The Kohala Center’s Beginning Farmer-Rancher Mentorship Program aims to support the next generation of beginning farmers to succeed in starting a new farm or agribusiness through education and training, on-farm mentoring, and technical assistance.
This ten-month training program consists of full-day instructional sessions held in Honoka‘a one Saturday per month for ten months, and 160 hours of on-farm mentorship from a successful farmer or rancher. Students will be matched with a successful farmer or rancher to gain hands-on agricultural production, business management, and marketing experience. Mentorship schedules will be negotiated between the mentor and student and approved by the program director. Upon completion of the program, mentors will receive an honorarium for their participation. This is not an employment or farm labor program: students are expected to work on farms as apprentices, committing to broadening their agricultural knowledge under the direction of a successful farmer or rancher.
The program will start with an introductory overview and resource panel for beginning farmers-ranchers and mentors in Honoka‘a on Friday, November 21, 2014. Mentors will receive a separate orientation by early December to review the requirements, logistics, and expectations of the mentorship program. Program applicants will be accepted based on the successful pairing of a mentor farmer and a beginning farmer/rancher. Preference is given to applicants who are U.S. veterans and/or are considered “socially disadvantaged” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Visit http://1.usa.gov/1nM5Rbe for USDA definitions of “socially disadvantaged groups” and “socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.”
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (“Students”)
By pairing students with experienced farmers and ranchers who are not their employers, the Beginning Farmer-Rancher Mentorship Program enables students to gain valuable farm experience, skills, and perspectives that they otherwise might not learn through day-to-day work.
The goal of the mentorship component of this program is to provide mutually beneficial experiences between mentors and students by exposing students to multiple facets of agricultural business operations. Students will be expected to do a certain amount of menial labor throughout the mentorship. Successful students will be committed to broadening their agricultural educations by learning from a seasoned farmer or rancher.
Expectations for Students:
- Attend monthly full-day classroom and hands-on instructional sessions (required)
- Articulate what you are interested in learning through a mentoring relationship
- Commit to working under the guidance of mentor for 160 hours over the ten-month program period in a professional manner
- Check in monthly (at a minimum) with the program director
- Complete a short evaluation at the end of the program
Mentor Farmers and Ranchers (“Mentors”)
The goal of the mentorship component of this program is to provide mutually beneficial experiences between mentors and students by exposing students to multiple facets of agricultural business operations. Assigning a certain amount of menial labor is acceptable, however this is not an employment program. Mentors should be prepared to work with students in the areas of farm and ranch production, harvesting, marketing, distribution, and other areas of business development. Mentors must have at least five years of successful commercial production farming experience to qualify for the program.
The decision to become a mentor should be made carefully, with the understanding that mentors will be expected to share their time and knowledge with a beginning farmer. Our hope is that the process and relationship will prove as rewarding for the mentor as the student. Mentors are welcome to attend the monthly full-day classroom and hands-on instructional sessions. In addition, The Kohala Center’s Rural Cooperative and Business Development Services will be made available to mentors seeking support for their farming or ranching operations.
Mentors who successfully complete 160 hours of mentoring to their students will receive a $2,000 honorarium from The Kohala Center.
Expectations for Mentors:
- Make a commitment to serve as a mentor, providing 160 hours of mentorship to a student over the ten-month program period (approximately 16 hours per month)
- Attend at least one island-wide meeting of program participants
- Share advice, technical assistance, wisdom, and philosophies over the course of the mentoring program
How to Apply
Download and complete the appropriate application and submit per the instructions on page 1. Application deadline is Friday, November 14, 2014.
» Application for Students
» Application for Mentors
Questions or need more information? Please contact Derrick Kiyabu at dkiyabu@kohalacenter.org or call The Kohala Center at 808-887-6411.