New Labor4Learning Opportunities Open 
Would you like to get paid while gaining on-the-job training from an experienced farmer?  The Labor4Learning program can offer you this opportunity. Practical Farmers of Iowa "trainer" farmers have started to accept applications for the upcoming growing season. Browse the training opportunities near you.  This season, 14 experienced farmers from around the state have signed on to hire an employee through the program and to provide that additional training. 

In 2016, one of these training farms was Patchwork Green Farm run by Erik Sessions in Decorah. Erik hired Emily Fagan (left) and Emily Dansdill (right) as Labor4Learning trainees. Read more about their experience in this blog post

These jobs are found across the state and encompass diverse enterprises, such as greenhouse production, livestock, dairies, produce and row crops. Each job opening in the program varies in duration, hours, work activities and compensation. 
 
Opportunities
March 29
11:00 am
You know you need to keep better financial records. But what exactly needs to be done, and when? What should you prioritize during the growing season, and what can wait for winter? Find out with this free financial management calendar webinar with Julia Shanks. 

National Farmers Union's Beginning Farmer Institute (BFI) has begun accepting applications for the 2017 class. BFI develops leadership and farm management skills in beginning farmers and additionally encourages them to apply those abilities in their community organizations. Farmers Union employs educational sessions, business tools and professional speakers in a structured setting that includes on-farm experiences and tours of cooperatives.
Applications must be postmarked by March 30, 2017.

Job Opening: Emerging Farm Manager in Pella
Sprigs 'n Sprouts is seeking a part-time employee to help with managing daily farm work, seasonal employees and volunteers. The farm is a unique non-profit that uses their income to fund short-term mission projects. They operate a 60 member CSA and also sell wholesale with the local Hy-Vee.

For more information, please contact Rebecca Helland:  sprigsnsprouts@gmail.com

April 7
8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Harlan, IA 
Journey To Your Vision" seminars are uniquely designed to help Iowa entrepreneurs uncover opportunities for improving their business - while providing the support and connections necessary to make those opportunities a reality. Registration is free. Seminar value is $350.00 and is being underwritten by Iowa Farm Bureau and Center for Industrial Research and Service.

June 12-16, 2017
Fayetteville, Arkansas
The National Center for Appropriate Technology is now accepting applications from military veterans who want to attend our week-long Armed to Farm (ATF) Training. ATF allows veterans and their spouses to experience sustainable, profitable small-scale farming enterprises and explore agriculture as a viable career. Participants will attend classroom sessions on the University of Arkansas campus. Several local farms will provide hands-on learning experiences. The event is free for those chosen to attend; lodging, transportation to local farms, and most meals will be provided. Participants must pay their own travel costs to and from the event.
Applications are are due by April 28.

Land Available near Earlham
Zane and Heather Diersen  are looking to partner with a vegetable CSA farmer and provide land with possible housing arrangements on their farm. Contact Zane and Heather for details at:  Hzdiersen@msn.com or ( 515) 210-3471.
We Want to Hear from all of our Members! 
In the time it takes you to finish your next cup of coffee, you could be providing Practical Farmers with the valuable information we need to create programming that is most relevant to you. 

We use your feedback and could not function as a member-driven organization without it. If you're a Practical Farmers of Iowa member, please look in your inbox or spam folder for the link to complete the survey.

Can't find it? Contact laura@practicalfarmers.org.
ResourcesResources
Check out this resource for taking the next steps to low input lambing and kidding. Included are short how-to videos on kidding, solutions for keeping kids/lambs warm and how to saving hypothermic lambs.

Practical Farmers of Iowa offers farminars at no cost to participants. These 90-minute, online seminars feature a wide variety of farming topics with farmers as the experts. We record these sessions and make them available for free so you can keep learning year-round.
In This Issue
Upcoming  PFI  Events
March 28 
Albion-  hosted by Wade Dooley with Dr. Allen Williams

March 29
Reinbeck - hosted by Jack Boyer

March 30
Maxwell - hosted by Bruce Carney with Dr. Allen Williams

April 1-2
Jefferson - hosted by Deal's Orchard

Fruit and Vegetable Farmer Meet-Up
April 4
Donnellson - hosted by Adam Hohl

April 4 
Hancock - hosted by Russ Brandes

April 6
Leighton - hosted by Ward Van Dyke

April 11 
Lake City - hosted by Mark Schleisman

Are you a beginning farmer looking for farmland to start or expand your operation? Are you a landowner interested in selling or leasing your land to someone who shares your vision for the future?
FindAFarmer.net was created by Practical Farmers of Iowa to help maintain family farms and vibrant rural communities by facilitating the transfer of land from one generation to the next.
Contact Us
Practical Farmers of Iowa
600 Fifth Street, Suite 100
Ames, IA 50010