Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
Annual Beginning Farmer Retreat
Are you an aspiring or beginning farmer looking for support in discovering your farming direction? Join us at the Beginning Farmer Retreat December 13-14.

Registration is now open  for our 2019 beginning farmer retreat.   This year, we will gather at Oakwood Road Community Center in Ames, Iowa.
This year, we will gather at Oakwood Road Community Center in Ames. This annual event brings beginning farmers together to network, plan and discuss ways to improve their farms while helping to build a sense of community among this fast-growing farming demographic. This popular event is beneficial for beginning and aspiring farmers in all enterprises.  " This is a must for anyone serious about planning their farm future,"  shared one attendee at last year's retreat.

Attendance is very limited! Sign up before Thursday, December 6th.
Check out these resources for beginning farmers
We have recently updated our collection of business, financial, production, and technical assistance resources to help aspiring and beginning farmers further their business goals. You can access them by clicking on the icons below.

We will continue to build this list and add new resources as they are available. If you see any resources missing that you find helpful please share them with us. You can send them to Greg Padget at greg@practicalfarmers.org .
Apply today for this full-time farmer to work with us May-September of 2020, with potential for this employment to turn into worker-ownership of Humble Hands Harvest cooperative. Read the full job posting here.

Sinsinawa Mound Collaborative Farm, is an incubator-style farm for beginning growers that offers land, infrastructure, equipment, and education for beginning farmers. They are currently we have opportunities for annual and perennial fruit and vegetable production. Applications are now open for the 2020 season, apply here.

The Land Access Program (LAP) provides land use agreements to area farmers of varying farming experience and scale. Currently, the use agreements include land, irrigation water, and dry storage. LAP is public land located at the Historic Poor Farm which is owned by Johnson County. Program applications are due by November 15 and can be found here. 
UPCOMING PFI EVENTS
Nov. 10:   Field Day -   Urban Farming
1-3 p.m. | Des Moines

Nov. 20:   Field Day -   Cover Crops for All
12-3 p.m. | Rose Hill

Dec. 13-14:   Workshop - Beginning Farmer Retreat
Ames
Labor4Learning 
Labor4Learning helps beginning farmers get paid on-the-job training with experienced farmers, and pays experienced farmers for their time and effort.

Savings Incentive Program
Savings Incentive Program is a 2-year program that pairs beginning and aspiring farmers with experienced farmer mentors; provides targeted learning and peer networking opportunities; offers business planning support and guidance. All this while you save money that we match dollar for dollar, up to $2,400, to use toward the purchase of a farm asset.

Find A Farmer
Find A Farmer allows for a comfortable place to start anonymous conversations with land-seekers or landowners. Search for users in a particular area that fit your specifications and begin the discussion.

Find A Farmer is FREE and available for anyone with internet access! No membership is required.
 
Looking for more?
Greg Padget
Next Generation Director
(515) 232-5661