Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** the growing growers KC program…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** the growing growers KC program was started in 2004 and is based around a partnership ofthree university/extension units, numerous non-profit organizations, and 32 commercial hostfarms near kansas city. The apprenticeship program functions across state lines as the result ofcollaboration that has been cultivated within the region. The goal of this project is to expandthose partnerships to support expansion of the program throughout both states. More specifically, we will: (1) increase the number of educated and supported beginning farmers throughoutkansas and missouri, (2) increase the diversity of program participants through expandedpartnerships, scholarships, and language accessibility; (3) expand the network of beginningfarmers in the region through development of a searchable grower-database; (4) collaborate withurban food systems graduate students to develop resources and; (5) provide training to beginningfarmers on high tunnel and greenhouse construction and maintenance. In addition to kansasstate university, active contributors include new growth enterprises, kansas specialty cropgrowers association, servicemember agricultural vocation education (save) farm, elcentro, KC black urban growers, columbia center for urban agriculture, kansas blackfarmers association, cultivate KC, k-state research and extension, and new venturesadvisors. The proposed project directly allocates 21% to ngos and cbos, 11.4% to sociallydisadvantaged and limited resource audiences, and 3% to military veterans. Additionally, theentire project will indirectly benefit limited resource audiences through the hiring of statewideexpansion coordinators (24%). Project director cary rivard has not been a lead on a previousbfrdp.