Beginning Farmer Business Training and Education Partnership Project

Beginning Farmer Business Training and Education Partnership Project

Summary

Project staff reviewed program offerings of 307 organizations and programs identified as “Growing New Farmers Northeast Service Providers’ Consortium” members and identified 57 whose missions most closely match the needs of the Project constituents’ interests and needs — potential Project partners who will receive information about the Projet and an invitation to participate in an Orientation & Train-the-Trainer sesion in the Spring of 2009. Project staff conducted a “pilot” Train-the-Trainer session in June, held in Belchertown, MA at the request of four organizations expressing early interest in the Project; two newly trained instructors went on to offer the Explorer four session course. Project staff has also scheduled a Train-the-Trainer session for Penn State Extension educators at their in-service days to be held in March 2009. It is anticipated that 10 – 14 educators will participate. An informational package on the Project has been created, has been sent in response to early Project inquiries, and will be mailed to all identified Consortium members in early January 2009.

Objectives/Performance Targets

The project performance target envisions that, from an initial group of 200 service providers with beginning farmer interests, thirty will elect to receive training and partner with New England Small Farm Institute in offering “Exploring the Small Farm Dream” and “Small Farm Planner” decision-making and planning tools, and ten will receive mentored practice in program delivery. Initial interest in the Project is encouraging; it suggests that the performance target is both reasonable and achievable.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Although the Project got a late start (June instead of April), consderable progress has been made toward meeting Milestone 1: thirty service providers elect to join the project. In summer 2008, while project staff was conducting its first-round review of service providers to identify those most appropriate for outreach, Penn State Extension contacted NESFI to discuss how county offices could offer the “Exploring the Small Farm Dream” short course. They reported a growing interest in programming for beginning farmers and, after several discussions, NESFI and PSU decided to schedule a Project Train-the-Trainer specifically designed for PSU educators. Ten to 14 participants are anticipated, with the expectation that some of those trained will offer courses in the Fall of 2009. Although the original project plan was to hold only two regional trainings, NESFI welcomed the opportunity to be able to tailor a training for PSU. This event will contribute significantly toward accomplishment of Milestone 2: “thirty service providers will elect to attend a Project Training”; and Milestone 3: “a core group of ten will elect to participate in a year-long training practicum, with on-site coaching and web-based support”). The project has also scheduled the first of two planned regional trainings, to take place in Northern New Jersey in April or May of 2009.

In addition to the over 50 beginning farmer service provider organizations identified through project research, inquiries have been received from Maine, New York and Connecticut.

With regard to training format, feedback from the “pilot” session held n Massachusetts in June 2008 suggests that a 1 and 1/2 day traing, rather than the 2 and 1/2 day format proposed, will be sufficient to meet project goals. By reducing the number of days for each group training, the project may offer an additional regional training in late 2009 or early 2010, or provide additional mentorng services.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

After only six months into its two and one-half year timeline, it is clear that the Project is attracting a high degree of interest. It is anticipated that it can make a significant contribution to Project partners’ programming needs.

Collaborators: