Progress 09/15/20 to 09/14/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of this project are beginning ranchers and farmers pursuing careers in regenerative ranching or farming on large scale agricultural operations in the West. To serve this population, Quivira partners with experienced ranchers and farmers who use regenerative practices and are passionate about passing down their knowledge to future generations through apprenticeship. The term regenerative refers to agricultural practices that restore and conserve the soil and health of local and large scale ecosystems. Beginning ranchers and farmers entering Quivira's New Agrarian Apprenticeship Program (NAP) usually come from urban or suburban backgrounds and do not have family connections through which to gain agricultural skills. Over the course of the project, we surveyed applicants and found that 51 percent identified as female or nonbinary, 18 percent identified as BIPOC, and 75 percent did not come from ranching or farming families or communities. Barriers to beginning ranchers and farmers on large-scale Western lands are numerous. The skills related to ranching and farming take time and commitment and are best learned directly on the ground with a skilled mentor. In order to serve this target audience and build supportive apprenticeship communities, Quivira Coalition partners with experienced ranchers and farmers to offer eight-month apprenticeships in regenerative agriculture. During the project, Quivira partnered with 39 mentors to offer 103 apprenticeships. In order to build community and provide additional support for both apprentices and other beginning ranchers and farmers pursuing careers in regenerative agriculture on livestock or other large-landscape operations in the West, Quivira also offers several other training opportunities. These include Ranch 101 webinars, a Regeneration Rising podcast, training webinars, and workshops at Quivira's annual Regenerate conference. Through these opportunities, we reached over 2,700 additional beginning ranchers and farmers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training and professional development for beginner rancher and farmer apprentices, as well as the experienced ranchers and farmers who mentored them, were two of the project's main areas of focus. For experienced ranchers and farmers, professional development centered on improving teaching and mentoring skills. For apprentices, intensive, hands-on, on-the-ground training focused on the acquisition of a comprehensive set of skills necessary to pursue a career in agriculture. All training and professional development activities are listed above in the Accomplishments section of this report. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results of Quivira's programs are consistently reported on in the monthly NAP newsletter, reaching more than 5,000 readers. Apprentices self-reflect and self-report on the results they experienced as a part of the program, and these results are captured and disseminated in the New Agrarian Voices blog. Over 150 pieces were published on the New Agrarian Voices blog during the project, and 26 Regeneration Rising podcast episodes were produced. Additionally, the program was highlighted through six press opportunities. In December 2020, two articles were published in On Land, a quarterly publication of the Western Landowner's Alliance, featuring the New Agrarian Program: "Seek Collaboration: Valuable Reflections of a Ranch Apprentice" (https://onland.westernlandowners.org/2020/women-in-ranching/seek-collaboration-valuable-reflections-of-a-ranch-apprentice/), and "Mentorship and Regeneration in the West: Quivira's New Agrarian Program" (https://onland.westernlandowners.org/2020/partner-spotlight/mentorship-regeneration-west-nap-partnerspotlight/). In June 2021, Quivira's executive director, Sarah Wentzel-Fisher, discussed the New Agrarian Program on the Food for Thought podcast (https://nationalwesterncenter.com/food-for-thought/). Colorado Manager, Taylor Muglia, was featured on the Grazing Grass podcast (https://grazinggrass.com/episode/e73-quivira-coalitions-new-agrarian-program-with-taylor-muglia) in early September 2023, and Leah Ricci and Taylor Muglia were featured on the Farm Answers podcast in August 2023 (https://farmanswers.captivate.fm/episode/leah-ricci-taylor-muglia-quivira-coalition). Targeted Apprentice Outreach Quivira's goal is to cast the widest net possible in recruiting new applicants for the New Agrarian Program, and implemented a strategic outreach process for apprentice recruitment. Quivira placed ads in agricultural podcasts including Working Cows, Mountain & Prairie, and Down to Earth, and also posted the opportunity to several job boards including the ATTRA newsletter, Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) job board, comfoodjobs listserv, EcoFarm, Idealist, NOLS, Western Landowners Alliance, Keep it Colorado, Texas A&M job board, and Good News from the American West weekly emails. Quivira also partnered with over 150 organizations and individuals