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T O P I C    R E V I E W
Alee Posted - Jul 27 2007 : 11:07:15 AM
Hey ladies!

This is the program I am in at school:
http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/major_sheets/AERS/agribusiness.pdf

What do you think? Since I unofficially withdrew last fall (read dropped out due to morning sickness) and did not attend during the Spring, I have some hoops to jump through to get back into school.

I think this is going to be a great program to help me fulfil my dream- what do you think?

Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
14   L A T E S T    R E P L I E S    (Newest First)
paradiseplantation Posted - Aug 07 2007 : 10:56:53 AM
This is so interesting! I'm going to check with LSU to see if they may offer something along this line. We took a Master Cattle Producer program through their agriculture department, and I know they offer Master Farmer, Master Poultry and other 'Master' programs (not the same as a college degree master - these are programs that last anywhere from 12 weeks to 2 years, but do require Continuing Education to keep your certification). If they don't, I'm going to encourage them to check this out. Thanks for the input!
Alee Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 9:39:03 PM
I hope that sort of morning sickness is a one time only thing! I would hate to get that sick each time I want to have a baby!

Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
Shirlaroo Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 7:20:53 PM
Alee, yor drive and passion will get you where you want to be. I have no doubt you will make your dreams come true. I also suffered badly with morning sickness in both my pregnancies and had to give up work. Just glad that part of my life is over.

Friends are the best collectables.
Alee Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 1:09:48 PM
Thank for the advice Jennifer! I appreciate everyone's views on this.

Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
La Patite Ferme Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 12:18:11 PM
Alee,

The UI program sounds very similar to the one I took at Cal State Fresno. The main goal of the school is to produce Ag-business leaders for the ag business community in domestic and world-wide markets. If you want less of a structured business work environment and more truck crops, farmers market, small dairy and feedlot type business I would also encourage you to look into classes or symposiums from your local Cooperative Extension, Community College or any sustainable ag organizations you have in Idaho. A lot of times they are inexpensive or free. I took a wonderful Animal Husbandry class from a JC when I was in High School. It covered all the large livestock species from breeding to slaughter.

You might also check into working for small growers who already do some of the businesses you are interested in. That way you can gain experience and earn money at the same time. They might also be more likely to accomodate your little one with flex hours etc. I would also recommend connecting with your local 4-H people. They are a wealth of information and usually very willing to share their knowledge. They too will have educational workshops and training days that will help you gain knowledge and skills. Their motto: "Learn by Doing" is sooo true.

Also, don't be afraid to educate yourself and try new things on your own. We have all learned a lot crawling, stumbling, walking then running.

I actually fell into raising sheep when a friend of mine asked if I would bottle feed a bunch of orphaned lambs for a few weeks. One thing led to another and for 35 years I raised, breed, showed, sold and slaughtered lambs. Now my daughter has 3 lambs going to our county fair. (another good place to connect with like minded people)

Good luck to you. Ag is still my first love, even though it has taken a different path.

Jenn
janetinva123 Posted - Jul 29 2007 : 11:31:43 AM
In Clarksville Tn there Austin Peay Univirsity has a great agri program you can compare it to.
http://www.apsu.edu/agriculture/

Jc
http://beloved-creations.blogspot.com
http://beloved-creations.com
knewslady Posted - Jul 29 2007 : 05:32:20 AM
Alee
My daughter has just recently became a single mom to two children at the young age of 21 thanks to a cheating husband.

I have told her and told her she has got to go to school at all costs in order to provide for her children and I think I have finally convinced her to major in agriculture.

This is really the only area she is interested in and believe me if it doesn't hold her interest she will not stick with it.

Personally, I think the field is wide open with an ag degree. She has a lot of the same dreams you do. I have told her she probably needs to pursue her teaching certificate as well just to have something to fall back on.

I wish you the very best, I just wish I had had my head screwed on that right when I was that young. Go for it.
Kathy

Will always be a farmgirl at heart
Visit my online shop at http://thebackfence.etsy.com
Alee Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 7:57:17 PM
I appreciate some real-world recommendations. No matter what companies say- sometimes you just don't know what you are getting. Please let me know how it works for you!

Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
therealshari Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 5:41:16 PM
Awesome! I'm so glad to hear you've got the animal side covered. Sounds like you'll do very well, and taking the agribusiness courses are going to give you a good financial management foundation. Since you're already computer savvy, be sure to check out whatever software is best for you, too.

For example, we've just picked up the Ranch Manager software from Lion Edge Technology. They have several different modules (equine, cattle, sheep, goats) and when you purchase more than one module at a time, you get a huge discount. I'm not a salesman or affiliate for them. The gal we got our ram from uses this software and swears by it.

Shari Thomas
farmer, web copywriter, blogger
Shari's Gone Country
Vote for me at "Blog for a year"
Carol Sue Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 3:35:59 PM
Alee, with your head for business, this sounds great, really great. So have you already got some credits toward this done, where are you at? Just curious.

Enjoying life.
Alee Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 2:44:39 PM
Shari-

Yes I am physically fit enough to do the labor and I am learning the animal husbandry side. I know how to do the basic vet work like giving intramuscular and IV shots and drawing blood. I am learning how to properly wrap a horse's leg (very particular process- if not done properly you can blow tendons). I have volunteered at vet clinics for years so I have picked up a lot through that. If I end up moving back to my home town I have a local vet that would help teach me more and here in Idaho I have some wonderful friends at a horse ranch that help teach me as well.

Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
therealshari Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 11:26:15 AM
Alee, in addition to the "agri-business" side, is it safe to assume you already have the "animal husbandry" side down, as well as the physical ability to actually do the labor involved with your dream?

One thing you'll definitely want to do is get all that stuff done... especially the animal husbandry, as that will lower your vet bills considerably. The more you can take care of your own animals, the less you have to pay someone else.

Shari Thomas
farmer, web copywriter, blogger
Shari's Gone Country
Vote for me at "Blog for a year"
Alee Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 10:29:00 AM
Well, eventually I would like to own a self-sustaining farm. I would have a huge garden, run a few head of beef cattle, have a milk cow or goats, and have chickens. If I can ever get over my aversion to pork, I would keep a few pork pigs of an heirloom variety (not bred to be so lean that they are tastless). It sounds simple, but I know I would need to have enough of an income to handle the vet bills that will be sure to come and pay taxes and such. I would love to be able to work from home always and have enough time to be good mom.

Oh yes, and I plan on having Egyptian Arabian horses!

Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
therealshari Posted - Jul 27 2007 : 12:58:57 PM
Hi Alee,

There's definitely a demand for folks in the agri-business sector... What exactly is your dream?

Shari Thomas
farmer, web copywriter, blogger
Shari's Gone Country
Vote for me at "Blog for a year"

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