Progress 12/15/14 to 12/14/17
Outputs
Target Audience:The Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Project (VBFRCP) is dedicated to addressing the needs of the spectrum of beginning farmers and ranchers in Virginia. The Coalition recognizes a diversity of farming experiences, backgrounds, and aims held by Virginia beginning farmers and ranchers, and uses five distinct categories to communicate the beginning farmer and rancher experience. From the perspective of the on-farm experience, our target audience includes: First, prospective or explorer farmers, who are individuals interested in starting a farm or ranch. This includes next generation farm family members as well as those who do not come from a farming background. Second, we also target startup farmers. That is, individuals who are in the early stages of their agricultural operation, often within one to three years of farming or ranching. Third, we target re-strategizing farmers, farmers who are making changes to their operation after farming for approximately four to seven years. These individuals usually have increased decision-making responsibility and commitment to farming. Fourth, we target establishing farmers, those farmers that are expanding, diversifying, and stabilizing within years eight to ten of the beginning farmer period. And finally, fifth, we target transitioning farmers, individuals who arefamily farm members who have decision making roles on the farm without having primary farm operator status. Expanding outside of our five beginning farmer and rancher experience groups, we also target other audiences, including: socially disadvantaged, limited resource, military veteran, and young farmers, and agricultural service providers.(1) Socially disadvantaged farming groups targeted for outreach and whole farm planning (WFP) programming (effort: classroom instruction, mentoring, and critical working group activity), and 9% (n=497) of WFP participants were reported as socially disadvantaged. Women farmers were well represented in all programs, and comprised 37% (n=497) of all WFP workshop participants. (2) Limited Resource groups are targeted by our WFP teams. A total of 11% (n=497) of all participants in WFP were limited resource. (3) Military veteran groups have been targeted through the work of the VBFRC Underserved Audience Critical Issue Working Group. In order to better serve farmer veterans, our programming has included strategic planning for socially disadvantaged farmers by way of coordinating the development of the Virginia chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition. (4)Through the Coalition's input, young farmers (18-35 years old) were another group our project aimed to reach. WFP teams targeted and reached the majority of our young farmer participants, especially those from farming backgrounds (e.g., heritage/transitioning farmers). Outreach to these audiences was a stated goal of VBFRCP and Coalition members. (5) Agricultural Service Providers: The VBFRC provides education, networking, and resource support to Virginia's beginning farmers and ranchers as essential project stakeholders. This project follows a coalition approach where organizations and farmers work together to develop and support project activity collaboratively. The Coalition acts as a backbone organization to coordinate a network of organizations in the development and enhancement of VBFRCP whole farming planning programs, educational resource support, service provider referrals, and networking. Our effort was: 1) implementation and training of WFP curriculum or innovative teaching methodology trainings, and 2) extension and outreach. The Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition Project has developed a diverse, statewide coalition of over 25 beginning farmer and rancher stakeholder groups that represent: Farmer educators; Virginia Tech (VT); Virginia State University (VSU); Virginia Cooperative Extension(VCE); Non-governmental sector; Local, State and Federal Government; and financial institutions. See VBFRCP website for more information about the Coalition and our coalition-model approach to beginning farmer training and program development: https://vabeginningfarmer.alce.vt.edu/coalition.html Audience Emphasis African American Limited resource producers Military veterans Small farms Women Participants Served Record the total number of unique participants who participated in your program: Total Number of Participants: 947. Results from evaluations completed by Whole Farm Planning program participants, webinar participants, and mentoring program participants. Enter the actual cumulative number of participants who as a result of your program: Started farming: Target - 60, Actual - 5. Results from interview data only of evaluation of past participants of Whole Farm Planning programs from 2012-2015. Evidence of started farming is higher indidcated through survey data and measures below. Helped prepare to start farming: Target - 300, Actual - 378. Results from evaluations completed by Whole Farm Planning program participants who self-identified as prospective farmers (individuals interested in starting a farm or ranch). Improved farming success: Target - 600, Actual - 841 Results from evaluations completed by Whole Farm Planning program participants who self identified as startup farmers (in the early stages of their agricultural operation), re-strategizing farmers (farmers who are making changes to their operation after farming for approximately four to seven years), establishing farmers (those farmers that are expanding, diversifying, and stabilizing within years eight to ten of the beginning farmer period), and transitioning farmers (individuals who are family farm members who have decision making roles on the farm without having primary farm operator status). Changes/Problems:First, we were not able to hire a full time program coordinator, as intended, for the first year of the project. We were not able to locate a qualified candidate during our position search process. After consulting with our statewide team and Virginia Tech Office of Sponsored Programs, we decided to offer a 12 month graduate assistantship to a qualified master's student at Virginia Tech to perform the responsibilities included in the purview of the proposed full time program coordinator. We were also able to give some responsibilities to an administrative professional in the project director's academic department. A full time program coordinator was then hired in spring 2016. Second, we had six (6) mentor coordinators, rather than the three that were initially planned for the programming period. This change allowed for the mentor programming to be implemented further across the state. Third, one mini-grant project that was awarded for the 2016-2017 year was not successfully implemented due to external circumstances. This project had been awarded $2,000, which was not spent due to the program cancellation. