KY Farm Launch: A Beginning Farmer Accelerator Program for Kentucky

Structured to provide hands-on training and business planning across a suite of farm enterprises that are common entry points to farming in our region. Cohorts will be conducted annually, from March – November of each year in Project Years 1 and 2. Shared, hands-on experiences with the class cohort are complemented by an individually tailored mentoring plan that provides an opportunity for developing more in-depth production knowledge in areas of interest to the participant, and an individually tailored plan for farm business planning, food safety, and market development. The project is being led by The Food Connection at UK with strong partnership from Ag and Natural Resources Cooperative Extension, Extension faculty from the Department of Animal and Food Sciences, the Department of Horticulture, and external partners at the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) and the Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Board, UK Extension faculty and staff in Animal Sciences. We have engaged a project advisory board to guide the project and inform this grant application, which includes beginning and experienced farmers, representatives from local community-based organizations serving beginning farmers, and County Cooperative Extension Agents. The overall goal of this program is the development of a 9-month, experiential beginning farmer training program. This cohort-based program is structured to provide hands-on training and business planning across a suite of farm enterprises that are common entry points to farming in our region. There are three primary components: 1) An In-Person, Cohort-based Curriculum which will occur one day per week for the duration of the 9-month program, and focus on activities that are best learned in-person/hands-on, and/or with a cohort of peers. 2) Individual Mentoring Plans for each beginning farmer that provides an opportunity for developing more in-depth production knowledge in areas of interest to the participant, and an individually tailored plan for farm business planning, food safety, and market development. 3) A Farm Pathways Program will support land access, job placement, and farm plan implementation on an individualized basis. We describe our approach as a beginning farmer accelerator due to the intensive mentoring and individually tailored training provided for each participant, based on their unique needs and goals. The curriculum, activities, and networks developed by the participants during the program are designed to launch program participants into primary farm owners/operators upon program completion. The target audience for this intensive program are individuals who are eager and able to engage in a rigorous, customized accelerator program that guides them to their next step – actively farming. They must have the ability to participate in weekly, in-person activities for one full day per week (with a fixed schedule) and commit one additional day per week (independently scheduled according to availability and interests) to deepening their knowledge in areas tailored to their farming and business goals. Specific target populations include: Beginning farmers at a life stage transition that are able to commit to an in-depth program (e.g. younger farmers, as well as recent retirees); Out-of-state participants relocating to participate in this program and the local farming community; Military veterans; Working professionals with flexible scheduling (e.g. ability to work a “four 10’s” or other condensed work week options). These populations are considered underserved by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program guidelines, as all would have difficulty (e.g. lack of prior experience) in accessing USDA programs, in addition to any other racial, ethnic, or other identity aspects considered as factors in diversity and inclusivity efforts.