Our program creates a positive ecosystem promoting professional and financial growth for beginning farmers in the atlanta region through an agricultural incubator immersion program

The Generation Infocus Foundation Inc. was awarded a $250,000 project grant from the Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) to operate an agricultural incubator program in Hapeville, GA from September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2024.

The program will provide training and resources to 20 beginning farmers annually, with a focus on veterans, socially disadvantaged individuals, and underrepresented groups in agriculture such as women and people of color. Trainees will gain hands-on experience through weekly work on a demonstration farm and coursework through the University of Georgia. The program will teach skills in farming techniques, entrepreneurship, and construction to prepare graduates to start their own farm businesses or work on other farms. Ray of Life Farms and the Fulton County Cooperative Extension will partner with The Generation Infocus Foundation on delivering the program.

The 20 beginner farmers per year includes veterans, socially disadvantaged, limited resource, or farmworkers, including women, african-americans, latinx, asian, and lgbtq farmers, with at least 60% of the budget going to serve these groups. Training includes the hands-on application of knowledge as they learn and work on the farm weekly and all participants will receive training through the university of georgia. Raising and marketing microgreens and exotic crops will also be explored. Upon graduation, farmers will receive a stipend to help pay for their start-up costs. The program consists of teaching beginners how to farm, entrepreneurship/business development, and light farm construction. We will also train them in spin (small plot intensive) farming techniques and data analysis to minimize costs/risks and maximize net income. At the end of the program the goal is for these beginners to have gained farming and business skills that will afford them the knowledge base to be able to start their own lucrative farm businesses and/or work on a farm for another business in their community. The generation infocus foundation is applying for the beginning farmer and rancher development program(BFRDP) as a non-profit NGO with multiple partners, including the fulton county cooperative extension at the university of georgia and RAY of life farms. GI foundation will be responsible for receiving and distributing 100% of the grant funding.