Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant Small Farm and Sustainable Agriculture Extension Specialist, University of Illinois Extension Co-Facilitator, Central Illinois Farm Beginnings Co-Facilitator Keeping a Farm a Farm… Farmer Training Programs

Cultivating New Farmers

Tools that Farmers Need to be Successful Goal Setting and Whole Farm Planning Business Planning Mentoring Workshops On-Farm visits Networking Community Support

A Tri-State Expansion: Educator Training using the Farm Beginnings Model (ENC04-083) NCR SARE Professional Development Grant  Develop a pilot “train-the-trainer” program to expand the Farm Beginnings course model beyond Minnesota Coordinator  Catherine Twohig, Land Stewardship Project Grant Award  $74,856

NCR SARE PDP - A Tri-State Expansion: Educator Training using the Farm Beginnings Model Short-term Outcomes  Community awareness and support of beginning farmers  Knowing where a pilot site sits on the readiness scale  A grasp of how to transfer the Farm Beginnings Model  Better-informed beginning farmers due to the course  A tangible faith by educators across the board in a future for sustainable farming.

NCR SARE PDP - A Tri-State Expansion: Educator Training using the Farm Beginnings Model Intermediate Outcomes  60 trained community educators versed in beginning farmer needs  Networks build upon beginning farmer needs  Three successfully-launched farmer training programs with on-farm mentoring pairs

NCR SARE PDP - A Tri-State Expansion: Educator Training using the Farm Beginnings Model Intermediate Outcomes  At least 30 farm families pursuing financially viable farm enterprises among the three pilot states  Educators engaged both with beginning farmer students and with their peers in replicating the program in other regions of their states  Training tools to make it possible.

NCR SARE PDP - A Tri-State Expansion: Educator Training using the Farm Beginnings Model Outcomes/Outputs (2007 Report)  Four Farm Beginnings courses launched in 2005/06 in three different states (IL, MO, NE)  54 families and approximately 80 individuals participated in these four courses  Third year programming continues for two IL sites  Interest and steering committee involvement generated by Nebraska from educators in South Dakota and Iowa (Program started in South Dakota in )

NCR SARE PDP - A Tri-State Expansion: Educator Training using the Farm Beginnings Model Outcomes/Outputs (2007 Report)  All sites reported increased collaboration and development of “broad-based community involvement” including local farmers, business people, state and agency staff, non-profit staff and university extension  Educators involved in this program and who participated in the training and tri-state grant reported that the involvement in this grant and program increased their professional development

NCR SARE PDP - A Tri-State Expansion: Educator Training using the Farm Beginnings Model Outcomes/Outputs (2007 Report)  Speaker and presentation requests increased beyond MN Farm Beginnings to additional sites and successful programs

NCR SARE PDP - A Tri-State Expansion: Educator Training using the Farm Beginnings Model Outcomes/Outputs (2007 Report)  Ripple effects created through additional media coverage, name recognition, and graduates of multiple programs.  Farm Beginnings training protocols, including Community Assessment workbook and Facilitator handbook developed, revised, and completed  Farm Beginnings programs networked to share best practices

What Is Farm Beginnings? A community-based initiative developed by the Land Stewardship Project that takes a farmer-to- farmer approach toward preparing a new generation of farmers. Provides education, support and equity-building opportunities for beginning and transitioning farmers.

Illinois Farm Beginnings Two locations – Two Approaches  Central Illinois Farm Beginnings  Stateline Farm Beginnings

Farm Beginnings- Preparing a New Generation of Farmers Provides essential information and firsthand knowledge Helps participants develop a solid business plan Connection to a support network and other like minded farmers Henry Brockman, Kris and Marty Travis and Brad Genung discussing marketing strategies with this year’s Central Illinois Farm Beginnings class.

It is all brought to life in the final chapter of the course….On-Farm Education One-on-Mentoring AND Farm Tours and Skill Sessions

Characteristics of Successful Farmers Passionate Written Goal/ Business Plan Continuous Education/Training/Experience Create Networks/ Support Systems Creative Open-minded Calculated Risk Taker

Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant University of Illinois Extension Extension Specialist, Small Farm and Sustainable Agriculture SARE Coordinator P.O. Box 410 Greenview, IL