ANNOUNCMENT: Register for the upcoming Oregon workshops for April - June 2012.
After the first set of workshops, new and beginning farmers and ranchers are completing business and marketing plans, have gained access to important local resources, plan to expand into new products and markets, and have increased their knowledge of critical business management skills. See an overview of participants' accomplishments after their first year of classroom training in our Special Outcomes Report and accompanying Building Farmers in the West Newsletter.
“Being able to articulate my mission and goals has led to a more focused approach to my business, which means saving money on expenses, less waste, and striving to purchase quality stock. This means an overall improvement in the business and a happier farmer and family. Our community has become aware of us as a quality operation through our efforts and media exposure.” –- Workshop participant’s testimonial [more...]
The growing demand for local, fresh foods has created new market opportunities. These opportunities seem to be particularly rich in Western states. New models of producing, marketing and managing labor intensive produce operations require training for some of the beginning farmers who are entering the industry to take advantage of new markets, but also, transitioning commercial producers who may seek to learn a different set of skills than their commodity-oriented operations required.
Beginning farmers who are completing this program will be able to create and maintain economically viable operations through the relevant knowledge, skills, tools, and experience this project offers. In addition to traditional classroom education, participants grow and learn through the cooperation and education from community food organizations, successful growers, and Land Grant universities.
Two key elements of this program ensure a solid foundation for new farmers: first, capacity is being built using a classroom training program reinforced through interactions with University, producer peers, and community resources; and second, the program builds a strong network of producers involved in direct marketing that ultimately help to strengthen local agriculture and food systems.
Each program delivery site offers a sequence of classe where participants learn about business planning and accounting, regional direct marketing strategies, and business development resources and partners. In some regions, course “graduates” are applying for producer mentorships or other experiential learning options to advance their business goals.
A regional partnership to build community and capacity among a new generation of direct market farmers and local food systems.
Building Farmers in the West targets and builds business planning capacity among beginning farmers by extending successes reported in Colorado pilot programs. The scope of work will focus on three activities targeted to local food system oriented producers: development and refinement of curriculum, direct delivery of this curriculum or training of partner educators, innovating experiential learning strategies to complement classroom lessons, and evaluation of program materials and delivery.
Funded by the USDA Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program (grant award number 2009-49400-05877).
