Young Farmer Accelerator Program
Aaron Clark
Caretaker
Cloverleaf FarmAlexis Mena
Co-Founder
Universe CityBrad Stinson
West Coast QA/QC Field Supervisor
Duda Farm Fresh Food Inc.Erin Galloway
Owner/Co-Founder
Our Wyoming Life & Edible Prairie ProjectErin Hargrove
Co-Manager/Farmer
Boxcar AcresGeorgina Sarpong
Co-Owner/Farmer
Abundance FarmGracie Danner
Co-Owner/ Manager
Danner Family GrainJess Daily
Operations Manager
Mainstay Farming PartnershipLarna Schnitker
Farmer and Student
Schnitker FarmsLuke Gosse
Chief Operating Officer
Blue Diamond Farming CompanyMichael Hill
CEO/Owner
H&A FarmsStan Usery
Owner
Usery Consulting, Inc.David Bohlen
Owner/Operator
Bohlen Family FarmsEamon O’Toole
Co-Owner and Manager
Ladder RanchTiffany Bailey
President and Owner
Bayside Sod Inc and Honeyside Farms
What is the Farm Foundation Young Farmer Accelerator Program?
This program seeks to actively engage farmers from 21-40 years old in a year-long series of interactive learning and networking experiences, focused on gaining a deeper understanding of a wide variety of agriculture, agribusiness, and government issues. The program also hopes to help young farmers build a strong, enduring network of peers and agribusiness and government contacts. Up to 10 participants will be sponsored to attend events, engage in virtual conversations, and participate in exclusive learning opportunities.
What will the Young Farmers do?
– Develop working relationships with peers and a senior agribusiness/farmer mentor.
– Attend one of two Farm Foundation Round Table meetings (in January or June), including the local food and agriculture tours during the meetings. The Farm Foundation Round Table is an invitational discussion group that brings together leaders from across geographic, regional and value-chain sectors to explore issues that will impact the entire food and agriculture sectors.
– Participate in at least 3 of 7 Farm Foundation Forums via audiocast. Farm Foundation Forums are public forums, where presenters and participants examine and discuss current policies, issues and opportunities for food and agriculture.
– Spend three days at a retreat (likely in February) with learning from senior executives in the USDA, Congress, agribusinesses, commodity trade associations, and our Young Agri-Food Leaders participants.
To be eligible for this program, young farmers must be a U.S. citizen, between the ages of 21 and 40, and actively involved in farming as a career. Young farmers from around the US with careers and backgrounds in all types of farming will be selected in order to assemble a cohort that looks like American farming today. Anyone who knows the Young Farmer can nominate them for this program, such as co-workers, community leaders, etc.