The authors initially developed this guide as a resource for participants in Entrepreneur Express Workshops. Offered throughout the commonwealth, Entrepreneur Express Workshops provided basic information on starting and operating a small business. The VDBA, VCE, VTC, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), SCORE, and various local governments and chambers of commerce partnered to develop and implement these workshops. More information on workshop dates, locations, and registration information for these and other events is available at www.vastartup.org.

Agriculture is the largest industry in Virginia, with an economic impact of about $52 billion, and it provides over 357,000 jobs to Virginia’s residents (VDACS 2013). In addition, those value-added industries that depend on the farm products employ an additional 76,000 individuals, which generates another $34.6 billion in value-added revenue (VDACS 2013a). Despite the impact that the agriculture industry has on Virginia’s economy, there are several issues of concern.

This fact sheet is a product of the 2014 Spring Kohl Centre Experience. To find out more about this project team and related information, please go to the Kohl Centre at Virginia Tech’s website: www.kohlcentre.aaec.vt.edu.

Over the past decade, agritourism became a significant sector within Virginia agriculture, and there have been an increasing number of research studies in this area. Nevertheless, most literature has focused more on the motivating factors in starting an agritourism operation and less on the financial aspects. This study discusses the findings of a recent statewide survey of Virginia agritourism operators and evaluates the current status of the Virginia agritourism industry and its overall profitability.

This fact sheet is a product of the 2014 Fall Kohl Centre Experience. To find out more about this project team and related information, please go to the Kohl Centre at Virginia Tech’s website: www.kohlcentre.aaec.vt.edu.

Did you know that farmers who sell unprocessed foods to retail outlets typically receive just 11.6 cents of each dollar the consumer spends on food? The remaining amount is allocated to industry groups such as food processors, packaging and transportation, retail trade, food services, energy, finance and insurance, and legal services

Kim Niewolny, Associate Professor; Dept. of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education, Virginia Tech; Theresa Nartea, Assistant Professor, Virginia State University; Cathryn Kloetzli, Extension Agent, Albemarle County; Allyssa Mark, Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Program Associate, Dept. of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education, Virginia Tech

The discussion has begun, and words are flowing from each person like the water in a rushing stream. These words must be captured and become the wallpaper plastered throughout the room. It is this process of flip charting that creates the visual summary of key discussion points and provides the group memory that supports the process of a facilitated conversation.