Spots Available in 2008-2009
MN Beginning Farmer Course

Classes to be Held in Paynesville & Goodhue

CONTACT: Karen Stettler, LSP, 507-523-3366; Amy Bacigalupo, 320-269-2105

7/23/08
Class slots are still open for the 2008-2009 session of the Land Stewardship Project’s Farm Beginnings course. Classes will be held in two locations: Paynesville, Minn. beginning Oct. 18; and Goodhue, Minn., beginning Oct. 25. For more information and to register, contact Karen Benson at 507-523-3366 or lspse@landstewardshipproject.org. More information is also available at www.farmbeginnings.org.  

In 2008, Farm Beginnings is marking its 11th year of providing firsthand training in low-cost, sustainable methods of farming. The program has its roots in southeast Minnesota’s Wabasha County, where in 1997 a group of farmers approached the Land Stewardship Project about developing a community-based initiative that would train a new generation of farmers.

The course consists of a series of classes that take place twice a month between October and March. After March, course participants have the opportunity to attend on-farm educational field days. Farm Beginnings participants learn goal setting, financial planning, business plan creation, alternative marketing and innovative production techniques. Classes are led by farmers and other agricultural professionals from the area.

During the past decade, over 350 people have graduated from the Minnesota-region Farm Beginnings program, and 60 percent of them are actively farming, according to class data. In recent years, Farm Beginnings classes have been launched in Illinois, Nebraska and North Dakota. Beginning this fall, Farm Beginnings courses will be held in the Duluth-Superior area. More information on these other courses is available at www.farmbeginnings.org.

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PHOTO AVAILABLE: For a digital photo of a Farm Beginnings graduate from your area, e-mail bdevore@landstewardshipproject.org, or call 612-729-6294.

AUDIO AVAILABLE: For a broadcast quality MP3 audio file featuring a Farm Beginnings graduate, e-mail bdevore@landstewardshipproject.org, or call 612-729-6294.