In November 2021, University of New Hampshire contracted HMI to develop a Holistic Management Online Course for a cohort of LGBTQ+ farmers. This six-week online course, taught by HMI Certified Educator Ann Adams, covered key components of the Holistic Management® Framework including goal setting and on-farm/ranch decision-making, as well as key aspects of the Holistic Financial Planning process. The course began in February of 2022 and ran through the middle of March.
49 LGBTQ+ farmers registered for the course from all over the U.S. and Canada, and there was a 50% participation in the course with participants attending webinars and/or completing assignments.
75% of the participants surveyed said that what they learned from this course helped reduce their mental stress or increased their quality of life.
This on-demand course included three live, interactive webinars with guest speakers and breakout sessions.
Key learning that participants noted were:
Planning for profit
Gross Profit Analysis
Holistic goal setting and decision testing
Investing in logjams
That financial things can be accessible
New ways to approach decision making
Allowing for more emphasis on social and environmental factors
The importance of returning to and reflecting on a whole farm goal regularly
If you would like to be notified of additional training opportunities with this cohort, please contact HMI.