Form

Application For OGS Farm Beginnings®

Farmer Training

October 2024-September 2025

The Farm Beginnings® class is a 12-month training program that helps beginning farmers clarify their goals and strengths, establish a strong enterprise plan and start building or expanding their operation. The course uses a mix of farmer-led classroom sessions, on-farm tours, an extensive farmer network, and mentorship. Farm Beginnings® is designed for new and expanding farmers who want to plan a profitable farm business. Students do not need to own land currently, but some farming or production experience is required.

Please read the OGS Farm Beginnings® page and the following information to understand the participation requirements. This year-long training is a big commitment. Be sure you understand the ins and outs.

Course Fee: $3000 per farm for up to 2 farm business partners.

Do not be deterred if you cannot pay the full course fee! Scholarships and payment plans are available, and we encourage you to apply here. You can learn more about this under the Tuition Payment & Policies section on this page.

**NOTE: Although the spring and summer portions of the Farm Beginnings® curriculum include production-related workshops, please keep in mind that the bulk of the time commitment is classroom-based, with the content focusing primarily on the business side of farming. This class is not about teaching farming practices but about understanding farming in the context of business management.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until full.

Early Bird Discount until August 1st ($100 discount)

Final deadline: September 16th, 2024

OGS's Commitment to Social Justice

OGS Farm Beginnings® Participants are expected to adhere to OGS's Commitment to Social Justice through the use of Conversational Guideposts established in the classroom.

First name*

Last name*

What are your pronouns?*

He/him/his

She/her/hers

They/them/theirs

Other

Will a family member or business partner attend OGS Farm Beginnings with you?*

Yes

Farm Name (if applicable):

Street address*

Street address 2

City*

State/Region*

Postal code*

County*

Phone number*

Applicant's Email:*

Have you participated in any workshops or farmer networks, like RAFI's Farmers of Color network, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy's Community farm events, NC Farmlink, etc? *

Do you have any allergies or other medical conditions that are important for us to know about?*

Yes

What is your age range?*

18-25

26-39

40-65

Over 65

Are you a veteran?*

Yes

I have attended more than one conference workshop dealing with sustainable agriculture or homesteading.*

Yes

I have visited a working farm or homestead in the last two years.*

Yes

I have explored several different possible farming enterprises.*

Yes

I have apprenticed/worked on one or more farms.*

Yes

I have explored the ideas and components of operating my own farm.*

Yes

Are there any topics you are interested in seeing covered?

Areas of Interest*

Why are you interested in Farm Beginnings®? Explain your passion and capacity for farming. How did you come to this dream? How long have you been interested in farming?*

Current faming situation: Do you currently have access to land (leased or owned) where you are or will be farming?*

Is there anything else we should know about you to best meet your needs and expectations?

What kind of knowledge and skills do you hope to achieve by attending Farm Beginnings®*

Please describe your prior farming experience. Please include any formal agricultural training, any agricultural jobs, apprenticeships, or workshops attended, or other agricultural experience you have had. Name any farms or gardens where you have worked. If you have no farming experience, please describe any experience you have related to gardening, forestry, etc or raising animals.*

Briefly describe any non-ag experience or formal training that you believe will apply to starting and running a farm business (ie; management, accounting, supervising employees, market managing, chef, carpentry, physical labor, etc).*

What do you see as your biggest obstacle in starting your own farm operation?*

Do you have access to land to farm?*

Yes