California Farm Academy Courses - Center for Land Based Learning

Program Overview

The Beginning Farmer Training Program provides active and aspiring farmers a strong foundation from which to launch and grow their farm businesses. In this immersive educational program, students have the opportunity to gain farm production and business knowledge in a variety of settings that appeal to different learning styles. By choosing which courses they need they can tailor the next phase of their education, ensuring that the next generation of motivated, hard-working farm entrepreneurs gains the knowledge, skills, and confidence to work towards their farming goals.

Classes & Curriculum

Curriculum combines lectures by farmers and agricultural professionals, hands-on field experience, and farm visits to expose students to topics critical for a future in farming. Some courses are offered in a hybrid format with both in-person and remote learning, while others are fully in-person. All in-person classes will be held at the Center for Land-Based Learning Headquarters at The Maples Farm in Woodland, CA, unless otherwise noted.

In 2025, the Training Program includes a slate of intensive hands-on courses on topics from business planning and financials to irrigation and animal husbandry. Students can pick and choose which topics they want to dig into or take them all for a holistic curriculum that will prepare them for a future in agriculture.

Welding 101 Workshop

Dates:

Fall: Mondays and Thursdays, November 14-December 16, 2024

Winter: Mondays and Thursdays, January 6-30, 2025

TIME:

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Format:

In-person

Cost:

$450

Apply

Whether you’re a farmer who wants to practice the basics of welding, brush up on your skills, or learn to weld for home or business, we are proud to make this community resource available. You’ll get experience using an arc welder and an oxy-acetylene torch. Small class size of 5 students allows ample opportunity for personalized learning and instruction.

Instructor George Kimball grew up on a small farm in Yolo County and fell in love with the art of welding while in high school. After he graduated, he worked for Kimzey’s Welding Works in Woodland, and then became a professional farrier for a decade.

Class overview: In the first 4 classes we focus on oxy/acetylene torch. Students will learn how to set one up, safety, what to look for when buying a used one. You will learn how to weld and cut steel using a torch. You will practice: flat weld, fusion weld, butt joint and lap joint.

Classes 5-8 will be on arc welding. how to operate one safely, what to look for when buying one, and which situations require its use. You will then learn to use two different welding rods and their applications on 4 different welding positions: Flat weld, butt joint, lap joint and T-joint

All equipment is provided. Please wear long sleeves and pants and sturdy close-toed shoes and bring a water bottle.

Farm business planning

Dates:

Mondays, February 10 – April 28, 2025

Time:

5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Format:

Hybrid

Cost:

$495

Apply

This comprehensive 12-week course is designed for aspiring and established farmers who want to develop a robust business plan for their agricultural enterprises. Offered in a hybrid format, combining both in-person and online learning, the course covers essential components of farm business planning, providing practical tools and insights to navigate the complexities of the agricultural industry.

Executive Summary – this module will help you explore the structure, mission and goals of your farm, including the unique value propositions that set your business apart.
Market Analysis – identify target markets, analyze the competition, and understand industry trends to position your farm for success. Define and differentiate your offerings.
Marketing & Sales – learn effective techniques and strategies tailored to the ag sector.
Operational Plan – delve into logistics, production processes, supply chain management, and day-to-day operations.
Management & Organization – identify key roles to build your team and organizational structure to ensure smooth operations. Create a detailed financial plan, including budgeting, forecasting, and funding strategies to ensure your farm’s financial health.
Risk Management – develop strategies to mitigate risk and ensure resilience in your farming operation. Learn to enhance sustainability and minimize negative environmental impact.

Explorer Course for Aspiring farmers

Dates:

Thursdays, April 3-May 15, 2025

Dates:

5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Format:

In-person

Cost:

$500

Apply

The Explorer Course is designed to orient the farm-curious to the realities of cultivation, animal husbandry, and entrepreneurship. The 4-day crash course will help you decide whether starting an agricultural business is realistic for you and how to take practical next steps. Down-and-dirty farming experience and a field trip are included.

In addition, you will:

Assess Yourself
Is starting an agricultural business right for you? Explore your own interests, skills and motivations so you’re better able to answer the question. Identify what it takes to own and operate an agricultural business, including the rewards and risks, and get an introduction to other opportunities in the field of agriculture.
Research the Landscape
We look at specific resources and approaches that will help you with agricultural business and market research. We identify regulatory issues that must be considered and ways to research the market and discover potential revenue streams.
Assess Your Resources
We build an understanding of how to assess and evaluate personal financial resources and what can be invested in business start-up costs and introduce external financial resources available to beginning farmers. You’ll also understand how to inventory and evaluate the physical resources needed for a business start-up. We provide an overview of marketing options for small-scale farmers.
Make Decisions & Take Next Steps
How do you envision your farm? Make a concrete plan for the next 6-12 months to advance your farm dream and identify the additional resources you’ll need to achieve it. If you’re not sure you’re ready to start pursuing it, what will you need to do to help you in your decision? What are other ways that you can pursue your interest in agriculture?

