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Marketing Essentials for Farmers and Food Businesses

A 7-week live series to help you clarify your mission, build your brand, and confidently market your farm or food business with practical, step-by-step strategies.

Does marketing feel overwhelming, time-consuming, and a little “salesy” right now? That’s exactly why we created this series, to give you a simpler, more confident way to market your business.

Marketing Essentials for Farmers & Food Businesses is a 7-week live training series designed specifically for small-scale producers like you. Each week, you’ll learn clear, practical strategies to clarify your mission, build a recognizable brand, use social media with confidence, and share your story in a way that attracts customers without feeling pushy.
This series goes beyond theory. You’ll get a simple framework, actionable tools, and real-life examples you can apply immediately, so you’ll always know what to say, where to say it, and how to make it quick and effective, even with your busy schedule. By the end, you’ll have marketing tools you can implement and the confidence to market your business while still focusing on the craft you love.

7 Monday Afternoon Workshops

November 3 - December 15, 2025

12 - 1:30 pm PT / 1 - 2:30 pm MT

Here’s a quick overview of the Marketing Topics we’ll be covering:

Nov 3: Mission, Vision, and Values Development
Nov 10: Branding for Small Farms & Food Businesses
Nov 17: Using ChatGPT as Your Marketing Assistant
Nov 24: Instagram Strategies
Dec 1: Facebook Strategies
Dec 8: Hosting On-Farm Events as a Marketing Tool
Dec 15: Business Goal Setting for Farmers, Ranchers, & Food Businesses

 

We recommend attending the entire series as they work together to build your business, but you are able to sign up for individual classes if you prefer.

Workshop Cost

$20 per Workshop or $70 for all 7 Workshops

These workshops will be recorded and the recordings and workshop materials will be sent to all who register.

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Emily Black
Cultivating Your Market 
Lone Mountain Farms

Meet the Instructor
 

This series is taught by Emily Black of Cultivating Your Market. Emily Black is a passionate advocate for small-scale farmers, ranchers, and artisans, helping them navigate the challenges of marketing and sales to create sustainable, thriving businesses. After starting her own farm business in 2013 and growing it into Lone Mountain Farms—a farm brewery that produces grain-to-glass craft beer—she discovered her love for connecting directly with customers and supporting others in agriculture.

 

Combining her background in marketing (with a degree from MSU-Billings) and her hands-on farming experience, Emily now teaches and coaches ag business owners to cut through overwhelm, build effective marketing systems, and achieve their goals.

 

Growing up on a Montana cattle ranch and transitioning from a corporate career in Coeur d’Alene to full-time farming, Emily has lived the journey and brings real-world insights, practical strategies, and a passion for empowering others.

 

Learn more about Emily here: www.cultivatingyourmarket.com/about

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Workshop Descriptions

Register Here

Mission, Vision, and Values Development

November 3

A practical workshop for farmers, ranchers, and food businesses ready to lead with purpose and direction.

Let’s get to the root of your business. Because you're not just selling vegetables, flour, soap, bouquets, or beef. You’re building something meaningful that deserves clarity.

 

In this hands-on training, you’ll:

  • Write a mission statement that explains your purpose right now

  • Craft a vision statement that paints a compelling picture of your future

  • Identify 3–5 core values that shape how you run your business every day

  • Create an action plan to integrate these elements into your marketing, team communication, and strategic planning

 

Let’s put your mission into words and your vision into motion.

Register Here

Branding for Small Farms & Food Businesses

November 10

Strong branding isn’t just for big companies. It’s how small farms and food businesses create trust, stand out, and grow.

In this hands-on training, you’ll:

  • Clarify your brand story so customers understand who you are and why you’re different

  • Identify your ideal customer and how to speak their language

  • Choose brand colors, fonts, and visuals that reflect your values and products

  • Map out how to use your brand across social media, signage, packaging, and your website

 

You’ll leave with a mini brand guide — a simple, actionable roadmap to keep your look and message consistent everywhere.

 

Start building a brand that stands out!