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The meetings listed below have been split into three sections. These sections represent statewide coalition meetings, conferences, and trainings. Statewide coalition meetings were held 1-2 times per year and were opportunities for coalition partners and other parties to meet in-person, network, receive updates on Coalition work, and plan how the Coalition will move forward in the coming months. Conferences include events that the Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition attended in order to educate farmers and the farm community about the work the Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition does, as well as share the resources we have developed. Trainings include in-person events hosted by the Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition that trained farmers and farm educators and service providers in topics relevant to beginning farmers and ranchers in Virginia. The webinars listed below were offered as part of the Beginning Farmer Webinar Series, which showcases important start0up topics and resources for beginning farmers and ranchers, such as: farm labor, marketing to restaurants, farm food products. Delivery Total Meetings: 30 Total Meeting Participants: 3401 Total Webinars: 15 Total Webinar Participants: 256 Total Website Visits: 10871 Total Online Course Participants: 0 Statewide Coalition Meetings 3/24/2015: Lexington, VA -- Number of Attendees 35 10/7/2015: North Garden, VA -- Number of Attendees 35 5/17/2016: Richmond, VA -- Number of Attendees 43 1/18/2017: Staunton, VA -- Number of Attendees 40 7/26/2017: North Garden, VA -- Number of Attendees 33 Conferences 10/22/2015: Abingdon, VA -- Number of Attendees 32 2/10/2015: Warrenton, VA -- Number of Attendees 32 1/29/2015: Evington, VA -- Number of Attendees 32 1/20/2015: Wytheville, VA -- Number of Attendees 16 12/3/2015: Weyers Cave, VA -- Number of Attendees 200 1/30/2015: Richmond, VA -- Number of Attendees 200 6/16/2015: Petersburg, VA -- Number of Attendees 200 4/16/2015: Christansburg, VA -- Number of Attendees 16 1/29/2016: Wirtz, VA -- Number of Attendees 200 1/27/2016: Wytheville, VA -- Number of Attendees 100 2/10/2016: Dover, DE -- Number of Attendees 200 7/29/2016: Fredericksburg, VA -- Number of Attendees 100 8/19/2016: Berryville, VA -- Number of Attendees 30 9/20/2016: Virginia Beach, VA -- Number of Attendees 400 11/28/2016: Hot Springs, VA -- Number of Attendees 200 12/7/2016: Weyers Cave, VA -- Number of Attendees 200 1/10/2017: Hot Springs, VA -- Number of Attendees 200 3/10/2017: Winchester, VA -- Number of Attendees 100 6/15/2017: Petersburg, VA -- Number of Attendees 200 11/28/2017: Williamsburg, VA -- Number of Attendees 200 12/6/2017: Weyers Cave, VA -- Number of Attendees 200 3/29/2017: Berryville, VA -- Number of Attendees 30 10/26/2017: South Boston, VA -- Number of Attendees 50 Trainings 5/16/2016: Richmond, VA -- Number of Attendees 44 11/14/2017: Blacksburg, VA -- Number of Attendees 33 Webinars 9/16/2015: Number of Attendees 8 8/17/2015: Number of Attendees 25 7/21/2015: Number of Attendees 26 6/15/2015: Number of Attendees 15 11/10/2016: Number of Attendees 12 11/3/2016: Number of Attendees 8 10/20/2016: Number of Attendees 12 10/13/2016: Number of Attendees 13 10/6/2016: Number of Attendees 13 9/29/2016: Number of Attendees 19 3/16/2017: Number of Attendees 31 5/25/2017: Number of Attendees 16 6/21/2017: Number of Attendees 20 10/17/2017: Number of Attendees 23 11/30/2017: Number of Attendees 15 How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Promotional Materials VBFRCP Outreach/Social Media: Website: A "one stop" portal for VBFRCP resources, technical assistance, online social media, beginning farmer events, and whole farm planning programming. While the website was published in 2011, ample updates have been made during this funding cycle to reflect current project objectives and partnerships. Facebook Page: Includes 1,691 followers and 1,702"likes" and events and outreach opportunities. While the Facebook page was published in a previous year, ample updates have been made during this funding cycle to reflect current opportunities and project objectives. Twitter Account: Includes 141 "followers"and events and outreach opportunities. Newsletters: Developed sevearl newsletters used to update Coalition members and Virginia farmers and ranchers on programmatic changes and opportunities. Instagram:This is a photo-based website used to share events and news relevant to beginning farmers and ranchers in Virginia. Includes 134 followers. Brochure: Developed to share with farmers, service providers, and educators. Programming Outreach: ASD 2015 Flyer: Whole Farm Planning workshops and business planning assistance in Fall 2015. These opportunities aimed to assist Appalachian farmers in addressing available local marketing opportunities and developing a working business plan, while promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Workshop dates: October 22, October 27, November 5.Northern Piedmont 2015 WFP Flyer:This several week course is a joint effort of Cooperative Extension in Culpeper, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Rappahannock Counties; the Fauquier Education Farm; and Fauquier County Department of Agricultural Development. This program focuses on: Introduction to Whole Farm Planning; Marketing; and Introduction to Farm Business Management. This program is a multi-class initiative, offering eight weeks of classes in February-March 2015 in Middleburg, VA. VSU 2015 WFP Flyer:The VSU Small Farm Outreach Program offered introductory workshops designed for beginning farmers and ranchers to establish and sustain viable agricultural operations thorough whole farm planning programs. These workshops were one-day events offered in Evington, VA; Providence Forge, VA; Keysville, VA; Warsaw, VA; and Suffolk, VA in January-March 2015.Growers Academy 2015 Flyer: These courses were offered weekly between January 20 and March 3. Courses are specifically designed to help new and transitioning agricultural businesses succeed. The six week learning series focuses on whole farm business planning including topics such as crop planning, budgeting, marketing and management.Certified Farm Seekers 2015 Flyer:The CFS program is led by Virginia Farm Bureau Young Farmers and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and consumer Services (VDACS). Through whole farm planning curriculum, individuals seeking farming opportunities, will be provided with the tools needed to successfully demonstrate their farming commitment and vision to interested landowner. The CFS Program is designed around helping interested farmers produce a business plan and resume, as well as demonstrate on-farm experience. This program is an on-going program with online content and no specific start or end dates. ASD 2016 Round Table: whole farm planning webinars and networking opportunities in 2016. These opportunities aimed to assist Appalachian farmers in addressing available local marketing opportunities and developing a working business plan, while promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Networking event date: November 7, 2016. Webinar dates: September - November 2016. ASD 2016 Webinars: Whole farm planning webinars and networking opportunities in 2016. These opportunities aimed to assist Appalachian farmers in addressing available local marketing opportunities and developing a working business plan, while promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Networking event date: November 7, 2016. Webinar dates: September - November 2016.Northern Piedmont 2016 WFP Flyer:This several week course is a joint effort of Cooperative Extension in Culpeper, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Rappahannock Counties; the Fauquier Education Farm; and Fauquier County Department of Agricultural Development. Introduction to Whole Farm Planning; Marketing; and Introduction to Farm Business Management. This program is a multi- class initiative, offering eight weeks of classes in January-March 2016 in Warrenton, VA.VSU 2016 WFP Flyer:The VSU Small Farm Outreach Program offered introductory workshops designed for beginning farmers and ranchers to establish and sustain viable agricultural operations thorough whole farm planning programs. These workshops were one-day events offered in January-March 2016.Certified Farm Seeker Farm Link/2016 Flyer: CFS Program is designed around helping interested farmers produce a business plan and resume, as well as demonstrate on-farm experience.Growers Academy 2016 WFP Flyer:This several week course is a joint effort by Virginia Cooperative Extension, The Farm Credit Knowledge Center, the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher coalition, and the Virginia Tech Catawba Sustainability Center. This program was scheduled for January-March 2016 in Christiansburg, VA but was cancelled due to low registration.Northern Piedmont WFP 2017 Flyer: This program focuses on: Introduction to Whole Farm Planning; Marketing; and Introduction to Farm Business Management. This program is a multi- class initiative, offering classes in February-March 2017 in Warrenton, VA. VSU WFP 2017 Flyer:The VSU Small Farm Outreach Program offered introductory workshops designed for beginning farmers and ranchers to establish and sustain viable agricultural operations thorough whole farm planning programs.These workshops were one-day events offered in January-February 2017. ASD WFP 2017 Quickbooks Flyer: Whole farm planning workshops and networking opportunities in 2017. These opportunities aimed to assist Appalachian farmers in addressing available local marketing opportunities and developing a working business plan, while promoting sustainable agricultural practices. This event was focused on the use of Quickbooks.2017 Mini Grant Fauquier Ed Farm:This is a 6 week course with 2 Saturday labs at the Fauquier Ed Farm and one farm tours. This course is intended for serious gardeners and Beginning Farmers who want to sharpen their production skills by broadening their basic level knowledge of the tools and concepts of professional crop production.2016 Mini Grant Fauquier Ed Farm:This course is intended to sharpen production skills by broadening their basic level knowledge of the tools and concepts of professional crop production.2017 Mini Grant ASD:One 2016-2017 mini-grant project targeted women in agriculture by offering farm tours in southwest Virginia led at farms primarily owned/operated by women.2016 Mini Grant Cultivating Connections:This marketing and networking event offered in 2016 was a way for farmers to learn about valuable marketing tools and resources, such as VA Market Maker, VBFRC, VA Grown and VA Finest, and Buy Fresh Buy Local. Participants also got to discuss farm to school, farm to table, produce auctions, food hubs, SNAP, and value-added products. 2016 Mini Grant Catawba Sustainability Center:These conservation agriculture workshops discussed principles of conservation agriculture and its potential benefits; late Season Production of broccoli and cabbage; organic techniques for cover crop based production; herbicide-free no-till (minimum till); cover cropping for improving soil health; farmscaping for pest control; drip irrigation, compostable plastic mulch, and much more. 2016 Mini Grant LFH:In 2016, Local Food Hub used the mini-grant to offer a workshop series. This series covered topics including: FSMA training, organic certification, several production walks, honeybee colony management, pest management, and cover crops for vegetables. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
OBJECTIVE 1: Enhance the organizational coordination and collective impact of the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition to offer and support place-based and culturally-appropriate education, training, and networking opportunities for the next generation of farmers and ranchers in Virginia. Result 1: The Coalition model has effectively built and maintained a network of diverse agricultural service providers in Virginia. Producer action: Implement, Topic: Interpersonal, family, and business relationships. When measured: 2016. Estimated Number: 0, Actual Number: 254. How verified: Qualitative assessment including interviews with Coalition members and member checks. Plus quantitative number of participating coalition partners on listserv and statewide and regional meetings.Result 2. VBFRC has supported the agricultural service provider community through backbone support of mutually reinforcing activities of individual Coalition members and collaboration among members.Producer action: Implement, Topic: Interpersonal, family, and business relationships. When measured: 2016. Estimated Number: 0, Actual Number: 254. How verified: Qualitative assessment including interviews with Coalition members and member checks. Plus quantitative number of participating coalition partners on listserv and statewide and regional meetings.OBJECTIVE 2: Implement regional trainings for the full spectrum of beginning farmers and ranchers using experiential learning and classroom delivery methods in five focus areas from our Virginia Whole Farm Planning (WFP) curriculum: Introduction to Whole Farm Planning; Marketing; Whole Business Management and Financial Planning; Land Acquisition and Tenure; and Sustainable Farming Practices.Result 1. Beginning farmers and ranchers increased their knowledge of how to develop a whole farm plan. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Business and strategic planning. When measured: Workshop evaluations in 2016-2017. Estimated Number: 0, Actual Number: 219. How verified: Pre-post surveys of Whole Farm Planning workshop participants. Result 2. Beginning farmers and ranchers increased their knowledge of developing a business plan. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Business and strategic planning. When measured: Workshop evaluations in 2016-2017. Estimated Number: 0, Actual Number: 219. How verified: Pre-post surveys of Whole Farm Planning workshop participants. Result 3. Beginning farmers and ranchers increased their knowledge of developing a marketing plan. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Marketing plans and strategies. When measured: Workshop evaluations in 2016-2017. Estimated Number: 0, Actual Number: 219. How verified: Pre-post surveys of Whole Farm Planning workshop participants. Result 4. Beginning farmers and ranchers increased their knowledge of building a network of agricultural professionals to support them. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Interpersonal, family, and business relationships. When measured: Evaluations in 2016-2017. Estimated Number: 0, Actual Number: 600. How verified: Pre-post survey of participants of WFP, mini-grant, and webinar opportunities, and assessment from farmer mentor coordinators. Result 5. Almost all participants of Whole Farm Planning workshops reported that they intend to use at least one of the practices presented during the workshop. