Toolkit to Create a Great Farm Mentorship

Project Type: Partnership
Funds awarded in 2021: $39,999.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2023
Grant Recipient: Michigan State University
Region: North Central
State: Michigan
Project Coordinator:
Katie Brandt
Michigan State University
Description:
The Toolkit to Create a Great Farm Mentorship is a shared drive of resources for farm educators who want to start a mentorship program. Highlights include the full SARE grant proposal, signup forms, training agendas, evaluation surveys, program results. The video tour of the toolkit would be a smart place for educators to start if they are interested in farmer mentorships. Resources in the Beginning Farmer Mentee Resources and the Aspiring Farmer Mentee Resources folders would be useful for both farmers and educators. The toolkit includes numerous ready-to-use files but is completely open source to allow educators to easily download and edit items as needed. The toolkit was developed as part of the Michigan Sustainable Farm Mentors Program that connected 42 beginning and aspiring farmers with nine mentors. Beginning farmers are paired for one-on-one time with an experienced farm mentor and a peer for about 5 hours each. This time can be used to describe their farms and to discuss topics like financial viability, environmental sustainability, soils, work-life balance and community connections or any questions the new farmer has. It is available at https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/toolkit-for-starting-a-great-farm-mentorship-program and through Creative Commons at https://www.oercommons.org/courses/toolkit-to-create-a-great-farm-mentorship
Types:
Article/Newsletter/Blog; Bulletin; Conference/Presentation Material; Course or Curriculum; Manual/Guide; Training Agenda; Video; Workbook/Worksheet
Transcript Embedded:
Yes
Author:
Katie Brandt, Michigan State University
Target audiences:
Farmers/Ranchers; Educators
Ordering info:
Katie Brandt
brandtk7@msu.edu
Michigan State University
This product is associated with the project "Michigan Sustainable Farm Mentors"
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.