February 4, 2017—The Kohala Center created the Beginning Farmer-Rancher Development Program in 2012 with  funding from the United States Department of Agriculture and the County of Hawai‘i Department of Research & Development. Through partnerships with several local government agencies and academic institutions, the program has recruited, trained, and supported more than 100 new farmers in the Hāmākua region of Hawai‘i Island to date. The next cohort of the Beginning Farmer-Training Program  begins February 4, 2017. Visit our Farmer Training Programs page for more details and to apply.