Sign Up for Farmer-to-Farmer Mentorship Program by Jan 31st
Consider signing up for NOFA-NY’s Mentorship Program or the Technical Consultancy Program! Beginning farmers in the program have called the advice and availability of their mentors “an invaluable help” and “a real comfort and confidence booster.” Farmers already engaging in mentorship have also joined the program, nominated by the new farmers that want to celebrate the long-standing relationships they’ve built with such leaders and experts.
The NOFA-NY Mentorship Program is geared toward supporting beginning farmers in a role of farm start-up, ownership, leadership, management or transition-to-Organic as well as the farmers who train and educate them. The Mentorship Program offers several forms of support:
- A matchmaking process, three times a year, to help beginning and experienced farmers find each other and form long-term advisory relationships
- A connection to peers (other new farmers or other experienced farmers who take an active role in training new farmers)
- Useful information and education to support experienced farmers’ abilities as teachers and guides.
For more information: http://www.nofany.org/mentorship
I am in the early stages of purchasing 103 acres of farmland in Niagara County. I would love mentorship in setting up a farm business plan and the daily issues in small farming. I grew up on a beef/pig/vegetable crop farm and was extremely active in 4-H, but moved out of WNY for about 15 years. My family moved back August 2013 and I am looking to start my first farm business (starting with a small orchard, blueberries if the soil is good enough, and organic poultry- meat & eggs). I have also lived on an organic farm in Natick, Massachusetts for ~5 years and I am interested in eventually getting organic certified. Thank you very much for your time.