BFRDP Projects

Wolfe`s Neck Farm Dairy Farmer Apprenticeship Program
[Final Report]

Award Amount: $573,256
Grant Program: 2016 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Director: David Herring
Email: dherring@wolfesneckfarm.org
Organization: Wolfe's Neck Farm

Return to Project Search

 

  • Overview
  • Results
  • Materials
  • Delivery Area
  • Comments

Project Overview

Wolfe's Neck Farm is an educational farm in Maine that runs a Dairy Farmer Apprenticeship Program (DFAP). DFAP is a two-year residential training program launched in partnership with the Wisconsin-based and nationally accredited Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA). DFAP aims to increase the production of organic milk in the Northeast while fostering the next generation of dairy farmers and improving their profitability and sustainability. To achieve this goal, DFAP is integrating the DGA program into the educational farm model at Wolfe's Neck Farm. The specific objectives of the DFAP are to (1) Expand and scale Wolfe's Neck Farm Apprentice program (2) Adapt DGA's training guidelines to an educational farm model (3) Replicate and adapt the DGA classroom education in New England (4) Identify a successful path to dairy farm operation and ownership in New England and (5) Position Wolfe's Neck Farm as a regional hub for the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship. To achieve these objectives, Wolfe's Neck Farm has doubled its number of apprentices to 4, has brought on an Education Coordinator for WNF Apprentices and has expanded the DGA Master Training Farm model to Maine and New England, with particularly strong growth in Vermont who now houses a statewide Education Coordinator in-state. These activities have given apprentices the necessary skills and training to successfully transition to sustainable dairy farm operation and ownership, an achievement that is strengthening the regional dairy industry while also improve regional communities' economies.  The WNC program is proud of its five graduates and expects three more apprentices to complete the program by the end of 2020.

Number of Participants: 13

Results

Promotional Materials

There are no promotional materials available for this project.

Educational Materials

There are no educational materials available for this project.

Reports & Evaluations

There are no reports or evaluations available for this project.

Delivery Area

Describe any unexpected results of the project:

How would you improve the project if you were to do it again?

What were the keys to success for your participants?

Individual Stories / Examples of Success