Project Grant 20214940035591

First Nations Development Institute was awarded a $750,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.

The 36-month grant will fund the Native Farmer and Rancher Apprenticeship Network project to provide training, technical assistance, and networking opportunities to Native American beginning farmers and ranchers in the Great Plains and Southwest regions. Specific services include education on livestock management, land management, crop farming, entrepreneurship, natural resource management, diversification strategies, mentoring, apprenticeships, food safety, and other topics. Training will be delivered through three community partners—the Cheyenne River Sioux Buffalo Authority, Oneida Market, and Trilogy Beef—leveraging their expertise to support Native American producers and strengthen local food systems. The goal is to expand business capacity and improve operations for beginning farmers to address food insecurity and promote economic development in tribal communities.