Executive Summary
Introduction
The Illinois Farm Business Farm Management Association is a cooperative educational-service program designed to assist farmers with management decision-making. The organization utilizes Farm Analysis Specialists to provide assistance with business and family records, business analysis reports, and business operations counseling. FBFM cooperates with the University of Illinois Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois Extension, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, and local FBFM Associations. There are eight local not-for-profit associations throughout the state. Participating farmers (or Cooperators) make up the membership of the association. Members elect representatives to serve on each association’s board of directors to oversee service delivery and establish policy.
During the summer of 2013, The Illinois Farm Business Farm Management Association contacted LBL Strategies to investigate pursuing a formal strategic planning effort and to develop a 3 to 5 year strategic plan for the organization. After meetings with the State Coordinator, the State Board President, and the organization’s strategic planning team, it was decided that an important first step was to evaluate several high profile internal challenges before pursuing a formal strategic planning effort. The organization engaged LBL to conduct three focus groups meetings with Field Staff and Local Association Board Members to provide an unbiased assessment of the pressing issues. The focus group results demonstrated a need for an organization wide strategic plan which was subsequently approved by the State Board. The organization engaged LBL for a second time to facilitate the process.
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