to share the opportunity via newsletters, forwarded emails, and social media posts. These partners included Women in Ranching, Old Fort Farm, Montana Farm Link, Guidestone, NRCS, Pueblo Community College, TomKat Ranch, and American Grassfed Association. General Program Outreach Staff attended the following events to promote the program and build relationships with potential new partners: Soil Health Symposium (Billings, MT), Whit Hibbard Clinic at Montana State University (Bozeman, MT), Old Salt Festival (Helmville, MT), World Wildlife Fund Musselshell Plains Native Plant Tour, World Wildlife Fund RSVP Gathering, Upper Musselshell Conservation District Workshop, Gabe Brown's Regenerative Agriculture Workshop (Big Timber, MT), Sieben Ranch Winter Grazing Workshop (Cascade, MT), Montana Range and Watersheds Tour (Cascade, MT and Browning, MT), Cowpoke Palooza (Montrose, CO), Colorado Section for Society of Range Management's Annual Meeting, the REGENERATE Conference (Albuquerque, NM, and Denver, CO), National FIELD Network Conference, Lowry Field Day (Watkins, CO), Progressive Ag Symposium (Greeley, CO), Soil Revolution (Boulder, CO), Prairie Partners Annual Meeting (Tucumcari, NM), International Livestock Forum/Mountain Meat Summit (Denver, CO), Ute Mountain Ute Grazing Workshop (Towaoc, CO), Soil Health, Food & Farm Forum tabling (Montrose, CO), Colorado Coalition to Enhance Working Lands Summit (Denver, CO), Water & Wildlife Management Field Days (Fort Union, NM), Roberts Ranch Grazing Tour (Livermore, CO), Hibner Ranch Field Day (Cebolla, NM), Soil Health Academy at CS Ranch (Cimarron, NM), New Mexico Cattle Growers Association Mid-year Meeting (Ruidoso, NM), Colorado State Land Board Agriculture Industry Roundtable (Denver, CO), Holistic Management International's "Grass-fed Ranching in the American West" event (Saguache, CO), Western Association of the State Departments of Agriculture panel (Denver, CO), America's Grasslands Conference (Cheyenne, WY), Old Fort Farmer Training Convergence (Hesperus, CO), Rough Stone Ranch Field Day (Farmington, NM), Guidestone Land Link Event (Denver, CO), Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Convention (Greeley, CO), Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Legislative Drive-in (Denver, CO), Central Grasslands Roadmap Summit (Ft. Collins, CO), Grassfed Exchange (Dallas, TX). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
As a result of this project, 96 beginning ranchers and farmers were prepared for successful careers in regenerative agriculture on large acreage ranching and farming operations in the West; over 68 experienced ranchers and farmers and agricultural training organizations improved their capacity to offer skilled mentorship; and over 2,700 other beginning ranchers and farmers were supported for lifelong careers in agriculture. COVID Relief Funds were used to build upon the original project and provide beginning ranchers and farmers with access to more robust virtual training tools and a stronger virtual community. Beginning ranchers and farmers and their mentors were also provided with additional travel support, to attend in-person educational events and build their professional networks again in a safe manner. Goal 1: Quivira hosted nine "NAP 101" informational calls, focused on providing applicants with guidance on how to gain relevant skills and submit a competitive application. These calls help prospective applicants learn more about apprenticeship, the mentoring opportunities available, the application process, and how to gain relevant skills before applying. Recordings of these calls are available on Quivira's YouTube channel. Quivira used an outreach plan developed under a 2019 BFRDP Simple Award to recruit apprentice applicants, and received over 300 applications during the project: 65 in 2020, 96 in 2021, 89 in 2022, and 61 in 2022. In total, 96 apprentices were trained for the unique demands of ranching and farming on large-landscape operations in the West through 8-month apprenticeships with experienced ranchers and farmers. In addition to the hands-on experience gained through working with their mentors, apprentices were supported through regional orientations, a series of supplemental education webinars, regional workshops, and one-on-one check-ins with their regional coordinators. Supplemental education calls included topics such as financial planning, cattle industry overview, bison restoration on Tribal lands, holistic goal setting, aridity and drought in the West, water laws in the West, meat slaughter & processing, and wildlife & working lands. Regional workshops for apprentices addressed topics such as rangeland monitoring and low stress stockmanship. According to year-end surveys completed by apprentices, 90% agreed that the program has given them the tools and support needed to continue a career in agriculture, 92% agreed that the program had a positive influence on their personal growth, 96% agreed that the program increased their knowledge of regenerative practices, 75% agreed that the program met