A delightful bed & breakfast adds a winery

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• Joining the business

Joining the business

Guests at the Engelbrechts' Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast can help with the daily milking, gather eggs, or feed the peacocks, llamas, goats, and old world Jacob sheep.

One of the priorities for the study is to determine a business structure that rewards all the family members for their contributions. In addition to Matt, the Engelbrechts' older son, Michael, and his wife, Christina, have expressed an interest in joining the business.

"When you have a family business you have to have clear definitions and expectations about what each person's role will be," Dianna says.

In the end, the Engelbrechts hope to discover the best way to capitalize on the grapes and grains grown on their small farm.

"Coming out of this, we want to know exactly what we can and should do," says Dianna.

Dianna tapes vines to get them to grow upward to create a canopy. She learned how to prune and care for the vines by visiting an Iowa State University research vineyard. Other grape growers have also been extremely helpful, she says.

How to get help with your new venture

To help start their winery, the Engelbrechts obtained a grant through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development office. Since 2001, the USDA has awarded $115 million for Value-Added Producer Grants to help farmers and ranchers, cooperatives, producer groups, and producer-controlled businesses to derive more income by adding value to their products. Grants are available for planning new ventures and also for working capital for processing and marketing value-added agricultural products. Projects funded vary widely and include wineries, wind farms, meat gift box marketing campaigns, plus working capital to start an ethanol plant. Grants are announced in the Federal Register in March each year and applications are due in May.

Contact your local USDA Rural Development office or any Rural Development field office to learn more. To access your state office, dial 202/720-4323 and press 1.

Or visit the USDA on the Web at www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm.