Heartland Farm Beginnings Program

Deadline extended for OEFFA’s Heartland Farm Beginnings Program 2022! 

The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) is seeking applicants for our 2022 Heartland Farm Beginnings course! This year-long farmer-led training and support program is designed to help early career farmers achieve their goal of creating a viable farm business.  

Deadline for applications is extended to December 12^th. See application details below! 

Course description: Heartland Farm Beginnings is a community-based, multi-workshop online course held in the spring and the fall. All workshops are led by experienced farmers and supplemented with additional readings and homework to prepare you to create a detailed farm business plan. Through this course, participants will learn holistic farm management skills, including innovative marketing strategies, record keeping, and tax preparation, and more.  

Schedule: click here to view the 2022 workshop syllabus and program schedule.  

The Heartland Farm Beginnings Program Includes: 

• OEFFA Family Farm membership for one year 
• Registration and lunches to attend the OEFFA Conference (February 18-19, 2022) 
• One-on-one mentorship with an experienced farmer 
• FSA Borrower Training Completion Certificate and KIVA loan endorsement for qualified participants 
• Guided development of a Growing Season Learning Plan 
• Training on how to access resources, land, and learn creative financing options 
• Joining a vibrant network of local and ecologically-minded farmers 
• Creation a detailed action plan for your farm, including honing your vision, personal goals, marketing plan, and financial goals. 

Requirements: Must have at least one year of farming experience, and current plans to start or improve upon a farm business. 

Program information and fees: Course fees are $1,200 for up to two individuals from the same farm business working on the same business plan. Tuition relief and payment plans are available to increase accessibility of the programming. Funding will prioritize Black and Indigenous growers and growers of color. 

Space is limited and early application is encouraged!  There is space for up to 12 farms available in this cohort.  

This course will be offered primarily online with opportunities to meet up in person throughout the year. Each topic will include a farmer lecture, a live webinar for discussion and activities, worksheets to complete at home and in class, and optional office hours with facilitators to complete their individual farm business plan.  Participants will need consistent access to WiFi and a computer with a camera to fully participate in the course. Print materials will be provided via mail. Live captioning for the videos is not available, but workshop notes and power points can be emailed. If you have other accessibility requests that would increase your ability to participate, please email us and we will try to work together to accommodate.

To Apply for the Heartland Farm Beginnings Program

Visit beginfarming.oeffa.org/heartland-farm-beginnings to read more details and apply online. Applications must be submitted by 

December 12^th, 2021. The next cohort will begin in early 2022. 

Questions? Contact beginfarming@oeffa.org.