Register Here

Using ChatGPT as Your Marketing Assistant

November 17

This hands-on training will not only keep your marketing consistent and engaging but also free up your time to focus on other aspects of your business.

 

In this hands-on training, you’ll learn:

  • What ChatGPT is

  • The benefits of ChatGPT

  • How to use ChatGPT to get results tailored to you (not robotic)

  • The 3 P’s to posting on social media + creating a 30 day posting plan

  • Schedule posts so they keep posting while you’re taking care of the rest of your to-dos

 

Transform how you approach your social media marketing, making it more consistent, effective, and less time-consuming.

Register Here

Instagram Strategies

November 24

Unlock Instagram’s Potential: Build Awareness, Connect with Customers, and Grow Your Business!

 

In this training, you’ll walk away with:

  • A Clear Instagram Strategy – How to use Instagram to attract customers and grow your community.

  • A Content Plan That Works – Know exactly what to post (and how to use Instagram’s tools) without second-guessing.

  • A Repeatable System – No more scrambling! I’ll show you how to create a simple plan so you can show up consistently—without spending hours on social media.

 

You’ll learn:

  • How-to Optimize Your Profile – What to include in your bio so the right people follow you, plus how to use highlights to showcase your brand.

  • What to Post & When – The difference between posts, stories, reels, and carousels—how to use each one effectively and when to post them.

  • Hashtags, Tagging & Collaborations – How to get discovered by new customers and work with others to expand your reach.

  • Building a Simple System – Stop reinventing the wheel every month! Learn how to create a repeatable content plan that keeps you consistent and stress-free.

 

Simplify your Instagram posting, grow your audience, and streamline your marketing.

Register Here

Facebook Strategies

December 1

A hands-on workshop to help you feel confident, clear, and consistent on Facebook, so you can reach more local customers without spending all day online.

 

In this workshop you’ll learn:

  • How Facebook actually works for local reach (no tech jargon, just clear explanations).

  • What to post, how often, and how to make content fast.

  • Simple strategies to grow your followers into paying customers.

  • When and how to use ads without wasting your budget.

  • How to track what’s working so you know where to focus.

 

You’ll walk away with a ready-to-use content plan and a simple system to keep Facebook working for you.

Register Here

Hosting On-Farm Events as a Marketing Tool

December 8

A practical, hands-on workshop to help farmers and food businesses plan, promote, and profit from on-farm events that attract new customers, deepen loyalty, and grow sales.

 

Inside this workshop, you’ll discover how to:

  • Pick the right type of event (tours, tastings, dinners, u-picks, workshops) for your goals.

  • Map out logistics, pricing, and legal considerations so you feel prepared and protected.

  • Promote your event on social media, email, and print materials for maximum attendance.

  • Capture content and customer info during your event to extend your marketing beyond the day itself.

  • Turn first-time visitors into repeat buyers and brand advocates.

 

You’ll walk away with a repeatable blueprint for hosting profitable on-farm events as a core marketing strategy.

Register Here

Business Goal Setting for Farmers, Ranchers, & Food Businesses

December 15

Turn your business dreams into real results with Goals That Stick! You’re not just setting goals, you’re creating a roadmap for sustainable growth.

 

In this training, you’ll:

  • Set clear, meaningful business goals aligned with your vision.

  • Create an action plan you can stick to—even when life gets busy.

  • Stay focused, motivated, and accountable all year long.

 

No fluff. No vague resolutions. Just results-driven goals you can achieve.

 

Most goal-setting workshops stop at “set your goals.” But this training takes it further by equipping you with the tools and mindset to follow through.

For questions about the workshop series, please contact:

Colette DePhelps (cdephelps@uidaho.edu)

The University of Idaho has a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, genetic information, or protected veteran or military status.

Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodations. Please complete this form to assist in evaluating the reasonable accommodation request at least two weeks prior to the event. Accommodation applications cannot be approved without supporting documentation. Submit this electronic request form by sending the application and documentation to Center for Disability Access and Resources 875 Perimeter Drive Moscow, ID 83844-4257 cdar@uidaho.edu Phone 208-885-6307, Fax 208-885-9404

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