This project was designed to help beginning beef producers from South Dakota reduce risk in the current business environment by focusing on developing financial and marketing diversification and awareness of policy risk. The original 3 program elements included: two face-to-face case study workshops and an urban immersion experience. Due to COVID the third component had to be altered as east coast travel was halted and replaced with individual focus of needs and webinars. The first case study focused on creating a separate enterprise from production agriculture. Participants determined viable diversification options, steps and resources to create business and marketing plans, and financial analysis. The second case study focused on diversifying current beef production systems. Participants evaluated a grass fed business model. The meeting featured experts on finishing grass-fed beef, direct sales, and adopted practices to augment natural resource management. The final component was adapted to help address needs of the participants as they navigated the complexity of Covid on their business. The participants analyzed financial and market strategies to use when making diversification decisions, created a written plan, and implement a successful strategy to minimize financial and market risk that fits their specific situation.