Fauquier has a new program for those who might want to become farmers.
Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Fauquier Department of Agriculture Development and the Fauquier Education Farm have teamed to develop and present the Northern Piedmont Beginning Farmer Program (NPBFP) for local residents.
NPBFP is a seven-month initiative to help aspiring farmers make informed decisions to act on, postpone or drop their ideas for a farm operation. It uses curriculum developed by Virginia Tech and the extension service.
Agriculture experts from across Virginia will present or guide instruction using both online and in-person curriculum. Participants will develop a farm business plan in coordination with local farmers and agriculture service representatives.
Participants will also be required to participate in 36 hours of labs over the course of nine weeks at the Fauquier Education Farm. Labs will be held on Saturdays throughout the growing season. The labs will involve physical outdoor physical labor from March through September. In addition, participants will be asked to contribute to the NPBFP’s formal course evaluation.
Upon graduation, participants will possess the basic knowledge and skills to start a farm operation if they choose to. All participants must commit to attendance throughout this seven-month program and all participants must have online access.
Application essay required
Selection for the NPBFP is competitive and determined by a selection committee. Participants must provide the selection committee with a 300- to 400-word, typed essay that explains how their participation will advance their agriculture goals, the NPBFP 2012 class and the Northern Piedmont’s agriculture community. Participants should enclose their essay with their completed application.
Applications and essays are due before March 8. They should be e-mailed to: Coordinator@FauquierEducationFarm.info.
An enrollment fee of $150.00 will be required for those applicants who are accepted into the program. Scholarships will be available based on need.
For more information, send an e-mail to the address above, or call Jim Hilleary at (540) 341-7590, ext. 227.
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