Project Overview
Strengthening Farmer Entrepreneurship Project was designed to help all beginning farmers develop viable, financially robust farm businesses in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. The project strengthened proven strategies in farmer training by addressing three specific pain points in the path to successful farm operations: 1) access to training and mentorship, 2) land acquisition, and 3) preparation to sell into diversified markets. Our primary approach was to analyze and update farmer-led training programs to be more responsive to structural barriers that affect women, people of color, immigrants, and veterans who are beginning sustainable agriculturalists on their path to successful farm businesses. Over the three years of the project, Angelic Organics Learning Center and the Liberty Prairie Foundation reached well over 500 farmers. They provided approximately 100,000 hours of instruction, which led to 40 new farms and 245 farmers reporting an improvement in farming success. Representation in leadership positions was increased by 50% for farmers who identify as being from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Number of Participants: 542
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