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Product and enterprise diversification. When measured: Workshop evaluations in 2016-2017. Estimated Number: 0, Actual Number: 219. How verified: Pre-post surveys of Whole Farm Planning workshop participants. OBJECTIVE 3: Collaboratively develop and deliver targeted "toolkit" materials and strategic trainings in four critical topic areas (e.g., access to land, access to markets, access to capital; access to stewardship best practices) to address culturally specific and advanced content needs. Result 1: 4 critical issues teams include: Marketing; Historically Underserved Audience Outreach; Land Access; Stewardship Best Practices. The Marketing team produced direct marketing materials, Market Ready materials, and Market Ready workshops and webinars, and a YouTube Channel. The Historically Underserved Audience Outreach team launched a formal chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition in Virginia and Homegrown by Heroes and Virginia Grown label. The Land Access team provided land transfer and farmer-focused education using Virginia FarmLink and the Certified Farm Seeker Program, incluidng a farm Transfer Strategies and Networking training led by Kathy Ruhf, of Land for Good, serving 44 service educators, and and updated website and brochure materials for land access education for new farmers, and a training session at the Changing Lands, Changing Hands, a national conference on farm & ranch access, tenure & transfer, hosted by Land for Good, in Denver. D) The Stewardship Best Practices critical action team held a training on stewardship and field-based best practices for 20 and collaborated with Catawba Sustainability Center's mini-grant project in small farm cover crop production and maintenance to over 40 farmers. OBJECTIVE 4: Support, develop and deliver new online learning resources and social media platforms in critical content areas illustrated by examples of VBFRCP training activities and farmer stories from the field.Result 1. VBFRC has successfully established a "neutral third party" clearinghouse of online resources where beginning farmers and ranchers can access a comprehensive set of resources. Producer action: Develop, Topic: Interpersonal, family, and business relationships. When measured: 2016. Estimated Number: 0, Actual Number: 254. How verified: Qualitative assessment including interviews with Coalition members and member checks. Plus quantitative number of participating coalition partners on listserv and statewide and regional meetings.OBJECTIVE 5: Provide 4 local mentoring networks to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and skills of experienced farmers and ranchers with the beginning farmer and rancher community.Result 1. Beginning Farmers and Ranchers increased their knowledge of the elements and importance of a business plan through a mentor-mentee relationship. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Business and strategic planning. When measured: Evaluations in 2016-2017. Estimated Number: 0, Actual Number: 600. How verified: Pre-post survey of participants of WFP, mini-grant, and webinar opportunities, and assessment from farmer mentor coordinators. Result 2. Beginning Farmers and Ranchers increased their knowledge of the elements of a marketing and promotion plan, through a mentor-mentee relationship. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Marketing plans and strategies When measured: Evaluations in 2016-2017. Estimated Number: 0, Actual Number: 600. How verified: Pre-post survey of participants of WFP, mini-grant, and webinar opportunities, and assessment from farmer mentor coordinators. Result 3. Beginning Farmers and Ranchers increased their knowledge of Ideas on how to market and promote their farms and products, through a mentor-mentee relationship. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Marketing plans and strategies. When measured: Evaluations in 2016-2017. Estimated Number: 0, Actual Number: 600. How verified: Pre-post survey of participants of WFP, mini-grant, and webinar opportunities, and assessment from farmer mentor coordinators. Result 4 Beginning Farmers and Ranchers increased their knowledge of ideas, different pieces, and worksheets that will pull the whole farm together, through a mentor-mentee relationship. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Interpersonal, family, and business relationships. When measured: Evaluations in 2016-2017. Estimated Number: 0, Actual Number: 600.How verified: Pre-post survey of participants of WFP, mini-grant, and webinar opportunities, and assessment from farmer mentor coordinators.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Norman, S., K.L. Morgan, T. McNaughton, A. Vargo, A. Mark, K. Damian, K. Scott, C. Miller, S. Sharpe, and L. DuBois. 2017, forthcoming. Sell What You Grow: A Guide to Navigating Your Virginia Farm Product Marketing Options. Virginia Cooperative Extension Service Publication.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Morgan, K.L., P. Callan, A. Mark, K. Niewolny, T. Nartea, K. Scott, and J. Hilleary. 2016. Farm Financial Risk Management Series Part I: Overview of Financial Systems for New and Beginning Farmers. Virginia Cooperative Extension Service Publication, AAEC 114-P.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Morgan, K.L., P. Callan, A. Mark, K. Niewolny, T. Nartea, K. Scott, and J. Hilleary. 2016. Farm Financial Risk Management Series Part II: Introduction to Farm Financial Statements for New and Beginning Farmers. Virginia Cooperative Extension Service Publication, AAEC 115-P.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Morgan, K.L., P. Callan, A. Mark, K. Niewolny, T. Nartea, K. Scott, and J. Hilleary. 2016. Farm Financial Risk Management Series Part III: Introduction to Farm Planning Budgets for New and Beginning Farmers. Virginia Cooperative Extension Service Publication, AAEC 116-P.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Bendfeldt, E. S., Niewolny, K., Morgan, K., Callan, P., Love, K., Mize, T., . . . Dunford, M. (2017). TENSIONS AND REALITIES OF RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEMS FOR EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED FARMERS: STUDIES IN CONSERVATION, WHOLE FARM PLANNING, AND MARKET READINESS. In E. S. Bendfeldt (Ed.), 2017 National Farm Viability Conference. Albany, NY: National Farm Viability.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
MacAuley, L., Niewolny, K. L., Mark, A., & Drape, T. (2017). Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition State of the Coalition. Evaluation Report For Program Period December 2014 to December 2017. Virginia Cooperative Extension, Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Tech.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Niewolny, K., MacAuley, L., Archibald, T., Cook, N., Mark, A. (2016). Building Capacity for New Farmer Start-up and Sustainability Across Virginia: A Collective Impact Approach. Paper in Conference Proceedings, 7th National Small Farm Conference. Virginia Beach, Virginia.
