About the Program
"Farm Beginnings will likely save me thousands of dollars in mistakes!"
— Bill Wilson, Central Illinois Farm Beginnings Graduate, 2006
Central Illinois Farm Beginnings™ is a farmer-led training and support program designed to help prospective farmers plan and launch economically and environmentally sustainable farm businesses.
If you would like us to send you a paper application, please contact us at info@thelandconnection.org or 847-570-0701.
Farm Beginnings has three parts:
- Winter coursework: nine sessions from October to February
- Five or more working field days at regional farms
- A six-month mentorship with a successful sustainable farmer in your field of interest
In 2005–06, Farm Beginnings’ first year in Illinois, the course graduated over 40 new farmers, meeting a previously un-met need for new farmer training, while also beginning to meet the ever-increasing consumer demand for local, delicious, sustainably-raised foods.
Farm Beginnings Students will:
- Gain knowledge from some of the most innovative and skilled farmers in the Midwest
- Develop a support network with other beginning farmers
- Learn critical farm management skills, including financial planning
- Mentor with a farmer engaged in a similar enterprise
- See sustainable farming practices in use
- Craft a tailor-made farming/business plan
For more information on class dates and descriptions, please see the calendar. All class sessions will take place at University of Illinois Extension Macon County Unit Office, 2535 Millikin Parkway, Decatur.
Mentorships
Mentorships allow participants to gain hands-on knowledge of farm operations and more in-depth knowledge of best practices and troubleshooting. Mentorships are designed to be flexible, taking employment and family situations into account. Participants may or may not be paid, depending on the agreement between the mentor and apprentice. Farm Beginnings also helps beginning farmers create links with experienced farmers through farm partnerships, land and equipment use and/or rental.
Farm Beginnings Material
All Farm Beginnings material was developed by the Land Stewardship Project and is based on the experiences of their farmer members. It is used by permission under license. For more information, please visit The Land Stewardship Project. Central Illinois Farm Beginnings adapts these original materials based on the experiences of its local farmers, agricultural professionals, and steering committee members.