Innovative mentorship program connects beginning farmers with financial and expert resources.

The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) last week launched the Building Your Livestock Legacy Program, a self-guided, online mentorship initiative designed to connect aspiring livestock farmers with essential financial resources and potentially forge relationships with established farmers who want to pass their farm operation on to the next generation.

Brian Waddingham, CSIF executive director, says the Building Your Livestock Legacy Program meets a growing need that surfaced during the coalition’s work with nearly 5,400 livestock farmers. 

“We have received numerous calls from beginning farmers wanting to get into livestock farming and from established livestock farmers looking to bring a family or non-family member into their farming operation,” he said. “To help with this often difficult and challenging endeavor, we wanted to provide a service to help livestock farmers of all ages.”

Waddingham noted capital is often a key barrier to entry for beginning farmers. Without a massive amount of capital, it is exceedingly difficult to start a new family farm or transition into an existing family farm. 

Consequently, low interest loans, tax credit programs and cost-share programs are essential tools to help realize those farming goals. However, many beginning farmers don’t know how to access those tools, Waddingham said. As a result, they approach a potential lender unprepared and are often dismayed they don’t qualify.

For the established farmer, an opportunity to maintain their land and livestock while working someone into their farm operation provides a sense of economic security and the prospect of continuing their farming legacy by offering opportunities for future generations.

Self-guided courses

The program is a self-guided online mentorship program hosted on Google Classroom. Participants will engage with a series of video lessons led by industry experts, covering a wide range of topics such as financing, marketing and the loan application process. 

Presenters will include experts from CSIF, beginning farmer loan program and state revolving loan staff, Farm Credit Services of America, the Small Business Administration, Iowa State University, community college instructors, ag lenders and commodity group staff.

The program is designed to benefit anyone interested in livestock farming, offering flexibility to work at their own pace. 

Participants can complete the curriculum in a week or over several months, depending on their schedule. 

The program includes 20 to 25 lessons, culminating in a final project requiring the development of a comprehensive business plan, financial statement and resume. 

Upon submission of the final project and approval by CSIF staff, participants will receive a certificate of completion, along with the business plan, financial statement and resume. These materials can be presented to a lender, established livestock farmer, prospective landlord and others as evidence of the participant’s commitment and preparedness to begin a livestock farming career.

“Since our launch in 2004, the coalition has worked with farm families throughout the state to help select good locations for new livestock barns and feedlots, interpret rules and regulations and discuss cost-share and loan programs that are available to successfully grow their farms,” said Waddingham. “The Building Your Livestock Legacy Program is one more tool to help livestock flourish in Iowa.”

Farmers interested in participating in the Building Your Livestock Legacy Program can get started by logging on to www.supportfarmers.com or by calling 800-932-2436.