Check out Virginia Farm Link's June 2023 Newsletter!

Virginia Farm Link Newsletter

Share Your Testimonial:

Have you had a successful or positive interaction with someone from the Farm Link database? Did the Farm Link website direct you to resources you didn’t know existed? If so, we want to hear from you! Please message us on Facebook or Instagram, or contact us via email at farmlinkadmin@vdacs.virginia.gov to share your story of how Farm Link has helped you. Each testimonial will automatically be entered to win a Virginia’s Finest gift basket, including brand-new Farm Link merchandise. One lucky winner will be contacted on August 1^st and will also have their story featured in the September newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you!

Making a Good First Impression:

It comes as no surprise that the number of people looking for farming opportunities greatly exceeds the available farmland on Farm Link. With this in mind, how can farm seekers set themselves up for success when contacting landowners?

Personalize Your Message

How many times have you automatically hit delete on a generic email that looks like it could be spam? Don’t let your initial message to landowners fall into that void. Take the time to make specific references to the farm or opportunity you are interested in and why.

Include your elevator speech

Elevator speeches aren’t just for going up and down. Include a brief, written pitch on your background and experiences, and why you think you would be a good match for this opportunity. Keep it succinct, or else it may not be fully read. If all goes well, you will have the chance to provide additional information as the conversation continues.

Be specific in your ask

Instead of leaving your message open-ended, hoping the landowner will take the lead, conclude with a specific ask. You could be asking for more details on the posting, or you could be asking if they would be willing to schedule a phone call to talk about next steps. Including an action item increases the likelihood of a response.

Becoming a Certified Farm Seeker is another great way to stand out from the crowd. The CFS program provides individuals seeking farming opportunities with a method to demonstrate their farming commitment and vision to interested farm or farm business owners. By completing the program, you are showing farm owners that you have a farm business plan, on-farm experience, and a professional resume and, that you are ready to enter into a farm business arrangement.

Don’t forget to always be polite and don’t get discouraged if you aren’t successful right away. Transitions take a lot of time and luck, but the effort is worth it to achieve your farming goals!

Farm Link Statistics:

Featured Resource & Upcoming Event:

A Taste of Farming: An Online Series for Aspiring and New Farmers:

This is a “learn as you go” online series so you can get a taste of different farming practices and concepts to help you explore your interests, gain a basic understanding of many different farming topics, avoid common pitfalls, and get to know the Extension professionals in Virginia who are here to assist you. To be be directed to their website where you can access their video archives, click here!

Young Farmers Summer Expo:

From Friday, July 28th through Sunday, July 30th, in Page County, Virginia Farm Bureau Young Farmers will hold their Summer Expo. VAFB Young Farmers are generally ages 18 to 35 and share an interest in supporting agriculture through production (farming), education, promotion, advocacy and/or leadership. They welcome anyone with a passion for agriculture to join them in networking with Virginia's young agricultural professionals, experiencing great programs, and becoming more effective advocates and leaders in Virginia agriculture. To register for the event, click here!

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