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INVESTIGATOR: Frazier, M.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
GROW FOOD
11768 WESTAR LN #C
BURLINGTON, WASHINGTON 98233

SKAGIT COUNTY BEGINNING FARMER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The Beginning Farmer Development Program Skagit County at its core, establishes a formalnetwork of key local partners, and leverages the experience and mission driven strengths toimprove the sustainability of Skagit County Agriculture. The partners and collaborators for BFDPSkagit are: Viva Farms, Skagit Valley College, WSU Extension Skagit County, NorthwestAgriculture Business Center, Economic Development Association of Skagit County, WashingtonSustainable Food and Farming Network, Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland, Future Farmers ofAmerica, North Coast Credit Union, Northwest Farm Credit Services, and Skagit Land Trust. Thegoal of this project is to increase the number of sustainable beginning, socially disadvantaged andlimited resource farmers by establishing coordinated community partnerships to train, educate,mentor and provide technical assistance. This goal will be achieved through five objectives. 1.Increase formal partnerships of local organizations including community based organizations(CBOs), state cooperative extension services (SCESs), and school based agricultural educationalorganizations (SAEOs). 2. Increase access to, and coordination and effectiveness of farm andpoultry production and risk management education and training. 3. Increase access to, andcoordination and effectiveness of business and financial training specific to farming enterprises. 4.Increase access to land by identifying available farmland for lease or sale, and improving thecoordination and effectiveness of land transfer strategies and resources. 5. Increase access to, andcoordination and effectiveness of mentorship, apprenticeship, and internship programs.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of BFDP Skagit County is to increase the number of sustainable beginning, socially disadvantaged and limited resource farmers by establishing coordinated community partnerships to train, educate, mentor and provide technical assistance. This goal will be achieved through five objectives. 1. Increase formal partnerships of local organizations including community based organizations (CBOs), state cooperative extension services (SCESs), and school based agricultural educational organizations (SAEOs). 2. Increase access to, and coordination and effectiveness of farm and poultry production and risk management education and training. 3. Increase access to, and coordination and effectiveness of business and financial training specific to farming enterprises. 4. Increase access to land by identifying available farmland for lease or sale, and improving the coordination and effectiveness of land transfer strategies and resources. 5. Increase access to, and coordination and effectiveness of mentorship, apprenticeship, and internship programs.Our project is innovative and creates formal partnerships of key local county organizations with the proven strengths, experience and capacity to effectively address the six key barriers to success for beginning, socially disadvantaged, and limited resource farmers. These six key barriers are the lack of access to: an effective local network of agricultural and business partners, production and business training, financial training, land, and structured opportunities to learn from experienced farmers. In addition, the ongoing partnership between Viva Farms and Skagit Valley College makes land based and accredited curriculum available to both English and Spanish speakers. Finally, applying enough resources, to a concentrated local effort, over a short timeframe, should provide significant results for local beginning farmers.