Stateline Farm Beginnings Application Deadline

Posted on October 27, 2021 by Taylor in Beginning Farmers, Education, Farming, Sustainable Agriculture, Training Programs // 0 Comments

Stateline Farm Beginnings Application Deadline Approaching for 2022

Stateline Farm Beginnings® is a yearlong course, with 60+ interactive hours of class time, designed to help launch or expand your farm business. Stateline Farm Beginnings® is open to anyone within the stateline area, including both rural and urban participants from Chicago, Rockford, Milwaukee, Madison, and everywhere in between.

The 2022 Stateline Farm Beginnings application deadline is October 31, 2021.

BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and US Military Veteran community members are strongly encouraged to apply!
Virtual Classes Winter and Fall classes will be offered online, for optimized expedience, comfort, and safety.
Structured Approach Make a Stateline Farm Connection (previously known as a mentorship) before working on your farm business plan for farmer feedback of insight and experience.
Self-pacing Farm Dreams Intensive and Farm Business Intensive can be taken separately, but sequentially, for manageability.
Enrollment in Stateline Farm Beginnings® (SFB®) includes an annual UM CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) membership for free participation in CRAFT Field
Days, reception of CRAFT Newsletters, and Community amongst CRAFT members.
Education Informed By Experience Session content is based on real-world, practical, and specialized knowledge informed by Upper Midwest Farmers, and delivered in a Farmer-to-Farmer model.
Sustainable Agriculture Focus Examples used in class materials are solely from Biodynamic, organic, and sustainable farm operations.
National Network Classes are facilitated by staff who draw upon the experiences, expertise, and resources from 10 other Farm Beginnings® programs across the country.

For more information:

Stateline Farm Beginnings 2022 Information Packet

Stateline Farm Beginnings Website

The first course begins in Winter (Farm Dreams Intensive) by shaping your dream farm into a functional farm proposal and a personalized learning plan.

During Spring and Summer (Skill Building Practicum and Stateline Farming Connection), you’ll work with an experienced farmer in the region toward specified goals in your declared interests.

In Autumn (Farm Business Intensive), we’ll focus on business development and finance budgeting, resulting in a business plan developed around your farm proposal.

Most sessions feature a regional farmer or expert panel segment, where you’ll hear first-hand experiences of innovators and professionals.

Sessions feature a collaborative, group-learning space for creating lifelong friendships within a new farming network.

Presenters include: farmers, university professionals, accountants, attorneys, Extension educations, USDA program personnel, insurance providers, bankers, and more.

Questions about Stateline Farm Beginnings Application Deadline or the 2022 program?

farmertraining@learngrowconnect.org