Project Grant 20214940035593

THE FOOTHILL REGION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA IS GROWING IN ITS RESIDENTIAL AND TOURIST POPULATION, ACCOMPANIED BY A DEMAND FOR ORGANIC PRODUCE, GRASS-FED AND HUMANELY RAISED MEAT, AND LOCALLY GROWN AND PRODUCED FOODS. FACILITATING THIS GROWING MARKET IS A THRIVING LOCAL FOOD COOP; RESTAURANTS AND MARKETS COMMITTED TO SOURCING LOCAL, ORGANIC FOODS; NUMEROUS PROSPERING FARMER'S MARKETS,AND AN INCREASE IN SUBSCRIPTIONS TO COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS. DEMAND IS OUTPACING SUPPLY, AND WITH LONG-ESTABLISHED FARMERS RETIRING, THE NEED FOR NEW FARMERS IS ESSENTIAL. THE AREA HAS A GROWING NUMBER OF NEXT GENERATION ASPIRING FARMERS, HOWEVER, WE'VE WITNESSED TOO MANY BEGINNING FARMERS GIVE UP FROM LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND EXTREME CHALLENGES. BEGINNING FARMERS TOO OFTEN DON'T HAVE THE BUSINESS AND PRODUCTION SKILLS NEEDED TO BE SUCCESSFUL, HAVE DIFFICULTY DEVELOPING THEIR MARKET, AND OFTEN CANNOT FIND AFFORDABLE LAND, LEADING TO AN EARLY EXIT FROM THEIR DREAM OF BEING A FARMER. ENSURING THAT OUR BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS ARE SUCCESSFUL IS THE INTENT OF THE COLLABORATIVE TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP PATHWAYS FOR BEGINNING FOOTHILL FARMERS AND RANCHERS, A SEQUENTIAL SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE A SCAFFOLD FOR LEARNING HOW TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN AN AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS. THIS COLLABORATION BETWEEN SIERRA HARVEST, A REGIONAL COMMUNITY-BASED NON-PROFIT, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, (UCCE) FOR PLACER AND NEVADA COUNTIES, AN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION INSTITUTION, BUILDS UPON PREVIOUS YEARS OF INFORMAL COOPERATION BETWEEN THESE TWO PRIMARY BEGINNING FARMER TRAINING ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION. COLLABORATIVE TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP PATHWAYS FOR BEGINNING FOOTHILL FARMERS AND RANCHERS DELIVERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, DIRECT SUPPORTAND MENTORSHIP, AND ADDRESSES THE NEED FOR LAND ACCESS AND SECURITY, TO EQUIP BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS WITH THE TOOLS, KNOWLEDGE, LAND, AND NETWORKS ESSENTIAL TO AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS SUCCESS AND SUSTAINABILITY. NEW FARMERS AND RANCHERS WILL HAVE COURSES IN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF A START-UP OPERATION TO A 10 YEAR OPERATION; FINANCIAL LITERACY AND MANAGEMENT; BUSINESS PLANNING; ORGANIC CERTIFICATION HOW-TO AND GUIDANCE; FARMING AND RANCHING PRODUCTION AND GRAZING SKILLS; ON-FARM MENTORSHIP AND TROUBLESHOOTING; CREATING RESILIENCY AGAINST THE CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE; DIRECT MARKET DEVELOPMENT; ASSISTANCE WITH LAND LEASES AND ACQUISITION; AND JOB AND INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT. MORE SUCCINCTLY, THIS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL RESOURCES, SUPPORT, TRAINING, NETWORKING, AND ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS ARE NOT LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES IN A CHALLENGING PROFESSION, BUT RATHER BECOME PART OF AN EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT NETWORK FOCUSED ON LONG TERM VIABILITY. WHILE THE PRIMARY COLLABORATION IS BETWEEN SIERRA HARVEST AND UCCE, THIS PROJECT LEVERAGES AND INTEGRATES THE RESOURCES AND TALENTS OF MANY ESTABLISHED ORGANIZATIONS AND FARM BUSINESSES. BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT TRAINING WILL OCCUR IN CLASSROOMS AT BOTH SIERRA HARVEST AND UCCE; PRODUCTION SKILLS ARE HELD ON LOCAL FARMS AND RANCHES AND TAUGHT BY EXPERIENCED FARMERS/RANCHERS; MENTORS, ESTABLISHED FARMERS WITH SIMILAR FARM OPERATIONS, PROVIDE ON-SITE CONSULTATION WITH THEIR MENTEES; COMMUNITY-WIDE PRODUCER/BUYER NETWORK IS FACILITATED BY COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS; AND LAND ACQUISITION AND LEASE NEGOTIATION ARE SUPPORTED BY KEY RELEVANT ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS CALIFORNIA FARM LINK AND THE BEAR YUBA LAND TRUST.THIS PROJECT EXPANDS AND ENHANCES SIERRA HARVEST'S AND UCCE'S EXISTING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS AND OUTCOMES OF OUR REGION'S BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS. THE TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP PATHWAYS PROGRAM WILL HELP FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO EARN MORE MONEY, OBTAIN NEW MARKET OUTLETS, DEVELOP FINANCIALLY VIABLE BUSINESSES, ACHIEVE LONG-TERM LAND SECURITY, LEARN PRODUCTION BEST PRACTICES, AND SUSTAIN FARM OPERATIONS THROUGH INFORMED BUSINESS DECISIONS. WHILE THIS CLEARLY BENEFITS INDIVIDUAL FARMERS, IT AFFECTS THE WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITIES IN OUR REGION AS WELL BY DEVELOPING A ROBUST LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM. THIS WILL IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC STABILITY OF OUR REGION WITH INCREASED JOBS, SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES, RETENTION OF LOCAL MONEY, AND INCREASED DIRECT MARKETS. IT WILL IMPROVE OUR ENVIRONMENT BY REDUCING TRANSPORT OF FOOD FROM OUTSIDE THE REGION, PRESERVING AGRICULTURAL LAND VULNERABLE TO DEVELOPMENT, AND MITIGATING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION WITH SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. IT WILL IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS BY PROMOTING AND PROVIDING LOCAL, NUTRIENT DENSE, SEASONAL FRESH FOOD, AND IT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A VIBRANT LIFESTYLE ROOTED IN LOCAL COMMUNITY WHICH IS COMPLIMENTARY TO THE ARTISTIC, CULTURAL, AND RECREATIONAL QUALITIES FOR WHICH THIS AREA IS WELL-KNOWN. THIS PROJECT SERVES 1062 UNIQUE FARMERS, 210 OF WHOM WILL RECEIVE 15 OR MORE HOURS OF EDUCATION AND SUPPORT. WE EXPECT THAT 200 FARMERS WILL LEARN BEST PRACTICES TO IMPROVE PRODUCTION, WITH 7 NEW FARM BUSINESSES CREATED AND 6 BECOMING CERTIFIED ORGANIC. 15 FARMWORKERS WILL OBTAIN JOBS OR INTERNSHIPS, 10 FARMERS WILL FIND FARMLAND AND 5 FARMERS WILL ACHIEVE LONG-TERM LAND SECURITY. THESE OUTCOMES WILL DELIVER AN IMPACT TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT ELEVATES AND FAIRLY COMPENSATES THE FARMER, CELEBRATES THE DELICIOUS FOOD OF OUR REGION, BUILDS FARM AND RANCH RESILIENCY WITH SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, AND PRESERVES OUR FARMING AND RANCHING HERITAGE THAT HAS COME CLOSE TO VANISHING.