Indiana Small Farm Labor Learning Network

Commodities

Practices

• Education and Training: networking, study circle, technical assistance, workshop
• Farm Business Management: apprentice/intern training, labor/employment
• Sustainable Communities: local and regional food systems

The Northwest Indiana Food Council will lead a Professional Development project to strengthen sustainable farm labor practices and workforce resilience across Indiana. Our target audience includes agricultural professionals and farmer leaders who provide technical assistance and guidance to farms statewide.

Ag professionals will gain the knowledge and resources needed to support small-scale farmer employers in adopting fair, effective, and sustainable labor practices. Farmers will improve their hiring and management strategies, leading to improved employee recruitment, retention, and confidence in workforce management. Farmers will be more likely to participate in apprenticeship and internship programs, making these programs more available. Therefore, young adults will have increased access to agricultural learning experiences, develop practical skills in sustainable farm operations, build leadership and workplace competencies, and form connections with farmers and ag professionals that support ongoing workforce readiness. These outcomes will lay the groundwork for making farming a more competitive career path, strengthening a resilient and sustainable agricultural workforce in Indiana.

Key activities include creating and managing a Small Farm Labor Learning Network of ag professionals and farmer leaders; collaborating with network members to identify workforce development priorities and co-create curriculum and resources; and facilitation of workforce training, farm tours, and discussions to share best practices. This project will provide the resources and structure for more robust training to farmers aiming to become employers for the first time, better employers and/or employers eligible to participate in regulated workforce development programs. Lessons learned will extend beyond this learning network, strengthening the agricultural workforce overall.

The project will produce the following key outputs:

• Small Farm Labor Learning Network: Twenty agricultural professionals and farmer leaders will participate in the learning network focused on sustainable farm labor. Learning network members will complete professional development sessions, participate in facilitated discussions, attend three on-farm learning tours, and engage in peer-to-peer networking and coaching sessions.

• Reports and knowledge-sharing: Findings will be shared with colleagues through SARE reporting and presented at a minimum of one conference, reaching at least 15 attendees. At the end of the project, a final report will summarize how learning network participants applied the learning to their farms and technical assistance work, also shared with SARE and presented at a conference (minimum 15 attendees).

• Resource dissemination: NWI Food Council staff will create a resource list of recommended tools, materials, and training opportunities related to farm labor practices. This list will be distributed to learning network participants and posted on at least 10 partner websites, ensuring accessibility to a broader audience of agricultural professionals and farmer leaders, extending workforce competencies beyond the learning network. Resources will likely include things like Employee Handbook templates, guidance for Staff Policies for Small Farms, Payroll tax guidance, staff onboarding templates, co-created staff training, shared and best practices for timekeeping and staff accountability, performance review templates, etc.

• Indiana Small Farm Conference panel: In partnership with Purdue Extension, the Council will organize a panel on sustainable farm labor and employment practices for the Indiana Small Farm Conference, engaging at least 20 attendees. The panel will also be recorded and shared online through at least 10 partner websites to extend reach beyond the conference.

• On-farm learning tours: Three farm tours will showcase diverse employment models, including seasonal hires, apprenticeships, and internships. Each tour will engage at least 15 learning network members, providing hands-on opportunities to observe practical workforce strategies and discuss challenges and solutions with experienced farmer employers.