Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County (CCE) has received funding from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture to create a Beginner Farmer Program. The Beginner Farmer Program will aid beginner farmers in the Catskills-Hudson Valley Region through group training, one-on-one conversations, farm visits, farmer to farmer mentoring, and an intensive learning cohort.
The program will focus on supporting historically underserved individuals that consist of beginner farmers in operation for less than 10 years, minority owned and operated farms, women-owned and operated farms, veteran farmers, farmworkers, small farms, and organic farms.
Taylor Adam, the beginner farmer program manager, is taking the first steps to kick start the program by gathering an Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee will consist of farmers and farm business owners in Sullivan County. The committee will help develop the Beginner Farmer Program, provide guidance for program implementation, and most importantly, provide a farmer perspective rooted in their own agricultural and business experience. The committee will meet 4-6 times a year and compensation is offered. Advisory Committee membership will change annually to ensure the program is guided by a diverse range of farming perspectives and experiences.
Currently, CCE is seeking farmers and farm business owners who are invested in the success of beginner farmers and the creation of resilient farm operations in Sullivan County to join the Advisory Committee.
For more information about the program, or to inquire about participating on the first year’s Advisory Committee, please contact CCE Sullivan’s Beginner Farmer Program Manager Taylor Adam at tea46@cornell.edu or 845-292-6180 ext. 130.
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