BFRDP Projects

Sustaining Rural Communities Through Beginning Farmer Mentorship, Training and Marketing:

Project Summary - The goal of the proposed project “Sustaining Rural Communities through Beginning Farmer Mentorship, Training and Marketing,” is to support New Entry Farmers to improve their economic success and the sustainability of agriculture and the food system in two historic African American farming regions in Alabama and South Carolina.  

The overall goal of this collaboration is to elevate the next generation of farmers and keep it going, building the essential network of relationships to sustainably support, share and learn from one another. The Project Goal is to expand and sustain the economic success and sustainability of New Entry African American and other socially disadvantaged beginning farmers in South Carolina Alabama and beyond, improving access to fresh food in their historical African American communities and other communities like theirs. The project will result in an innovative and replicable to create a new generation of economically independent farmers who support their communities, with focus on African American New Entry Farmers, including veteran women farmers. The project will increase both respect and capacity within the target population with regard to agriculture as a career option, strengthen the infrastructure to help New Entry Farmers succeed, and improve food security within the low-income communities where they work. The Rural Coalition will coordinate the project with The Rural Advancement Fund of the National Sharecroppers Fund (working with African American Young Farmers groups in three counties in South Carolina) and Cottage House, Inc. (in two counties, with African American women veterans forming the Advisory Team).