or exceeded their expectations. Goal 2: Quivira conducted 44 mentor training calls and 12 mentor coffee hour calls. Calls were offered on: developing an accurate site description, evaluating written applications, setting expectations, balancing work and education, bias prevention in hiring, mentoring to create a self-starting apprentice, and offering effective feedback. Calls are free and open to both NAP mentors and the public, and help ensure that mentors in the program are not only skilled ranchers but skilled teachers as well. Quivira provided mentorship training and one-on-one support to over 63 ranches and six agricultural training organizations, including the SandHills Task Force Internship Program (NE), Community Food and Agriculture Coalition, Savannah Institute, Rogue Farm Corps, High Desert Food and Farm Alliance, and Young Agrarians. All mentor training resources, including recordings of mentor training calls and the Mentor Training Handbook are free and available on the Quivira Coalition website. Goal 3: Quivira produced 26 Regeneration Rising podcast episodes with an average of 472 downloads per episode. Episodes feature conversations with young agrarians, tips from regenerative ag experts, job announcements, and more. Episodes included guests such as Byron Palmer, Maggie Hannah, Levi Shije and Luis Rodriguez, Kate Mannix, Elena Miller Ter-Kuile, Shalini Karra, and Geoffrey Van. For a complete list of episodes visit https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/regeneration-rising/id1445597173. Quivira's annual REGENERATE Conference marks the end of the apprenticeship season, and is an opportunity for apprentices to network, find their next career step, and celebrate graduation. At all three conferences during the project, NAP facilitated plenary panels, hosted Career Connections events and offered virtual workshops on grazing leases and legal resilience for ranching and farming business. In order to address the isolation faced by beginning ranchers in rural areas in the west, Quivira convened apprentices virtually using a Slack workspace, to share resources, photos, job postings, webinars, and other training opportunities; facilitated 12 informal "happy hour" calls; and collaborated with AgWell, a project of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, to offer 28 "Weekly Unwind" calls. "Weekly Unwind" calls were a free drop-in space that allowed participants the opportunity to address isolation, conflict, or mental health in a safe space with a trained facilitator. Each season, apprentices also submit written reflection pieces about their experience navigating apprenticeship. Over 150 reflection pieces were posted to Young Agrarian Voices blog. Through additional COVID Relief funds, Quivira accomplished the following: Christi Bode of Moxiecran Media produced a series of videos for the program, highlighting the stories of apprentices, mentors, and alumni. Videos have been used as a means of starting conversation around issues faced by beginning ranchers and farmers, during mentor onboarding and recruitment, and during apprentice outreach and recruitment events. All videos can be found on Quivira's YouTube channel, and have received over 1,200 views. In 2023, Quivira worked with a web developer to build out a regenerative ag job board. The job board is now live at https://jobsearch.quiviracoalition.org/ Quivira uses a Slack channel to convene apprentices virtually throughout their apprenticeship, and maintains a Google Group for program alumni. Both forums are used to share job opportunities, training and webinar opportunities, scholarships, and other relevant resources directly with apprentices and alumni. Quivira offered 13 advanced webinars for alumni and other beginning ranchers and farmers, including topics such as: Small Ruminants & Multi-Species Grazing; Putting Soil Health into Practice; Launching a New Enterprise;; Farm Employment Law Basics; and Inventory Basics for Meat & Livestock Operations. NAP alumni were provided with an opportunity to apply for scholarship funds. Applicants were required to fill out an application demonstrating how their project would support their career growth in agriculture or improve the success of their agricultural business, and were allowed to request funds either for technical assistance, training opportunities, or equipment purchases. In total, $29,125 in direct support was provided via 35 awards. Alumni used funds to attend trainings such as Ranching for Profit school, a roping clinic, and a cattle marketing training; and to purchase equipment to expand their businesses such as electric fencing, solar watering systems, and a push seeder. During the grant period, 75 apprentices were provided with additional stipend support to allow them to attend the REGENERATE Conference and to attend other education workshops, trainings, and field days in their region. In total, over $73,883 (from both federal and nonfederal sources) was provided to apprentices in the form of direct assistance for conference and other educational travel.
