MANDY'S FARM SEEKS TO INCREASE NEW FARMERS IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO THROUGH TARGETED EFFORTS TO ADDRESS GAPS IN AVAILABLE AGRICULTURAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BEGINNING FARMERS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (I/DD) IN BERNALILLO COUNTY, NEW MEXICO. NEW MEXICO'S ECONOMY RELIES ON A HEALTHY AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY BUT IS EXPERIENCING SIMILAR CHALLENGES SEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH A DECLINE IN FARMING OPERATIONS AND AN AGING FARMER WORKFORCE. SIMULTANEOUSLY, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES CONSTITUTE ONE OF THE LARGEST UNTAPPED WORKFORCES IN THE COUNTRY. THIS POPULATION HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AND EXCLUDED FROM AGRICULTURAL APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES HIGH LEVELS OF POVERTY AND UN/UNDEREMPLOYMENT. MANDY'S FARM IS ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM THROUGH A TWO YEAR ADAPTIVE FARM APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH I/DD. MANDY'S FARM, IN COMBINATION WITH PARTNERS AT NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO, AND THE NM DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, PROVIDES THE AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION AND ADAPTIVE CURRICULUM, HANDS ON TRAINING, INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT, ACCESSIBLE FARM SPACE/INFRASTRUCTURE, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR THIS POPULATION TO GAIN THE NEEDED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE TO BECOME FARMERS. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS WE AIM TO PROVIDE PATHWAYS FOR A HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATION TO ENTER THE AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE AS BEGINNING FARMERS.