HMI's Beginning Farmers & Ranchers: Women in the Northeast & Texas Program , funded by the USDA/NIFA Beginning Farmer/Rancher Development Program has finally wrapped up all course work in New Hampshire. During the summer months we will be completing our evaluation portion as well as onsite mentor visits. The New Hampshire program coordinated by Kate Kerman of Small and Beginning Farmers of New Hampshire, completed all 10 sessions by the end of April. Lead instructors were Holistic Management Certified Educators Seth Wilner, Phil Metzger, and Calley Hastings. Mentors for the program were Ray Conner and Melissa Blindow. Here’s what we’ve learned from our New Hampshire participants who graduated:
Demographics
88% are currently farming
The average years of farming was 5 years (range: 1 – 10 years)
The average acres under production was 3 acres under production (range: 0 – 5 acres)
The average age was 38 years old (range: 26 to 66 years old)
The types of farm operations were as follows: Cattle/Cow/Calf (1), Vegetable/Fruit/Produce (6), Poultry (2)
The total customers of all participants was 308 with an average of 61 retail customers per participants.
Participant satisfaction level for the program was 100% and 100% of the participants completed or modified a whole farm goal and a grazing plan. 88% of participants completed or modified a financial plan, a business plan, and a marketing plan, with 75% of participants completing or modifying a land plan. 88% of the participants forged relationships that positively impacted them. For more results on other outcomes from the program, please view the tables below.
