The Beginning Farmer Institute is National Farmers Union’s way of counteracting the aging population of rural America. Agriculture needs more young farmers and ranchers to take up the mantle and carry ag forward into the future.
National Farmers Union (NFU) today announced application period is now open for its Beginning Farmer Institute (BFI) program class of 2019-2020. NFU encourages new farmers of any age, from operations of any size, type, or location to apply for the class.
BFI’s hands-on training provides beginning farmers and ranchers in the U.S. with the tools they need to lead successful farm and ranch operations. The Beginning Farmer Institute is also a fantastic opportunity to grow as leaders in their communities and American agriculture.
The BFI program will host three in-person sessions in Washington, D.C., California, and Georgia over the coming year. Programming will focus on equipping participants with skill sets in business formation, accounting, taxation, labor, credit and business planning.
Farmers from all parts of the country that work on diverse types of farms have greatly benefitted from the Beginning Farmer Institute training. The most recent class of the program—which will graduate at the upcoming NFU Convention in Bellevue, Washington—has 18 farmers and ranchers from 13 states. Women and veterans represent a majority of program’s past participants.
The application period for the 2019-2020 class will be open until April 12, 2019. BFI is sponsored by FUI Foundation, Farm Credit Council and CHS Foundation. More information about BFI is available here.
About NFU:National Farmers Union advocates on behalf of nearly 200,000 American farm families and their communities. We envision a world in which farm families and their communities are respected, valued, and enjoy economic prosperity and social justice.
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