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

Register >>

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

Register >>

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

Register >>

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

Register >>

Website Development & Analytics Workshop

Friday, April 11, 2025
9:00 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 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 

Register >>

Aquaponics and Hydroponics: A New Way to Farm Workshop

Monday, April 14, 2025
Time TBD

In-Person Workshop Location TBD

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch (SCNBFP Class of 2024 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: TBD
Coordinator: Lance Beecher, Clemson Extension

Register >> (Coming Soon!)

Labor Issues & Management for New and Beginning Farmers Workshop

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

In-Person Workshop Location
SC Farm Bureau Federation Building Main Conference Room
724 Knox Abbott Drive
Cayce, SC 29033

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: $50.00 (SCNBFP Class of 2024 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: TBD
Coordinator: Kirby Player

Register >> (Coming Soon!)

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 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: April 28, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Sonya Terry, aikensoilandwater@gmail.com

Register >>