Forum to address women in farming

The Howard County Agricultural Marketing Program and the Maryland Cooperative Extension Service are presenting the next Central Maryland Women in Agriculture Forum -- "Building a Better Business Today for a Brighter Tomorrow" -- from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. March 12 at the Howard County Fairgrounds, 2210 Fairgrounds Road, West Friendship.

Featured topics and speakers include:

"Tools for Managing Some of the Other Risks of Your Farm Business You May Have Skipped Over," Dennis Hall, Pennsylvania Center for Farm Transitioning.

"So You Want a Loan," William Schrodel, Mid Atlantic Farm Credit.

"The Nuts and Bolts of Effective Marketing," Ben Beale, University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service, Co-County Extension.

"Diversification and Marketing Your Products," Phyllis Kilby, Kilby Cream.

"Who Will Be the Next Generation of Farmers?" Dennis Hall, Pennsylvania Center For Farm Transitioning.

"Estate Planning Issues on Ag Preservation Land," Joy Levy, Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning.

Registration is $20 and includes lunch and light refreshments. Preregistration must be received by March 5. On-site registration is to begin at 8:30 a.m. The program is to start at 9 a.m.

Information or registration: Kathy Zimmerman or Jill Joubert of the Howard County Economic Development Authority, 410-313-6500.

Small-business financing is topic

J-ref, a small-business financier in Howard County, in cooperation with the Business Finance Group and Commerce First Bank, will sponsor "Creative Small Business Financing: SBA 504 Program Panel Discussion" from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. March 5 at Howard Community College's Gateway Campus Building, Room 6, 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia.

A panel will explain who the Small Business Administration 504 program assists and how j-ref's fund can be used in conjunction with the program, a long-term financing tool for major fixed assets.

Information or registration: Brenda Miller, 703-352-0504.

J-ref will hold its fifth fundraiser, j-ref's "Bipartisan Bash," from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. May 15 in the Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall at Howard Community College. The event, which celebrates entrepreneurship, costs $50 a ticket. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

J-ref, which has its headquarters in the Center for Business and Technology Development in Columbia, is a private, not-for-profit funding source for Howard County startup and emerging companies.

Information: www.jref.org.

Business Digest items may be sent to howard.events@baltsun. com or faxed to 410-715-2816.