Publications
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Progress 09/15/21 to 09/14/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of this project are beginning ranchers and farmers pursuing careers in regenerative ranching or farming on large scale agricultural operations in the West. To serve this population, Quivira partners with experienced ranchers and farmers who use regenerative practices and are passionate about passing down their knowledge to future generations through apprenticeship. The term regenerative refers to agricultural practices that restore and conserve the soil and health of local and large scale ecosystems. Beginning ranchers and farmers entering Quivira's New Agrarian Apprenticeship Program (NAP) usually come from urban or suburban backgrounds and do not have family connections through which to gain agricultural skills. During the application process for the 2022 season, we surveyed applicants and found that approximately 41 percent of applicants identified as female or nonbinary, 38 percent identified as people of color, and 64 percent did not come from ranching or farming families or communities. Barriers to beginning ranchers and farmers on large-scale Western lands are numerous. The skills related to ranching and farming take time and commitment and are best learned directly on the ground with a skilled mentor. In order to serve this target audience and build supportive apprenticeship communities, Quivira Coalition partners with experienced ranchers and farmers to offer eight-month apprenticeships in regenerative agriculture. During the reporting period, Quivira partnered with 21 mentors to offer 28 apprenticeships. In order to build community and provide additional support for both apprentices and other beginning ranchers and farmers pursuing careers in regenerative agriculture on livestock or other large-landscape operations in the West, Quivira also offers several other training opportunities. These include Ranch 101 webinars, a Regeneration Rising podcast, and workshops at Quivira's annual Regenerate conference. Through these opportunities, we reached over 900 additional beginning ranchers and farmers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Training and professional development for beginner rancher and farmer apprentices, as well as the experienced ranchers and farmers who mentored them, were two of the project's main areas of focus. For experienced ranchers and farmers, professional development centered on improving teaching and mentoring skills. For apprentices, intensive, hands-on, on-the-ground training focused on the acquisition of a comprehensive set of skills necessary to pursue a career in agriculture. All training and professional development activities are listed above in the Accomplishments section of this report. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results of Quivira's programs are consistently reported on in the monthly NAP newsletter, reaching more than 5000 readers. Apprentices self-reflect and self-report on the results they experienced as a part of the program, and these results are captured and disseminated in our New Agrarian Voices blog. Over fifty pieces were published on the New Agrarian Voices blog during the grant period, and 11 Regeneration Rising podcast episodes were produced. Additionally, staff attended the following conferences and field days to spread awareness of the program: Guidestone Land Link Event (Denver, CO, October 2021), 2021 Regenerate conference (Albuquerque, NM, November 2021), Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Convention (Greeley, CO, November 2021), Soil Revolution Conference (Boulder, CO, December 2021), Soil Health Symposium (Billings, MT, February 2022), Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Legislative Drive-in (Denver, CO, March 2022), Gabe Brown's Regenerative Agriculture Workshop (Big Timber, MT, April 2022), Sieben Ranch Winter Grazing Workshop (Cascade, MT, April 2022), Central Grasslands Roadmap Summit (Ft. Collins, CO, May 2022), Grassfed Exchange (Dallas, TX, May 2022), 2022 Montana Range Tour (Cascade, MT, August 2021), and the 2022 Watersheds Tour (Browning, MT, September 2021). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, we expect to graduate 25 apprentices from the 2022 season, and to onboard an additional 25 for the 2023 season. In addition to running the core aspects of our apprenticeship program (including apprentice orientation and supplemental education calls, mentor training calls, a midseason workshop for apprentices) and the ongoing training and communications projects (the Regeneration Rising podcast, NAP monthly newsletter, advanced TA webinars for alumni, and NAP 101 calls), we are planning to focus our efforts to complete three additional projects. This includes building out a regenerative ag job and community board for the Quivira website, finalizing the four short videos for the program, and awarding alumni with technical assistance funding to support the development of their agricultural business or project.