Building Capacity, Building Community

This material is based upon work supported by NIFA under Award Number 2009-49400-05877.

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The Colorado Building Farmers program builds farm community and farmer capacity through classroom and experiential learning for beginning farmers and ranchers (USDA defines as 0 – 10 yrs experience). The classroom program is a series of 8 evening classes designed to help New Farmers and Ranchers explore farming as a business and provide Intermediate and Experienced Farmers and Ranchers with tools and ideas to refine and enhance their business management, production, and marketing skills. The mentorship program provides engaged experiential learning to beginning farmers and ranchers from experienced farmers and ranchers.

Local Program Coordinators:

Adrian Card, Boulder County Extension, adrian.card@colostate.edu
Kurt Jones, Chaffee County Extension, kurt.jones@colostate.edu
Blake Angelo, Denver/Jefferson County Extension, blake.angelo@colostate.edu
Darrin Parmenter, LaPlata County Extension, darrin.parmenter@colostate.edu
Karen Crumbaker, Larimer County Extension, karen.crumbaker@colostate.edu
Emily Lockard, Pueblo County Extension, emily.lockard@colostate.edu
Yvette Henson, San Miguel County Extension, yvette.henson@colostate.edu
John Deering, Yuma County Extension, john.deering@colostate.edu

Contact Adrian Card for current programming in Colorado. adrian.card@colostate.edu

2011 - 2012 classroom programs
Applications will be due in Sept and Oct for Denver/Jefferson, LaPlata, Larimer County programs. Check back for more details on those local programs.

Boulder County brochure - registration - Applications due September 6, 2011 Applications - New farmer - Intermediate farmer - Experienced farmer
Chaffee County brochure - registration - Appilcations due January 9, 2012 Applications - New farmer - Intermediate farmer - Experienced farmer
Denver/Jefferson County - this is an urban farming oriented program - Applications due September 7, 2011
LaPlata County brochure - application Applications due January 11, 2012
Larimer County - brochure- Applications due September 1, 2011
Pueblo County brochure - flyer - registration - Applications are due October 14, 2011 Applications - New and Intermeditate - Experienced

2012 Mentorship Programs

Boulder County brochure - application due January 24

Larimer County applicationdue January 13

Colorado Building Farmers videos - click YouTube icon in embedded viewer if you would like to view on the YouTube website and see other suggested videos

Overview of Colorado Building Farmers

Testimonials

Farmers' Market perspectives on CBF:
Bob D'Alessandro, Exe Dir of Boulder County Farmers Markets and Cindy Torres, Exe Dir of Colorado Farmers Market Assoc

2010 Boulder County CBF class participant testimonials - their thoughts during the beginning, middle and end of the program

Impact reports on local programs

Boulder County - LaPlata County

Boulder County three year evaluation

Other US Beginning Farmer Programs (producers with 0 - 10 years of experience)

Center for Rural Affairs - Beginning Farmer

Iowa Beginning Farmer Center

Farm Beginnings

New England Beginning Farmers Project

New England Small Farm Institute

Farm Start

Cultivating Success

Tufts New Entry

START2FARM.GOV - National Clearinghouse for Beginning Farmer and Rancher Programs

Exploring a Market Farm Business

Factsheet with questions and resources for those interested in starting a Market Farm

Business Planning Resources

“Building a Sustainable Business” entire publication: http://www.sare.org/publications/all_pubs.htm; BSB sections found at: http://www.misa.umn.edu/vd/bizplan.html

Ag Plan - online business plan tool - https://www.agplan.umn.edu/ and register for Ag Plan and select an "Ag -Value Added" template