Journeyperson Program
Get your farm business started with MOFGA
Mentorship
Technical Assistance
Business Planning
Help Getting Established
Qualifications
The Journeyperson Program is a 2 year business support program for beginning farmers and farmworkers who are serious about operating farm businesses in Maine that will make contributions to the agricultural community. This program is designed to support farmers in overcoming barriers including access to land, capital, and education.Â
Qualifications for applying farmers and farmworkers:
- A minimum of two years farming experience with at least one calendar year of commercial farm work experience in Maine.
- A demonstrated commitment to stay farming in Maine.
- A goal to make measurable contributions to Maine’s agricultural economy and/ or production goals of feeding their community and region.
- A demonstrated commitment to sustainable practices, including but not limited to organic production.
- Note: Farmers that don't qualify include farmers employed by nonprofits, homesteaders and farms whose main product is a federally controlled substance.
While open to any farmer that meets the above criteria, the Journeyperson Program is best suited for farmers that:
- Currently farm on leased or owned land, including working on someone else's farm.*
- Are focused on livestock and/or crop production for direct to consumer and wholesale markets.
- Have the time to fully utilize the resources of the program.
* MOFGA can support in land tenure – please contact the Journeyperson Program at [email protected] ASAP.
For questions about the program please contact Beginning Farmer Specialist, Bo Dennis at [email protected].Â
Components of the Program
- Free access to MOFGA resources. This includes technical advice from our Agricultural Services staff, business planning help, free admission to MOFGA-sponsored events, workshops, and conferences, access to MOFGA's farmer network, and farm visits from MOFGA staff and advisors.
- Discount with FEDCO & Organic Growers Supply.
- Discount with Johnny's Selected Seeds
- Access to the Shared Use Farm Equipment pool
- Assistance and support for land access and tenure issues through partnerships with Maine Farmland Trust and Land For Good
- Access to the MOFGA Organic Farmers' Loan Fund
- Free attendance to the Farm Beginnings whole-farm and business-planning course.
- First year benefit: Stipend An educational stipend of $500, which can be spent on classes, workshops, conferences, books, etc., that further your growth as a farmer.
- Second year benefit: Mentorship You choose a mentor, who will be paid by MOFGA for their work with you.
- Access to the Journeyperson Listserv, an active online farmer peer community that includes all past graduates of the Journeyperson program.
Applying
Applications are due for the Journeyperson program each year on January 31.
Please complete an application by making a copy of the application, editing it and sending it to [email protected].
After applications are received and a farm qualifies for the program, we will reach out to schedule an interview. Application and interviews will be accessed based on this rubric.