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Beginning ranchers and farmers on large-landscape operations in the arid and semi-arid West face unique barriers to entry. Ranch or farm businesses in arid regions require large acreage to successfully and sustainably operate. Ranch businesses in particular face high startup costs due to the capital required to purchase livestock and the land needed to sustain them. For young people pursuing careers in this sector, isolation is also a top challenge because of the large and dispersed nature of their operations. To address these needs, Quivira partners with experienced ranchers and farmers who are using regenerative practices to host 8-month apprenticeships on large-landscape operations in Montana and Colorado. Quivira supports this unique population of beginning ranchers and farmers by providing trainings and resources that can be remotely accessed on soil health, biological monitoring, land access strategies, farm business finance, and entrepreneurial skills. This project also provides a community of support through a monthly podcast, regional gatherings, networking events, and trainings on communication and mentoring. Ultimately, these activities prepare beginning ranchers and farmers for successful regenerative agriculture careers on large landscape operations, increases the number of beginning ranchers and farmers in the region who receive skilled mentorship, and ensure that beginning ranchers and farmers in this region are supported for lifelong careers in agriculture. The major goals of this project are to: 1) prepare beginning ranchers and farmers for successful careers in regenerative agriculture on large acreage ranching and farming operations in the arid and semi-arid West, 2) increase the number of beginning ranchers and farmers who receive skilled mentorship from experienced ranchers and farmers and 3) ensure beginning ranchers and farmers are supported post-apprenticeship for lifelong careers in agriculture. COVID Relief Funds were used to build upon the original project and provide beginning ranchers and farmers with access to more robust virtual training tools and a stronger virtual community. Beginning ranchers and farmers and their mentors were provided with additional travel support to attend in-person educational events and build their professional networks again in a safe manner. The major goals associated with the COVID Reflief Funds are 1) Build a more robust online community for beginning ranchers and farmers on large-landscape operations in the rural West, 2) Engage and support NAP alumni after graduation, to ensure that they continue in careers in agriculture post-apprenticeship, and 3) Build the professional network of beginning ranchers and farmers through safe gatherings with experienced ranchers and farmers and other industry professionals. Goal 1 Objectives: 54 apprentices were trained for unique demands of ranching and farming on large-landscape operations in the west through immersive, 8-month apprenticeships with experienced ranchers and farmers. 29 apprentices graduated in November 2021. 25 apprentices were enrolled in the 2022 season, set to graduate in November 2022. In addition to the hands-on experience that apprentices gained working with their mentors, apprentices were supported through a virtual orientation, a series of supplemental education webinars, and one-on-one check-ins with their regional coordinator. Supplemental education topics included financial planning, life cycle of an apprentice, cattle industry overview, bison restoration on Tribal lands, holistic goal setting, "ask a rancher" with John Wagner, and Ranching for Profit with Dallas Mount. Second year calls included the following speakers: Fred Provenza (author/professor of behavioral ecology), Aimee Danch (NAP alumni and rancher), Amber Smith (rancher, Women in Ranching coordinator), Abbi Han (First Nations Development Institute), Kate Greenberg (Colorado Ag Commissioner), Holly Zink (Sunnyside Meats). In order to support beginning ranchers and farmers in preparing for an apprenticeship, Quivira hosted 3 "NAP 101" calls. These calls help prospective applicants learn more about apprenticeship, the mentoring opportunities available, the application process, and how to gain relevant skills before applying. A recording of one of the calls lives on the Quivira website, so that prospective applicants can watch it at any point during the year. Goal 2 Objectives: Quivira conducted 14 mentor training calls and 4 mentor coffee hour calls on the following topics: developing an accurate site description, evaluating written applications, setting expectations, balancing work and education, bias prevention in hiring, mentoring to create a self-starting apprentice, and offering effective feedback. Mentor training call topics each are offered twice, and are free and open to both NAP mentors and the public. NAP provided mentorship training and one-on-one support to 53 ranches and farms and five agricultural training organizations: 21 in CO; 20 in MT; 3 in CA; 2 in WY, NM, and KS