Clemson University
Sandhill Research & Education Center
900 Clemson Road
Columbia, SC 29229

Water is a critical resource in all agriculture production. This workshop will help participants gain knowledge, resources, and hands-on experience to better manage farm ponds.

Specific workshop topics will include:

  • Maintaining a healthy pond
  • Integrated aquatic plant management
  • Understanding and selecting the right aquatic herbicides
  • Calibrating a backpack sprayer
  • Collecting samples and interpreting results for a pond bottom soil test and irrigation water test

*This workshop fulfills 3 South Carolina Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education Recertification Credits

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00 (SCNBFP Class of 2024 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: March 28, 2025 at 12:00 Noon
Coordinator: Katie Collins, Clemson Extension, klaltma@clemson.edu

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Website Development & Analytics Workshop

Friday, April 11, 2025
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Online on Zoom

Websites are often the “front door” to your farm business. Having an online presence that reflects the quality of your products is critical in expanding your customer base and adding credibility to your business.

During this workshop, you will learn about utilizing Wix and having a presence on Google. Participants will also learn how to measure the effectiveness of your farm business website and make improvements that will increase impact.

Workshop Presenter: Nancy Williamson, Carolina Web Design Services

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $35.00 (SCNBFP Class of 2024 and 2025 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: April 9, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Zoom Log-In: A Zoom link will be emailed 2 to 3 days prior to the workshop
Coordinator: Bethany Funkhouser, Clemson Extension, bnf@clemson.edu 

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Aquaponics and Hydroponics: A New Way to Farm Workshop

Monday, April 14, 2025
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

In-Person Workshop Location
Center for Water Resources
509 Westinghouse Road
Pendleton, SC 29670

Join us for an informative and hands-on workshop covering the key components and management strategies essential for successfully operating aquaponic and hydroponic systems.

Learn about aquaponic systems, including:

  • Fish holding systems
  • Filtration methods
  • Plant growing system options
  • Selecting the right fish and plants
  • Water quality management
  • Pest control strategies
  • Marketing considerations

Learn about the critical components of hydroponic systems, such as: holding tanks, various plant growing systems, fertilizer options, and water quality parameters.

Visit our greenhouse to see a fully operational system in action. This hands-on experience will give you valuable insights and ideas to apply to your own production setup.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch (SCNBFP Class of 2024 and 2025 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: April 10, 2025 at 12:00 Noon
Coordinator: Lance Beecher, Clemson Extension, lbeeche@clemson.edu

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Conservation from the Ground Up Workshop

Thursday, May 1, 2025
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

In-Person Workshop Location
Aiken County Agricultural Services Conference Room
1555 Richland Ave East
Aiken, SC 29801

Explore a variety of conservation techniques recommended to farmers who prioritize environmental stewardship.

Topics include:

  • No-till cover crops
  • SC Farm Bureau programs for farmers
  • Soil Health With Dr. Gabe Kenne (USC)

This workshop will include an on-farm component that will include a hands-on demonstration of a grain drill, illustrating how this technique can help improve soil, increase profit and efficiency, while benefiting the environment.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch (SCNBFP Class of 2024 and 2025 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: April 28, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Sonya Terry, aikensoilandwater@gmail.com

Register >>

Climate Smart Practices for Vegetable Production Workshop

Wednesday, May 7, 2025
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

In-Person Workshop Location
Hayden Conference Center at the South Carolina Botanical Garden
150 Discovery Lane
Clemson, SC 29634

This workshop focuses on climate-smart management practices for vegetable systems to enhance vegetable production, reduce input costs, and increase sustainability of operations. Workshop topics include reduced till techniques, utilization of cover crops for soil health & weed management, carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions related topics.

After the morning classroom portion of this workshop and lunch prepared with local foods, we will relocate to tour Growing Green Family Farms, a spray-free, no-till regenerative operation in Anderson, SC.

Workshop speakers, Dr. Lacy Barnette & Jhessye Moore-Thomas, members of Clemson Extension’s Horticulture Team, will share conservation practices in leafy greens production; however, all concepts discussed apply to multiple vegetable production systems.  

Participants will also hear from lifelong farmer, Mitchell Hora, founder and CEO of Continuum Ag and the proprietary tool TopSoil®, as he shares his expertise with leveraging improved soil health for increased profit.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch (SCNBFP Class of 2024 and 2025 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: May 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Kelly Ann Flynn, Clemson Extension, kgilker@clemson.edu 

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Good Agriculture Practices and Food Safety Workshop

Tuesday, May 20, 2025
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

On-Farm Workshop Location
Peculiar Pig Farm
514 Limestone Road
Dorchester, SC 29437

Explore best practices in fruit, vegetable, and value-added food safety on the farm including:

  • Requirements of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and the  SMA Produce Safety Rule
  • GAP audit process through a farm walkthrough
  • Peculiar Pig Farm Tour

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch (SCNBFP Class of 2024 and 2025 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: May 15, 2025 at 12:00 Noon
Coordinator: Chad Carter, Clemson Extension, ctcarte@clemson.edu

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Labor Issues & Management for New and Beginning Farmers Workshop

Wednesday, April 23, 2025
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Online via Zoom

Managing labor and personnel for the agricultural producer is an ongoing challenge. Post-COVID dynamics have only increased the barriers and difficulties. Each agricultural production operation has its unique and specific personnel needs that must be addressed to ensure success.

Engaging best practices and processes for identifying, attracting, hiring, and retaining employees can aid in creating a cohesive team that helps your agricultural operation thrive.

This workshop will explore basic human resource actions, employee scope and scale (full-time/part-time/seasonal work), employee recruitment and retention, state and federal regulations, and lessons from successful ag-focused employers.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $35.00 (SCNBFP Class of 2024 and 2025 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: June 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Kirby Player, Clemson University, Palmetto Leadership for the Environment, Agriculture and Forestry (PLEAF), kplayer@clemson.edu

Register >>