The Journal
The Southwest Farm Fresh Cooperative will co-host a Farm and Field Experience from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 11, at Tierra Vida, Old Fort at Hesperus, and Rocky Draw Farm. The event is for beginning and expanding farmers and ranchers in partnership with the Colorado Tourism Office, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and Guidestone Colorado. For more information and required pre-registration, visit www.GuidestoneColorado.org.
Through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, these farm and field experiences, in conjunction with previously offered vision and scaling up workshops, aim to support and enhance the success of the next generation of farmers and ranchers in southern Colorado. This three-year initiative will develop a coordinated education and mentorship program to help train early farmers and prepare them to enter emerging wholesale and agritourism markets.
The project entails three main integrated activities:
Visioning courses to help plan the future for these new businesses and ongoing coaching provided by Guidestone.
Business scaling workshops orchestrated by the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Cooperative Development Center in concert with the Southwest Farm Fresh Cooperative.
Expansion of a mentorship program for beginning producers.
For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/program/beginning-farmerand-rancher-development-program-bfrdp.