|
Progress 12/15/14 to 12/14/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Project (VBFRCP) is dedicated to addressing the needs of the spectrum of beginning farmers and ranchers in Virginia. The Coalition recognizes a diversity of farming experiences, backgrounds, and aims held by Virginia beginning farmers and ranchers, and uses five distinct categories to communicate the beginning farmer and rancher experience. From the perspective of the on-farm experience, our target audience includes: First, prospective or explorer farmers, who are individuals interested in starting a farm or ranch. This includes next generation farm family members as well as those who do not come from a farming background. Second, we also target start-up farmers. That is, individuals who are in the early stages of their agricultural operation, often within one to three years of farming or ranching. Third, we target re-strategizing farmers, farmers who are making changes to their operation after farming for approximately four to seven years. These individuals usually have increased decision-making responsibility and commitment to farming. Fourth, we target establishing farmers, those farmers that are expanding, diversifying, and stabilizing within years eight to ten of the beginning farmer period. And finally, fifth, we target transitioning farmers, individuals who are family farm members who have decision making roles on the farm without having primary farm operator status. Expanding outside of our five beginning farmer and rancher experience groups, we also target other audiences, including: socially disadvantaged, limited resource, military veteran, and young farmers, and agricultural service providers.(1) Socially disadvantaged farming groups targeted for outreach and whole farm planning (WFP) programming (effort: classroom instruction, mentoring, and critical working group activity), and 9% of WFP participants were reported as socially disadvantaged. While each of our WFP teams reached out and programmed with socially disadvantaged farmers, Virginia State University had particular success in programming and outreach with these target audiences. At Virginia State University, 31% of WFP participants were reported socially disadvantaged. Women farmers were well represented in all programs, and comprised 48% of all WFP workshop participants. (2) Limited Resource groups are targeted by our WFP Teams, and Virginia State University, again, had special success in targeting this group. A total of 16% of all participants in WFP were limited resource, but 34.5% of all participants of Virginia State University's WFP programs were limited resource. (3) Military veteran groups have been targeted through the work of the VBFRC Underserved Audience Critical Issue Working Group. In order to better serve farmer veterans, ourprogramminghas included strategic planning for socially disadvantaged farmers by way of coordinating action team collaborations to hold stakeholder interest meetings for military veterans (effort: critical issue working group). (4)Through the Coalition's input, young farmers (18-35 years old) were another group our project aimed to reach. WFP teams targeted and reached the majority of our young farmer participants, especially those from farming backgrounds (e.g., heritage/transitioning farmers). Outreach to these audiences was a stated goal of VBFRCP and Coalition members. (5) Agricultural Service Providers: The VBFRC provides education, networking, and resource support to Virginia's beginning farmers and ranchers as essential project stakeholders. This project follows a coalition approach where organizations and farmers work together to develop and support project activity collaboratively. The Coalition acts as a backbone organization to coordinate a network of organizations in the development and enhancement of VBFRCP whole farming planning programs, educational resource support, service provider referrals, and networking. The 27 units/groups who belong to the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition comprise Virginia-based agricultural service providers. Our effort was: 1)implementation and training of WFP curriculum or innovative teaching methodologytrainings, and 2) extension and outreach. The Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition Project has developed a diverse, statewide coalition of beginning farmer and rancher stakeholders that represent: Farmer educators (Laurel Farm, Hethwood Market, Mountain View Farm & Vineyard, Whitebarrel Winery); Virginia Tech (VT) (e.g., faculty and students; Catawba Sustainability Center); Virginia State University (VSU) (faculty and staff); Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) (extension agents and specialists and AgrAbility Virginia); Non-governmental sector (e.g., Appalachian Sustainable Development, Local Food Hub, Fauquier Education Farm, Grayson LandCare, Farm Bureau Young Farmers, Piedmont Environmental Council, Young Farmers of Virginia, SustainFloyd, Virginia Association of Biological Farming, Virginia Forage & Grassland Council); Local, State and Federal Government (e.g., Agriculture Development Department of Fauquier County, Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Farm Service Agency [FSA, USDA], Rural Development [RD, USDA], Natural Resource Conservation [NRCS, USDA]); and financial institutions (e.g., Farm Credit). See VBFRCP website for more information about the Coalition and our coalition-model approach to beginning farmer training and program development: http://www.vabeginningfarmer.aee.vt.edu/coalition/index.html Changes/Problems:First, we were not able to hire a full time program coordinator, as intended, for the first year of the project. We were not able to locate a qualified candidate during our position search process. After consulting with our statewide team and Virginia Tech Office of Sponsored Programs, we decided to offer a 12 month graduate assistantship to a qualified master's student at Virginia Tech to perform the responsibilities included in the purview of the proposed full time program coordinator. We were also able to give some responsibilities to an administrative professional in the project director's academic department. We will be launching a new search for the full time program coordinator in spring 2016. This change in timeline was previously reported to NIFA USDA BFRDP via the Virginia Tech Office of Sponsored Programs. We do not expect any negative outcomes from this change. On the contrary, this change provided amble opportunity for the selected graduate student to provide excellent support related to her expertise in agriculture economics and extension education. We anticipate a successful full time program coordinator hire for 2016. Second, Dr. Tom Archibald, Co-Project Director, took one year leave, starting October 1, 2015, from his position at Virginia Tech to serve 100% of his time on a USAID project. He is currently working in Senegal. A replacement evaluation specialist, Dr. Tiffany Drape, was brought onto the project, using the same funding line and aims, to complete evaluation objectives. This change was reported to the USDA via the Virginia Tech Office of Sponsored Programs. Dr. Archibald will return to the USDA BFRDP Project during Y2. We do not expect any negative outcomes from this change. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training Activities with Farmers (1) Five Whole Farm Planning (WFP) program partners led multiple regional WFP workshops across Virginia. Program partners offering WFP workshops include: Virginia State University's Whole Farm Planning Workshop Series, Grower's Academy, Appalachian Sustainable Development Whole Farm Planning, Mentor Networking Programs, and The Northern Piedmont New and Beginning Farmer Program. 129 participants responded to a program survey about their experience at the workshops. They reported that they gained form the workshops: increased knowledge of how to develop a whole farm plan, how to develop a business plan, how to develop a marketing plan, and how to build a network of agricultural professional to support them. (2) A webinar series was ongoing throughout the reporting period. Webinars were led by Coalition members on their area of expertise, and topics included: Farm Internships and Apprenticeships; Land Transfer Options: Virginia Farm Link and the Certified Farm Seeker Program; Enterprise Analysis: Farm Financial System Overview; Critical Farm Labor Issues for Beginning and Start-up Farmers; and Gaining Access to Farmland: Economic Considerations of Farm Leasing (n=74 participants). (3) Farm mentoring took place led by three farm mentor coordinators regionally across Virginia (southwest, central, and northern Virginia). Most mentees participated in one of the five WFP programs offered regionally to beginning farmers. Unpaired mentors still participate in networking events and communications led by farm mentor coordinator. Through the Farmer Mentor Network, participants gained: increased knowledge of the elements and importance of a business plan, a marketing and promotion plan, gained ideas on how to market and promote their farms and products, and the ideas, different pieces, and worksheets they may access to help pull the whole farm plan together. (4) VBFRC held a first annual Beginning Farmer Mixer in conjunction with the Virginia Farm to Table Conference. Attendees (n=31) were able to interact with agricultural service providers and learn the resources and information that are available to them. Participants also were able to network with other farmers to initiate peer-to-peer learning. Professional Development with Service Providers. The Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition formed to as a way to collaboratively address start-up needs of Virginia's beginning farmers and ranchers by offering high impact outreach, training and resource support. The Coalition acts as an umbrella network of organizations to assist in the development and enhancement of whole farming planning programs, online learning, social networking, and farmer mentoring. Professional development was a primary goal for Coalition meetings. Over the course of the reporting period, two capacity building and networking opportunities were provided at statewide Coalition meetings. Strategic planning, networking development, whole farm planning training and reporting, and statewide assessment planning and reporting were central professional development activities held at these meetings. During these professional development opportunities, agricultural service providers collaborate on issues facing BFRs and discuss approaches to issues. Therefore, Coalition professional development enables members to stay current and informed on the resources and information for BFRs offered from other organizations and provides them with an educational opportunity with which to assess their own work. New professional development opportunities are also available via the critical issue working groups, who receive training, administrative and financial support for their collaborative efforts in four critical BFR areas (access to land, access to markets, access to capital, access to stewardship best practices). Thus, their professional development is directly supported with new collaborative initiatives, increasing their repertoire of work with BFRs. For example, a professional development initiative grew out of the land access critical working group and was developed and launched in the final months of the grant period of performance to provide regional, "Train the Trainer" sessions for the all agricultural service professionals who are involved (current members) in the VBFRCP), or are not currently involved, on issues of land access and land transfer. Coordination efforts have been ongoing to develop a workshop series that would train agricultural service providers to facilitate land transfer transactions between retiring farmers and beginning farmers and ranchers who would like to take over production on their land. Similarly, an initiative grew from the stewardship best practices critical working group and was launched in the last months of the grant reporting period, to coordinate a collaboration-conducive peer-to-peer learning and networking event based on soil health. Additionally, in late 2015, VBFRC awarded innovative and enhancement projects ($31,277.25)to Coalition member organizations, in order to build on the work of the VBFRC. These grants were awarded to Appalachian Sustainable Development for a Enhancing "Sell What You Grow" booklet to be useful to Virginia growers in their decision making process about market channel entry; VT Catawba Sustainability Center for Teaching Conservation Agriculture in the Classroom and Field at the Catawba Sustainability Center; Fauquier Education Farm and Virginia Cooperative Extension (Fauquier Office) for An Introduction to Getting Your Hands Dirty; Grayson LandCare for Grayson LandCare Beginning Farmer & Rancher Mentor Project; Local Food Hub, Inc. for Local Food Hub's 2016 Workshop Series; Virginia Cooperative Extension (Prince Edward County) and Virginia Cooperative Extension (Halifax County) for Cultivating Connections: A Marketing & Networking Event for Beginning Farmers in Southside; and Virginia Cooperative Extension (Loudon County) for Agriculture Education (AgEd) Clearinghouse. VBFRC will provide financial and technical assistance in support of these mini-grant projects, several of which are already direct results of the collaboration between Coalition members. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The majority of our outreach and program dissemination comes through the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Program media outlets (beginning farmer listserv, agriculture service provider listserv, website, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Blog), our extensive organizational network and referral system (throughpartnering organizations), media releases on activities, and purposeful event outreach. Event outreach typically includes staffing a booth to network with farmers and agricultural service providers, and to disseminate educational materials as well as promotional materials. Event outreach was conducted at a number of Virginia and national agriculture events, including: Virginia Cooperative Extension Annual In-Service Training Conference, Virginia State Universities' Small Family Farm Conference, Farm Bureau Leadership Conference and Farm Bureau Young Farmer Expos, the Virginia Biological Farming Association's yearly conference event, Virginia Forage and Grassland Council winter program events, Virginia Farm to Table Conference, Mid-Atlantic Women in Ag Conference, Organic Grower's School Spring Conference, Virginia Tech's Kentland Agriculture Field Day, the New River Valley Regional Commission's Planning for an Agricultural Future in Southwest Virginia Conference, and the VSU/USDA Small Farm Berry Vegetable Field Day. Examples of media releases, news, and publications include a Virginia Farm Service Agency newsletter, Lancaster Farming article featuring Virginia Beginning and Rancher Coalition Program collaborations, an article in Virginia Tech's College of Agricultural Life Sciences e-newsletter, and Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Program newsletter dissemination. Also, the PD has been interviewed twice on radio broadcasts in the New River Valley about VBFRC work. Finally, the VBFRC team presented on evaluation results and the success and functioning of the Coalition model at several conferences targeting agriculture professionals and social science research communities, including the Low Country Local First Apprenticeship and Incubator Workshop, and the Virginia Urban Agriculture Summit. Newly drafted VBFRC's BFR Whole Farm Planning resources have been madeavailable on VBFRC's website for public download, and have been published as peer-reviewed Extension publications. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The mission of VBFRCP is to improve opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers to establish and sustain viable agricultural operations and communities in Virginia through the development and enhancement of whole farm planning curriculum and training, online resources, social networking, and mentoring. Thus, in 2016, VBFRC plans to expand upon work toward its five objectives focused on Coalition and network building, Whole Farm Planning, Critical Working Groups, new online and social media, and local farmer mentor networks. The advisory group is currently planning a two-day training and meeting in May 2016. This training will include a train-the-trainer workshop on land transfer and an in-person Coalition meeting. In early 2016, the advisory group has also conducted an anonymous assessment to gauge the role of the advisory group member, and the term limit is in the process of being democratically modified to retain greater institutional knowledge through staggering slightly longer terms. Additionally, the management team is streamlining its evaluation of VBFRC programs. In order to better steer our Whole Farm Planning workshop series, development is currently underway for a set of survey instruments to assess and improve on the programs. The first of the set has been developed and was released in early 2016 to measure long-term impacts of all past participants in Whole Farm Planning series, beginning in 2011. A survey to evaluate past participants in the Certified Farm Seeker Program is also currently in the development phase, as well as an evaluation instrument that will guide Farmer Mentor Coordinators in assessing their one-on-one work with farmers. VBFRC plans to analyze the data to improve future programming to ensure long-term BFR success. Additionally. in order to share the successes and challenges of our Coalition model with agricultural leaders in other states and regions, an article is being authored based on evaluation data, and will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal for social sciences and agricultural education. VBFRC also plans to improve upon and expand critical working group activities in 2016. The land access critical working group is working to provide regional, "Train the Trainer" sessions for the all agricultural service professionals who are involved (current members) in the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Program (VBFRCP), or are not currently involved, on issues of land access and land transfer. We are coordinatingwith Land for Good, a Northeastern land transfer nonprofit, to co-develop and led a sessionthat would train agricultural service providers to facilitate land transfer transactions between retiring farmers and beginning farmers and ranchers who would like to take over production on their land. Similarly, an initiative grew from the stewardship best practices critical working group and was launched in the last months of the grant reporting period, to coordinate a collaboration-conducive peer-to-peer learning and networking event based on soil health. In addition, a fifth working group was created through the democratic processes at the 2015 October Coalition meeting that would address critical issues facing underserved BFR groups. The first initiative that the group has begun to work on is to address services for military veteran farmers. The working group, supported by technical and financial assistance form VBFRC, is currently facilitating the gathering of farmer veteran stakeholders in Virginia, and is assessing if a Farmer Veteran Coalition state chapter may be started to act as a conduit for agricultural service providers to better serve veterans in Virginia.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: Coalition and Network Capacity Building. Activities: The coalition elected its second annual Advisory Group in May 2015 to provide guidance and support for the ongoing work of the Coalition. The Advisory Group consists of seven democratically elected agricultural service providers and/or farmers, and meets at least once a month to provide guidance for the Coalition. A Management Team consists of agricultural service professionals who carry out work of the Coalition, and also meets at least once a month. During the reporting period, two large in-person Coalition meetings took place (n=70participants total). Coalition members are also networked into the VBFRC media outlets (BFR listserv, agriculture service provider listserv, website, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Blog), our extensive organizational network and referral system (through 27 partnering organizations), media releases on activities, and in-person outreach at agricultural events. Thus, VBFRC initiated and maintains a large network