Enrollment begins soon for the 2021-22 Southern Illinois Farm Beginnings Program! 

Application deadline: October 1, 2021

COVID-19 Update: This year most aspects of the program will be held virtually, with some socially distanced in-person learning events. Every precaution will be take to ensure the safety of students, instructors, guest speakers and farm hosts.  Please contact Farm Beginnings Facilitator Margie Sawicki at margie@fwsoil.org for additional details.  
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The course includes:

• Crafting a detailed business plan for your farm enterprise
• 30+ hours of seminar time, much of it with established farmers
• On-farm education field days and workshops
• Course books, binders, and other materials
• Connection to established sustainable farmers interested in helping you succeed
• Membership to the Southern Illinois Farming Alliance

Southern Illinois Farm Beginnings (SIFB) is an annual program offered from November through March each year, and is open to anyone wanting to engage in sustainable, entrepreneurial farming or cottage food industry. The program provides education and information for beginning and transitioning farmers and ranchers in three key ways:

1. One-on-one farmer mentorships
2. On-farm field days
3. Classroom business and marketing seminars

Through Southern Illinois Farm Beginnings, you will:

• Articulate your values and goals into a vision and mission statement for your farm business
• Formulate short- and long-term farming goals
• Craft a detailed business plan for your farm enterprise
• Learn critical farm management skills such as financing and marketing strategies
• Tap into the knowledge of innovative and skilled farmers in Southern Illinois
• Access opportunities for land and equipment use and/or rental
• Receive mentoring from a farmer engaged in a similar enterprise
• Develop important connections with beginning and experienced farmers
• Make personal contact with a wide range of Illinois professionals that support small-scale local farmers, including USDA specialists, bankers, farmers market managers, reporters, and attorneys

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Seminars

Southern Illinois Farm Beginnings includes 6 seminars on business and marketing skills. These classes run from November through March. In 2019-20, most classes meet on Saturday from 2pm to 6pm, depending on students' schedules and venue availability. More information is available upon request.

Mentorship

A key factor for beginning farmers is learning from those who have the knowledge and experience in the field or on the ranch. An important part of the Southern Illinois Farm Beginnings program is pairing up beginning and transitioning growers with mentors.
Participants in the program will be paired up with successful growers in a similar field.

Field Days

Farm Beginning students will attend 6-8 on farm Field Days and workshops. Field Days will be hosted in conjunction with the Southern Illinois Farming Alliance. 

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Apply to Farm Beginnings

Application Guidelines

1. Up to two people in the same family or business can attend Southern Illinois Farm Beginnings® under one tuition payment. If two people intend to take the course together, please identify one person as the Primary Applicant and complete the Primary Application. The primary applicant’s partner should then complete a Partner Application. These applications should be submitted together.
2. Applications, including scholarship applications, are due November 13, 2020.
3. To apply, please send your completed application(s) with a $50 Registration Fee to: Food Works, P.O. Box 3855 Carbondale, IL 62902.
   The Registration Fee will be non-refundable upon acceptance into the
   program and will be credited toward tuition.
4. Regular tuition is $975. Three to twelve-month payment plan options and
   scholarships are available. We’ll make every effort to work with
   qualified applicants.
5. Scholarship applications are available on the Southern Illinois Farm
   Beginnings® website and are due with the rest of the completed application. Anyone submitting a scholarship application must also submit a $50 Registration Fee. The Registration Fee will be non-refundable upon acceptance into the program.
6. All Primary Applicants will have a phone or in-person interview with one of the program facilitators. Following the interview you will be notified immediately of your status with the program.

For more information, please contact Jennifer Paulson at Food Works: (618) 370-3287 or send an email to jennifer@fwsoil.org. 

Curious about the application? View last year's application materials below. 

Primary Application

Partner Application

Scholarship Application

Program Overview

There are three main components of Southern Illinois Farm Beginnings®:

•  Membership in the Southern Illinois Farming Network.
  • 6-8 Field Days throughout the growing season highlighting a broad variety of production and marketing practices;
  • 2 Network-wide social events each year;
  • Discounts on Food Works’ educational workshops; connection with the local small farms community.
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  A one-on-one mentoring relationship with an experienced grower in an enterprise aligned with your interests.
  • Mentor is committed to a minimum of 10 hours consulting/training time through the growing season. Typically more time is given and depends on the needs of the mentor and mentee;
  • Food Works staff makes introductions and sets up the relationship, but the organization’s role is otherwise “hands-off”;
  • The mentor receives an honorarium for their service;
  • Mentors and mentees are asked to participate in an evaluation of their mentorship experiences following the program year.
     
• 6-8 seminar courses
  • Most sessions are held on weekends with meeting times determined based on students' schedules and venue availability.
  • The sessions are led by local growers and other agricultural professionals.
  • The sessions will be held at locations in Southern Illinois. Contact program coordinator about location options.

Please address all questions and comments to Jennifer Paulson, Executive Director: 618-370-3287 or jennifer@fwsoil.org.