Project Grant 20194940030072

THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THE STRENGTHENING FARMER ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROJECT IS TO HELP ALL BEGINNING FARMERS TO DEVELOP VIABLE, FINANCIALLY ROBUST FARM BUSINESSES IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND SOUTHERN WISCONSIN. THE PROJECT WIDENS PROVEN STRATEGIES IN FARMER TRAINING BY ADDRESSING THREE SPECIFIC PAIN POINTS IN THE PATH TO SUCCESSFUL FARM OPERATIONS: 1) ACCESS TO TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP, 2) LAND ACQUISITION, AND 3) PREPARATION TO SELL INTO WHOLESALE MARKETS. OUR PRIMARY APPROACH IS TO ANALYZE AND UPDATE FARMER-LED TRAINING PROGRAMS TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO STRUCTURAL BARRIERS THAT AFFECT WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, IMMIGRANT, AND VETERAN BEGINNING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FARMERS ON THEIR PATH TO SUCCESSFUL FARM BUSINESSES. IN THIS WAY, THE PROJECT CREATES A MORE ROBUST AND EQUITABLE FOOD SYSTEM WHICH IS BETTER EQUIPPED TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL FOODSHED.FARMERS HAVE IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING PRIORITIES AS THEIR TOP NEEDS THROUGH A NEEDS ASSESSMENT,SURVEYS AND FARMER ALLIANCE MEETINGS:FARM ECONOMIC VIABILITY AND PROFITABILITY. SPECIFICALLY, FARMERS IDENTIFIED ENTREPRENEURSHIP, BUSINESS TRAINING, FINANCIAL AND RISK MANAGEMENT TRAINING - INCLUDING HOW TO GROW THEIR BUSINESSES AND INVEST WISELY IN THEIR FARMSHELP TO ADDRESS LAND AND LAND TENURE, AND ACQUIRING CAPITAL FOR INFRASTRUCTUREGUIDANCE DIRECTLY FROM OTHER FARMERS WHO HAVE NEGOTIATED SIMILAR OBSTACLES (MENTORING) AND ACCESS TO EFFICIENT AND INFORMATIVE SOURCES FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (RESOURCES ARE REFERRAL).WITH THESE PRIORITIES IN MIND, THE STRENGTHENING FARMER ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROJECT WILL PROVIDEMORE RESOURCES TO ATTRACT AND SUPPORT BEGINNING FARMERS FROM DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. AT EACH STEP IN THE PATH TO ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS, THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS STRUCTURES AND PROCESSES THAT POSE A BARRIER TO SOME BEGINNING FARMERSIN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:TRANSLATING TRAINING MATERIALS AND COMMUNICATIONSENSURING THAT LEADERS, MENTORS, AND HOST FARMS REPRESENT WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, IMMIGRANTS, AND VETERANSCOLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS (SUCH AS ADVOCATES FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE) WHO HAVE DEEP ROOTS IN DIVERSE COMMUNITIESCREATING A PIPELINE OF PARTICIPANTS THAT FEEDS INTO LAND ACCESS AND WHOLESALE MARKET SUCCESSTHE PROJECT BUILDS OFF OF THE SUCCESS AND INNOVATION OF DECADES OF FARMING TRAINING EXPERTISE HELD BY BOTH ANGELIC ORGANICS LEARNING CENTER AND LIBERTY PRAIRIE FOUNDATION. ALL ACTIVITIES IN THIS PROJECT HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO CAPITALIZE ON THE FARMER-TO-FARMER, LOCAL KNOWLEDGE MODEL, WHICH IS CRITICAL WHEN ADDRESSING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE KEY POINT OF THIS PROJECT IS THAT IT NOT ONLY CUSTOMIZES THE TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP TO THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL FARMER BUT ALSO INCORPORATES A MORE DIVERSE GROUP OF FARMERS INTO THE LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE OF THE STRUCTURES THAT PROVIDE THAT TRAINING.