each; and 1 in SD, NE, and IA. Additionally, staff and member farmers of the following organizations participated in the mentor training call series: Community Food and Agriculture Coalition (Montana), Savannah Institute (WI), Rogue Farm Corps (OR), High Desert Food and Farm Alliance (OR), and Young Agrarians (Canada). All mentor training resources, including records of mentor training calls and the Mentor Training Handbook are free and available on the Quivira website. Goal 3 Objectives: Quivira produced 11 Regeneration Rising podcast episodes. Each episode features conversations with apprentices and other young agrarians, tips from regenerative ag experts, job announcements, and more. Episodes included the following guests: Byron Palmer, Maggie Hannah, Levi Shije and Luis Rodriguez, Kate Mannix, Elena Miller Ter-Kuile, Shalini Karra, Geoffrey Van, Caity Roberts, Caleb Valdez, Donne Gonzalez, and Martha Skelley. 50 reflection pieces were posted to Young Agrarian Voices blog. At the 2021 Regenerate Conference, the New Agrarian Program facilitated a plenary panel featuring the stories of both beginning agrarians and mentors, as well as a virtual Career Connection event to help aspiring producers learn about different career paths in regenerative agriculture. COVID Relief Goal 1 Objectives: Christi Bode of Moxiecran Media was hired to produce program videos. Footage was filmed in both Colorado and Montana in summer 2022. Ms. Bode has shared a timeline for editing and producing the videos, with all four expected to be completed in spring 2023. A contractor was hired to begin building out the job and community board for the website. COVID Relief Goal 2 Objectives: Quivira Coalition hosted 7 advanced topic webinars for alumni and other beginning ranchers and farmers. on the following topics, in partnership with Farm Commons and the Southwest Grassfed Livestock Alliance: Farm Employment Law Basics; 5 Steps to Protect Your Farm, Legally Speaking; Land Leasing Basics; Building Your Farm Team: Strategizing Selecting an Insurance Agent, Accountant, or Attorney for the Farm; Tax Accounting Options and Methods for Meat & Livestock Operations Part I & II; Inventory Basics for Meat & Livestock Operations; and a Yield & Margin Calculator Watch Party Series. Staff also created an intake form to manage technical assistance requests from alumni. A contractor was hired to begin building out the job and community board for the website. COVID Relief Goal 3 Objectives: 29 apprentices were provided with additional stipend support to allow them to attend the Regenerate Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico and to attend other education workshops, trainings, and field days in their region. In total, $21,115.66 ($9,873.42 of this from USDA NIFA, and $11,242.24 from non-federal sources) was provided to apprentices in the form of direct assistance.
Publications
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Progress 09/15/20 to 09/14/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of this project are beginning ranchers and farmers pursuing careers in regenerative ranching or farming on large scale agricultural operations in the West. To serve this population, Quivira partners with experienced ranchers and farmers who use regenerative practices and are passionate about passing down their knowledge to future generations through apprenticeship. The term regenerative refers to agricultural practices that restore and conserve the soil and health of local and large scale ecosystems. Beginning ranchers and farmers entering Quivira's New Agrarian Apprenticeship Program (NAP) usually come from urban or suburban backgrounds and do not have family connections through which to gain agricultural skills. During the application process for the 2021 season, we surveyed applicants and found that approximately 50 percent of applicants identified as female, 20 percent identified as people of color, and over 85 percent did not come from ranching or farming families or communities. Barriers to beginning ranchers and farmers on large-scale Western lands are numerous. The skills related to ranching and farming take time and commitment and are best learned directly on the ground with a skilled mentor. In order to serve this target audience and build supportive apprenticeship communities, Quivira Coalition partners with experienced ranchers and farmers to offer eight-month apprenticeships in regenerative agriculture. During the reporting period, Quivira partnered with 23 mentors to offer 31 apprenticeships. In order to build community and provide additional support for both apprentices and other beginning ranchers and farmers pursuing careers in regenerative agriculture on livestock or other large-landscape operations in the West, Quivira also offers several other training opportunities. These include Ranch 101 webinars, a Regeneration Rising podcast, and workshops at Quivira's annual Regenerate conference. Through these opportunities, we reached over 900 additional beginning ranchers and farmers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training and professional development for beginner rancher and farmer apprentices, as well as the experienced ranchers and farmers who mentored them, were two of the project's main areas of focus. For experienced ranchers and farmers, professional development centered on improving teaching and mentoring skills. For apprentices, intensive, hands-on, on-the-ground training focused on the acquisition of a comprehensive set of skills necessary to pursue a career in agriculture. All training and professional development activities are listed above in the Accomplishments section of this report. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results of Quivira's programs are consistently reported on in the monthly NAP newsletter, reaching more than 5000 readers. Apprentices self-reflect and self-report on the results they experienced as a part of the program, and these results are captured and disseminated in our New Agrarian Voices blog. Fifty pieces were published on the New Agrarian Voices blog during the grant period. Additionally, the program was highlighted through three press opportunities. In December 2020, two articles were published in On Land, a quarterly publication of the Western Landowner's Alliance. Two articles featured the New Agrarian apprenticeship program: "Seek Collaboration: Valuable Reflections of a Ranch Apprentice" (https://onland.westernlandowners.org/2020/women-in-ranching/seek-collaboration-valuable-reflections-of-a-ranch-apprentice/) and "Mentorship and Regeneration in the West: Quivira's New Agrarian Program" (https://onland.westernlandowners.org/2020/partner-spotlight/mentorship-regeneration-west-nap-partnerspotlight/) In June 2021, Quivira's executive director, Sarah Wentzel-Fisher, discussed the New Agrarian Program on the Food for Thought podcast (https://nationalwesterncenter.com/food-for-thought/). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Quivira Coalition plans to continue to offer apprenticeships, mentor training calls, supplemental education calls, workshops, and the Regeneration Rising podcast, as planned in the work plan. As needed, Quivira is recruiting and training additional mentors for the program and are continuing efforts to recruit apprentice candidates. Now that the Regeneration Rising podcast is set up and running, it is on track to continue releasing monthly podcast episodes. Quivira Coalition is on track to meet all of the stated goals of the project.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Beginning ranchers and farmers on the large-scale operations found in the dryland west face unique barriers to entry. Ranching and farming in dryland areas requires both a large land base and a breadth of skills and experience. Particularly for beginning ranchers and farmers who don't grow up in ranching or farming communities, there are few formal pathways to acquire these skills. The average age of a rancher or farmer in the intermountain west is over 55. Traditionally, ranching operations were passed down from one family member to the next, but many of the current generation does not have an heir who is interested in taking over the business. For these reasons, it is particularly important that there are training opportunities that allow beginning ranchers and farmers to develop the skills, experience, and professional connections necessary to successfully begin and sustain their careers. The major goals of this project are to: 1) prepare beginning ranchers and farmers for successful careers in regenerative agriculture on large acreage ranching and farming operations in the arid and semi-arid West, 2) increase the number of beginning ranchers and farmers who receive skilled mentorship from experienced ranchers and farmers and 3) ensure beginning ranchers and farmers are supported post-apprenticeship for lifelong careers in agriculture. During the project period, Quivira Coalition partnered with experienced ranchers and farmers to offer full-immersion apprenticeships in regenerative agriculture. All mentors in the program were provided with training to ensure that they had the teaching and mentors skills necessary to support a beginning rancher or farmer through their apprenticeship. Additionally, Quivira Coalition provided apprentices with supplemental education and networking opportunities to help build their professional networks. Through this project, Quivira Coalition is providing beginning ranchers and farmers with access to training opportunities and a strong community of support that will help them successfully enter into careers in regenerative agriculture in the intermountain west. During the project period, the following activities related to the main project goals were completed: ? Goal 1: Prepare beginning ranchers and farmers for careers in regenerative agriculture on large-landscape operations in the arid and semi-arid West through introductory workshops, 8-month apprenticeships, and regenerative agriculture education webinars. Activities completed: 1) Offered three virtual "NAP 101" calls, to help prospective applicants learn more about apprenticeship, the mentoring opportunities available, the application process, and how to gain relevant skills before applying. 