Training the Next Generation of Farmers in the Sierra Nevada Foothills: Lessons Learned

With an aging farm population and the loss of generational transfer of agricultural knowledge, training new farmers has become a critical need across the country. The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) in Placer and Nevada Counties has developed extensive beginning farmer training over the last decade to meet the needs of a growing number of aspiring producers. A vibrant local food movement and increasing interest in small scale farming have driven the demand for beginning farmer training in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The UCCE Farm Advisors collaborate with local farmers to provide an array of workshops, field days, mentoring, and community-building programs to assist beginning farmers. This paper will report on the results of three surveys of training participants over the last decade and present strategies for developing this type of training. Lessons learned include the necessity of addressing the farm as a business; and building economic and marketing skills in addition to production skills.  Training must be reality-based and focused on local conditions with examples from the agricultural community. A collaborative, participatory training approach helps develop realistic expectations and skills without dampening the enthusiasm of beginning farmers. Experienced local producers are an integral part of the training team and programs focus on building community among local farmers.