of agricultural service providers and referral system in order to best serve BFRs in Virginia. Data: A Coalition-wide evaluation was conducted throughout 2014-2015 to better understand reach and depth of collaboration and impact of Coalition model, including qualitative interviews (n=32) of participants, where results were member-checked in a Coalition-wide meeting. Findings of this evaluation showed that the networking and capacity building opportunities among agricultural service providers that the Coalition provides is a valuable project activity to members, helps them in their service to BFRs, and enables collaborations not previously possible. The evaluation also showed that Coalition members are satisfied that VBFRC has assembled a diverse array of stakeholder organizations, and that they think the VBFRC is successful at providing backbone support to the mutually reinforcing activities of individual members. Key outcomes: The VBFRCP is currently operating as a state-wide and coalition-based Extension program that has a sustainability plan to maintain the Coalition. Objective 2: Regional Whole Farm Planning (WFP) Trainings. Activities: VBFRC team members designed and offeredfive WFP training programs across the state,one more training program than the four originally proposed. Data: Five WFP teams have implemented courses or workshop-based programs using several approaches to fit local needs: field trainings, farm tours, classroom instruction, and webinars. Summative evaluations of WFP program participants illustrate a wide diversity of BFR participation and impacts in knowledge gains. Ages ranged 18-70 years old. Of reporting BFR participants, 52% classified themselves as male and at least 48% female. Of WFP participants, 25% said they do not come from a farm background and have little or no knowledge or hands on experience; whereas 46% do not come from a farming background, but have farming experience and knowledge; and 29% grew up on a farm. Of those WFP participants surveyed, 9% identified associally disadvantaged, 9% asfarmworkers, 16% as limited resource. Almost all of surveyed participants had increase in WFP knowledge, skills, and abilities to start or sustain new enterprises. The WFP curriculum moduleswere published via Virginia Cooperative Extension's peer review process. They are used in WFP workshops, and available for self-study on our website. Key outcomes: Most past participants showed a significant increase in knowledge. In early 2016, we will disseminate the first survey of past participants in WFP workshops totrack impacts, which will occur annually in subsequent years. Additionally, per this objective to support emergentand regional trainingfarmer needs, in early December of 2015, VBFRC awarded $31,277.25 to Coalition member organizations through a mini-grant initiative in order to build on the work of the VBFRC. These grants were awarded to Appalachian Sustainable Development, VT Catawba Sustainability Center, Fauquier Education Farm and Virginia Cooperative Extension (Fauquier Office),Grayson LandCare,Local Food Hub, Virginia Cooperative Extension (Prince Edward County), and Virginia Cooperative Extension (Halifax County). Thesemini-grant are direct results of the collaboration between and amoung Coalition members to fulfill beginning farmer education needs in local communities above and beyond our 5 WFP training programs. Objective 3: Critical Issue Working Groups. Activities: VBFRCcreated five critical issue working groups in five critical BFR areas (underserved audiences, access to land, access to markets, access to capital, access to stewardship best practices). The Underserved Audiences Working Group (n=6) is working to collaborate on how the BFR community may better serve veterans. The Land Working Group (n=4) is coordinating a Train the Trainer workshop series to provide agricultural service providers with expertise on land transfer issues and facilitation. The Capital Working Group (n=5) The Stewardship Best Practices working group (n=5) is collaborating on ta peer-to-peer learning initiative about soil health. Objective 4: Enhanced Online Learning Opportunities. Activities: VBFRC maintains online resources for BFRs on our website. This resource intensive website enhances learning and networking through referring BFRs to the resources available to them through the Coalition and others in the BFR community. VBFRC also has two active facilitated listservs: a member listserv (n=203) and listserv targeted for BFRs (n=621), which increases communication among BFRs and service providers and helps with dissemination of promotional information about information and educational opportunities. VBFRC is also active on social marketing/learning, including Facebook (n=1,228 Likes), our YouTube channel (205 subscribers), and our Blog. YouTube Channel was launched to show farmer field examples (n=28 videos) designed for self-study and integration into WFP programming. A webinar series was launched with five webinars that cover BFR topics. Key outcomes: Online resources are successful to address need for a "one-stop" repository and resource sharing. Throughout our evaluation, a theme emerged that service providers benefitted from the online resources as a referral for BFRs. As one Coalition member put it, "we've referred people all the time to the coalition website and to the tools that are available there because we want to see people succeed. With the resources the way that they are for everyone it's nice that there are tools out there and that they're available and you can refer people to because you know you can't do that for each person...we just don't, none of us have those resources anymore. So I think that's really valuable." Objective 5: Farmer Mentor Network. We facilitated three mentoring networks with three farm mentor coordinators (FMCs--Extension Agents) in southwest, central, and northern Virginia. FMCs provided training to mentors and mentees through farm tours, networking sessions, consultations, communications, and regional newsletter disseminations. Our farmer mentor coordinators hold on-farm events and other hands-on learning experiences to link BFRs with experienced farmers. Data:Through event evaluations and mentor coordinator note sharing, we can show that participating farmersincreased their knowledge of the elements and importance of a business plan, the elements of a marketing and promotion plan, brainstormed ideas on how to market and promote their farms and products, and increased their knowledge of ideas, different pieces, and worksheets that will pull the whole farm together.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Mark, A., Niewolny, K., Morgan, K., Callan, P., Scott, K., Nartea, T., Kloetzli, C., Hilleary, J., & Jeter, R. (2015). Introduction to Labor Issues for Beginning Farmers. AEE-106NP, Virginia Cooperative Extension. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.
|