Webinar: Lessons Learned - Effective Internship and Apprenticeship Programs

Hosted by: the New Farmers Initiative of FSC and FarmStart

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5 FROM 1:00 PM TO 2:30 PM ET

This webinar is for everyone interested in how best to teach the next generation of farmers and will be moderated by Lucia Stephen of Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network (ACORN)’s Grow A Farmer program. Rachel Schell-Lambert from the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA)-NY and Jordan Marr from SOIL, established and respected programs, will share their experiences. There are myriad issues involved in designing and running training programs that truly prepare students to run their own farm business. Among others, identification of demographic and learning style, selection of trainers and trainees, training methods, suitable location, relationship management and liability are key aspects to consider when constructing or implementing training, internship and apprenticeship programs.

Rachel Schell-Lambert has worked at the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY) since 2010, coordinating the Beginning Farmer Program since that time.  The work of NOFA-NY and other NOFA chapters in the Northeast serves beginning farmers and their farmer-mentors through beginning farmer services, educational fact sheets, mentorship programs, group education, and individual farming career consultation.
 
Jordan Marr coordinates Stewards of Irreplaceable Lands (SOIL), a non-profit that links Canadian farmers willing to take on and train apprentices with people wanting to work and learn on farms that use sustainable practices. He is also an organic farmer, growing veggies in BC's Okanagan Valley. In his spare time, he publishes The Ruminant, a podcast and blog for farmers and gardeners, at theruminant.ca.
 

To view the archived recording of the webinar, click here. To access the resources mentioned by the speakers, download this document.