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Farm Beginnings Info Session Offers a Look at the Program
September 16 @ 7:00 pm
The Farm Beginnings Info Session will be held online on September 16 from 7 to 8 p.m. Organic Growers School is offering the free Zoom session for people considering its 2026-27 Farm Beginnings program.
Farm Beginnings is designed primarily for aspiring and early-stage farmers who are still shaping their farm businesses. Some participants may already be producing on a small scale, while others may have farming experience but are still deciding how to turn that experience into a workable business.
The information session gives prospective applicants a chance to learn more before committing to the yearlong program or submitting an application.
Farm Beginnings Info Session Explains the Business Focus
Farm Beginnings places much of its emphasis on the business side of farming. Participants work on areas such as business planning, financial literacy, marketing, and long-term farm planning. The program also helps farmers make connections within the agricultural community.
That distinction is important for applicants. Farm Beginnings is not primarily a production course that teaches participants how to grow a particular crop or raise a particular type of livestock. Instead, it helps farmers think through how their production goals fit into a sustainable farm business.
Production questions can still play a role through mentoring and other program activities, but the larger emphasis remains on developing a farm that can function as a business.
Farm Beginnings Info Session Can Help Farmers Decide
The Farm Beginnings Info Session may be especially valuable for people interested in the program but unsure whether they are far enough along to apply.
Participants can use the session to ask questions about program expectations, the time commitment, tuition, mentoring, scholarships, and the type of farmer the course is designed to serve.
Because the meeting is online, prospective participants can join from throughout the region without traveling.
Farm Beginnings Info Session Comes Before the Application Deadline
The timing also allows farmers to gather information before the September 28Â Farm Beginnings application deadline.
Anyone considering the program should use the session to identify questions that matter to their own situation. Farmers may want to ask how the program fits someone who has not yet launched a farm, how mentoring works, what financial assistance may be available, and what participants are expected to accomplish during the year.
For aspiring and early-stage farmers across the Appalachian Highlands, the Farm Beginnings Info Session offers a low-risk way to learn whether the program is a good match before applying.
