Over the past three years HMI has collaborated with the Valley Food Partnership in Montrose, Colorado on their USDA Beginning Farmer/Rancher Program grant #2021-70033-35702 titled “Cultivating Farmers and Ranchers that Thrive” (CRFT). Colorado State University’s Food Systems Department also collaborated on this project and HMI Certified Educator Cindy Dvergsten provided Holistic Management training to three cohorts of participants with HMI educator trainee and CFRT Program Manager Cally Hale also assisting.
CFRT is a collaborative project focused on meeting the unique needs of beginning farmers and ranchers in rural, high desert conditions. The program’s ultimate goal is to increase the number of beginning farmers and ranchers that can successfully enter and sustain agribusiness operations to support an improved regional food production system in Western Colorado. The program also provided additional support to Hispanic, veteran, and limited resource participants who may have additional barriers to entry in agriculture.
From 2022 to 2024, 64 participants signed up for the CFRT program. 52 graduated, 35 self- identified as being from a marginalized group, and 36 students developed full business plans. Of the participants who completed the course, 75% stated they were better prepared to start farming, had started farming, or had improved their farming success. All together 203 beginning farmer and ranchers utilized the various educational events and courses offered through this program.
To learn more about the program and the results, watch the CFRT video: https://valleyfoodpartnership.org/cultivating-farmers-and-ranchers-that-thrive-1
Read the full report of this 3-year program.
Thank you to the USDA Beginning Farmer/Rancher Program for funding this training and to the Valley Food Partnership and Colorado State University for collaborating and making this possible.