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k-atm St <br />Lomax Center for Agricultural Education <br />Development Plan 2016 - 2026 <br />Mentorship Training Program <br />The existing Incubator Farm and Farmer -in- Training Program serve those who have the <br />skills necessary to start their own farming operation but lack the affordable access to <br />land and equipment needed to get a farm business started. However many individuals <br />who want to start their own farm do not yet have the skills they need to enter the <br />Incubator Farm Program. They first need to spend time on a working farm offering <br />labor in return for experience and appropriately designated compensation. <br />Meanwhile many established farmers in the area are interested in the opportunity to <br />share their experience with younger farmers who want to take up the profession. These <br />experienced farmers lack the time and resources to seek out such individuals. The <br />Lomax Center for Agricultural Education hopes to develop a program that will match <br />prospective Apprentices with Mentors to help with the initial stage of beginning farmer <br />development. <br />• Training existing area farmers as Mentors <br />• Vetting interested individuals as ready <br />Apprentices <br />• Creating suitable relationships between <br />Apprentices and Mentors <br />• Developing prepared recruits for Incubator <br />Farm Program <br />photo credit: Julia Williams <br />r � r <br />1s <br />G -6 Page 190 <br />