Penn State Extension presents a course titled “Exploring the Small Farm Dream” next month for people thinking about starting an agricultural business.

Whether someone’s vision includes making goat cheese, selling cut flowers, or growing rare tomato varieties, this course will give the tools to start making that dream come true.

Participants will discuss current opportunities in small-scale agriculture, explore objectives, assess personal and financial resources, conduct preliminary market research, and develop an action plan for pursuing their interests in food and farming.

Topics will include full-time farming, farming part-time while continuing other employment, changing careers to start a farm, and/or developing an informal farming pastime into a more serious business activity.

The course will include creative class discussions and research designed to help participants assess their skills and resources.

Participants also will have opportunities to connect with a local farm business owner and others interested in new farm enterprises. The instructors and peer farm entrepreneurs will teach and share agricultural business experience.

The cost to attend is $125 per person or $200 for two farm business partners. The fee includes Exploring the Small Farm Dream, a workbook developed by the New England Small Farm Institute and course materials.

The course schedule is:

- May 3, 6 to 9 p.m. — Session I: Self-Assessment and Researching the Farming Landscape

- May 10, 6 to 9 p.m. — Session II: Assessing Resource and Risk

- May 17, 6 to 9 p.m. — Session III: Decision-Making and Next Steps

Classes will be held at the Penn State Center Pittsburgh, Energy Innovation Center — Suite A, 1435 Bedford Ave., Pittsburgh.

Visit http://extension.psu.edu/business/farm/events to register. The deadline to register is April 24.