2) Utilizing a recruitment plan developed during 2019, increased the number of beginning ranchers and farmers who applied for NAP apprenticeships in regenerative agriculture. Over 100 individuals applied to the program for the 2021 season. 3) Quivira Coalition trained 45 beginning ranchers and farmers for the unique demands of ranching and farming on large-landscape operations in the west through immersive, 8-month apprenticeships with experienced ranchers and farmers. In November 2020, 21 apprentices graduated from the program. Thirty-one apprentices (seven of whom were completing a second year of apprenticeship) enrolled in the program for the 2021 season, set to graduate in November 2021. To support apprentices during the season, staff conducted monthly check in calls and annual site visits. All apprentices were trained on communication skills and technology platforms, including use of Slack messaging and Zoom conference calls, during virtual orientations hosted at the start of the season. All apprentices completed skills checklists at start and end of season, to measure acquisition of skills including: land management, animal handling, tools and equipment use, business planning, financial management, and workplace ethics. Apprentices were also reimbursed up to $500 in travel or registration costs to attend additional training workshops or clinics that supported their education. 4) Improved access to resources and support for geographically isolated beginning ranchers and farmers by offering virtual supplemental education and networking calls. During the grant period, 11 supplemental education calls were offered on the following topics: Intro to Personal Finance, Intro to Regenerative Practices, Ranching for Profit (two-part series), Aridity and Drought in the West, Tribal Efforts to Restore Bison Populations, Water in the West, Meat Slaughter & Processing, Holistic Goal Setting, Career Workshop, and Wildlife & Working Lands. Six additional networking calls were offered as additional opportunities to connect with other apprentices, alumni, and NAP community members. Goal 2: Increase the number of beginning ranchers and farmers who received skilled mentorship from experienced ranchers and farmers on large landscapes in the arid and semi-arid West. Activities completed: 1) Conducted 15 mentor training calls, which were offered free of charge to both NAP mentors and other agricultural mentors outside of the program. Calls were offered on the following topics: developing an accurate site description, evaluating written applications, setting expectations, balancing work and education, bias prevention in hiring, mentoring to create a self-starting apprentice, and offering effective feedback. To support mentor education, Quivira's Mentor Handbook, a comprehensive mentoring skills guide developed through Quivira's 2019 BFRDP Simplified grant, was also made available for free download on the Quivira website. 2) Recruited eight new mentors for the 2021 season, expanding the number of apprenticeship opportunities available. Goal 3: Ensure that beginning ranchers and farmers are supported post-apprenticeship for lifelong careers in agriculture in the arid and semi-arid West. Activities completed: 1) Began producing a monthly podcast, Regeneration Rising (https://regenerationrising.podbean.com/). Started by two NAP apprentices in 2018, Regeneration Rising highlights the experiences of beginning ranchers and farmers on large landscape operations in the West and provides information on trainings and job opportunities. During the grant period, four episodes were produced, and episodes are now being produced monthly. 2) Posted 50 reflection pieces written by apprentices on the New Agrarian Voices blog (https://quiviracoalition.org/newagrarian/new-agrarian-voices/), to allow beginning ranchers and farmers to connect over shared struggles, reduce feelings of isolation, and build community. 3). Hosted a plenary panel at the 2020 virtual Regenerate conference, featuring NAP alumni, allowing them to talk about the importance of apprenticeship in their career path, develop their public speaking skills, and helping to recruit new mentors and apprentices. 4) Hosted three virtual workshops for beginning ranchers and farmers at the 2020 Regenerate conference: Reducing Legal Risk through the Right Business Structure (led by Farm Commons), Reducing Legal Risk when Leasing Land (led by Farm Commons), and Leasing Your Future: Developing a Grazing Lease (led by George Whitten, San Juan Ranch). 5) Hosted a virtual "Career Connections" event, as part of the 2020 Regenerate conference, to introduce beginning agrarians to introduce a diverse group of mentors from agencies, nonprofit organizations, tribal organizations, and agricultural production, who represent different career paths in regenerative agriculture or agriculture support.
Publications
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