Student Info
Name: Erin Taylor
Term: Winter 2018
Credits: 16
Title: SOS Ag Business
Contact Info
Contract mode: Undergraduate In Program Internship with Individual Learning Component
Sponsor name: David Muelheisen
Internship Info (if applicable):
Internship hours/wk: 30
Internship credits: 12
Academic credits: 4
Field Supervisor
Field supervisor: Beth Henriquez
Title: Training Director
Organization: Enterprise for Equity
Subcontractor
Name: Sarah Williams
Title: Professor
Organization: The Evergreen State College
Program Description
Narrative: This one-quarter project, entitled Ag Business, is designed to explore the intersection of farming and small business, specifically relating to livestock and fiber animals. Specific learning objectives are to gain a foundational understanding of a small business model via classes and coursework through the Business Training Course at Enterprise for Equity, located in Olympia, Wa. Culmination of this training program will result in a viable business plan specific to the student’s own personal small business. The student will also gain real-world knowledge of fiber animals and a working farm by cooperating with the local Pierce County Conservation District and by volunteering at a local farm/s. Written work includes responses to seminar texts and an ePortfolio. Texts to be studied include: Restoring Heritage Grains by Eli Rosoga, The Cooking Gene by Michael W. Twitty, Letters To A Young Farmer from Stone Barns Center, and Puer Tea: Ancient Caravans and Urban Chic by Jinghong Zhang.
| Learning objective | Activity | Deliverable |
| Create a farm-specific business plan, financial documents, and a marketing strategy focusing on ethical/sustainable natural fibers. | weekly classes through Enterprise for Equity | ePortfolio and working business plan, field notebook |
| Gain real-world, practical and working knowledge of sheep and sheep farming, including but not limited to: shearing, breeding and birthing, vaccinations, parasites, veterinary needs, fencing, nutrition and pasture management, environmental concerns/impacts, etc. | Working closely with a local sheep farm (Kaukiki Farm, located in Longbranch, Wa) and with the Pierce County Conservation District. | ePortfolio, field notebook |
| Create viable living/grazing areas on my own property suitable for sheep/goats/fiber animals. | manual labor, ie fence construction, land clearing, shelter construction, etc | ePortfolio, field notebook |
| participate in once weekly classes at The Evergreen State College, focusing on an intentional agricultural community | bi-weekly seminar responses/reports, bi-weekly practicum workshops, cooperative learning with other students focusing on sustainable agriculture | response papers to seminar books, ePortfolio, field notebook, final project |
Evaluation of Work
- Narrative evaluations from field supervisor and/or subcontractor
- Narrative mid-quarter and final self-evaluations
- WordPress ePortfolio