Beginner Farmer Scholarship

Programming for Beginner Organic Farmers

Our New and Beginner Farmer Program is being developed with the help of the regional NOFAs and MOFGA, and is supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2010-49400-21847.

We will support beginner organic farmers by providing networking opportunities and workshops on financial planning, organic certification, technical farming skills, and record keeping. Loan and grant programs are available to new and beginner farmers, as well as a series of diversified workshops at our Winter Conference and throughout the year.

Ray Conner is the Beginner Organic Farmer Program Director.  Contact Ray through the  NOFA-NH office at (603) 224-5022 or at bof@nofanh.org.

Scholarship Program for Beginner Farmers

Farmers with fewer than 10 years of experience can benefit from the USDA's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire is offering 66 full scholarships to beginner farmers and apprentices who are interested in attending our 2012 NOFA-NH Winter Conference: “Growing Food, Farms and Communities”.

Beginner Farmer Scholarships are awarded to beginner farmers and apprentices who require financial assistance to pay for registration costs. These scholarships will cover the full cost of registration.  No early bird discount or additional discount may be taken for scholarship recipients.

Please note that the deadline for scholarship applications is 6 February, 2012.

By applying for a Beginner Farmer Scholarship, applicants agree to provide NOFA-NH with the following in the event that they are awarded a scholarship:

Two hours of volunteer service at the 2012 NOFA-NH Winter Conference. Your volunteer shift may occur the day before the conference (2 March) or the day of the conference.

A post-conference scholarship evaluation. The post-conference scholarship evaluation is a brief form that helps us to track the effectiveness of our educational programs. This form will be made available to all scholarship recipients, and must be returned by 10 March, 2012.

Click here to access the online application. Applications can be completed online. Contact NOFA-NH Beginner Farmer Program Director at (603) 224-5022, or at bof@nofanh.org. If you have questions or need assistance with the online application. If you need a paper application, please contact us ASAP.

This project is supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2010-49400-21847.