A new mentorship program is preparing California’s next generation of farmers by pairing them with experienced producers.
Growers learn best from other growers. That’s why the California Bountiful Foundation has launched “Expanding Our Roots,” a program that preserves California’s agricultural heritage by creating one-on-one partnerships between newcomers and those who’ve worked in the field — literally — for more than a decade. Through a combination of workshops, discussions, and hands-on instruction, Expanding Our Roots covers a variety of everyday topics, including climate-smart practices, risk management, crop production, and the accessing of agricultural grants.
Learning to farm by trial-and-error can be costly. Expanding Our Roots helps shorten the learning curve by giving young growers access to strategies that are proven to work. Nearly 250 farmers and ranchers have already enrolled, representing 46 counties across the state.
Applications for Expanding Our Roots are still available — not only for young farmers, who can take part in the program for free, but also for mentors, who will be paid a $300 stipend for their time. To learn more, visit the website here.
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