By the end of the course, participants will have actionable tools and knowledge to effectively promote their farm products, enhance customer loyalty, and drive sales. This course is ideal for farmers, market vendors, and small-scale producers looking to enhance their marketing skills and grow their customer base.

Tractor Training

Dates:

Tuesdays, April 8-29, 2025

Time:

5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Format:

In-person

Cost:

$250

Apply

This comprehensive four-week program is designed for new tractor operators and those seeking a refresher on safe and effective tractor operation. Throughout the course, participants will engage in practical, real-world experiences that enhance their learning and confidence.

Introduction to the history, types, uses and components of tractors.
Safety protocols, including hands-on inspections and a practical safety training session.
Setting up the tractor and attachment of implements.
Practical exercises to ensure that students can safely and effectively prepare equipment for use.
Hands-on experience operating tractors and implements in various field scenarios, including the use of grain drills.
Learn to drive and use best practices for field operations.
Focus on calibration techniques for accurate planting.

Marketing Essentials

Dates:

Tuesdays, May 6-27, 2025

Time:

5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Format:

Hybrid

Cost:

$195

Apply

This 4-week course is designed to equip farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs with essential marketing skills to grow their businesses and reach new customers. Participants will explore the fundamentals of marketing with a focus on practical strategies tailored to the agricultural industry.

Topics include branding, customer recognition, digital marketing, and product display, with an emphasis on modern marketing techniques such as social media outreach. Additionally, the course will cover the importance of product labels, farm-to-table storytelling, and how to position products to stand out in competitive markets.

efficient irrigation

Dates:

Tuesdays, June 5-26

Time:

5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Format:

In-person

Cost:

$295

Apply

This 4-week hands-on course provides practical training on the principles of irrigation specifically tailored for small farms. Participants will learn essential techniques for designing, installing, and maintaining efficient irrigation systems that promote sustainable water usage and support healthy crop growth.

We’ll cover various irrigation methods, including drip, sprinkler, and surface systems, while exploring soil moisture management, water conservation practices, and the integration of technology for improved efficiency. Through field demonstrations and real-life applications, participants will gain the skills needed to optimize water distribution, reduce waste, and ensure their crops receive the right amount of water at the right time.

Ideal for small-scale farmers, market gardeners, and anyone interested in sustainable agriculture, this course offers the tools and knowledge to implement effective irrigation strategies for better yields and resource management.

Animal Husbandry Basics

Dates:

Tuesdays, July 1-22, 2025

Time:

5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Format:

In-person

Cost:

$195

Apply

This 4-week introductory course provides a comprehensive overview of livestock management, focusing on poultry, hogs, and ruminants. Participants will learn the basic needs of these animals, including nutrition, housing, and health care, while exploring best practices for maintaining healthy, productive livestock.

The course covers proper housing design, disease prevention, and herd management, emphasizing practical skills for small-scale farming. In addition, participants will be introduced to strategies for marketing and selling livestock products, from meat to eggs, and how to navigate local markets. Ideal for beginners or those interested in expanding their knowledge of livestock farming, this course offers essential insights into raising and managing poultry, hogs, and ruminants efficiently and profitably.

Field of agave plants courtesy of California Agave Council

COming Soon: Growing Agave

Dates:

March, 2025 (Dates TBA)

Time:

5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Format:

In-person

Cost:

TBA

Apply

Agave may be a promising crop for farm resilience. A changing climate and poor soils are environments where agave can thrive. Learn the basics of agave cultivation with the California Agave Council.

Details to come. Click on the Apply link to learn more.

COming Soon: Welding 201

Dates:

TBA

Time:

5:00PM – 7:00 PM

Format:

In-person

Cost:

TBA

Apply

We will pick up with what we learned in Welding 101.. More details to come. Click the Apply button to get more information.

Testimonial

Cultivating opportunity

The Urban Ag Internship has been transformative, teaching me practical skills while fostering a sense of community with the people I work with. I’m grateful for the support and opportunities it has provided as I’m able to learn day by day and meet great people along the way.

Hana Yang, 18 | Sacramento

Sending Enrique, one of our most respected employees, through the Apprenticeship Program was one of the best decisions for our farm. Enrique not only learned new techniques and grew his personal network that he still uses today, more importantly, he built up his confidence in himself. He learned how to question the status quo and find ways to make influential changes on our farm. Through his experience in the Apprenticeship Program, he has become an invaluable manager on our farm managing our shop. This program doesn’t just train future farmers, it builds stronger, more innovative agricultural leaders.

David Ogilvie | Wilson Vineyards

The Explorer Course did not shy away from sharing the risks, challenges, and hardships that small farmers face, and it was designed to really make us think about our values and goals and where we wanted to take our farm journey, whether that was moving on to start a farm business, work on a farm, or be involved with farming in some other way. Every risk, every challenge, every opportunity that we discussed in class really sparked my interest and I came to realize that, yes, that is what I want for my life, and ultimately it led me to continue my farm journey with CLBL.

Jenny Mensch | Savor Farm