Farm Incubator Program

Agriculture is number 1 in Skagit County. Over 90 different crops are grown in that County. More tulip, iris, and daffodil bulbs are produced there than anywhere else in the U.S. I bet you didn't know that Ninety-five percent of the red potatoes from Washington State come from Skagit County. So given this wealth of agriculture, it makes sense they they would have a dynamic WSU Extension program. One that provides hands –on real world farming experience. It's called the farm incubator program, and it's a partnership between WSU Extension , Skagit Valley College and Viva Farms . According to Valerie Dekok at WSU Extension getting into the program starts with taking their cultivating success Courses

Dekok :We hold Cultivating Succes classes, once they take that series they can become part of the farm incubator program. We have a partnership with Skagit Valley College so they can also get college credit

She said they will have a new series starting in September, with a small farming and ranching course in the fall and the ag entrepreneurship. course in the spring.

So Valerie, whats the first step if someone wants to be a part of this incubator program.

They would contact Kate Smith, she's our Latino and small farms program coordinator, if they contact her she can get them plugged in with the classes.

For those of you who have dreamed of owning your own farm, the farm incubator program is designed to help ensure you are sustainable and successful.