YBSF Resources

FARM FORWARD MENTORSHIP

Having years of wisdom and learning experiences to rely on can often turn stressful and impactful choices into simple yes-or-no decisions on a farm. While this knowledge and valuable insight isn’t gained overnight, in GreenStone’s Farm Forward Mentorship program, experienced farmers are paired with young, beginning or small farmers to be mentored and speed up the process of gaining wisdom through sharing lessons learned.

After launching in February, the nine pairings in GreenStone’s current Farm Forward Mentorship class continue to connect and strengthen their friendship. One of those pairings consist of Zac Soltvedt and Matt Wagenson, both from Outagamie County in Wisconsin.

Zac, a 27-year-old row crop farmer, didn’t have a strong support system to turn to for guidance for his farm. That is partially why he jumped at the chance to join the program as a mentee with a goal of gaining foresight on making tough decisions – something he was able to achieve with the help of his mentor Matt, who farms 2,000 acres and 400 head of cattle with his brother.

After meeting at each other’s farms, via phone conversations and now texting on a weekly basis, Matt and Zac have created a strong foundation based on honesty. Because Zac is usually farming by himself, without a partner or earlier generation to turn to with questions, Matt has helped fill in the gap by sharing advice and has been a reliable sounding board. “It’s been like having another avenue to get information from or reassurance when I am thinking about new ideas,” Zac says. “To converse with someone else who maybe has already been through a similar situation has been very helpful.” Matt, who joined the program to help the younger generation of upcoming farmers, has already made an impact with Zac by passing along some of his values.

“The message I really tried to drive home to Zac is that surrounding yourself with people you trust is so important,” Matt explains. “Our first loan officer with GreenStone was a family friend we had known forever. Our accountant, who is also a family friend, has been our accountant since 1993. Same with our crop insurance agent. The people you surround yourself with, not only personal friendships, but in business, want to see you succeed and building those strong relationships is extremely important.” Like in many of the mentorship pairings, despite holding the role of mentor, Matt has also been reminded of important life lessons from Zac.

“What I like about Zac is that he doesn’t have the ‘This is how we’ve always done it’ mindset. He’s great about trying new things and figuring out what works for him,” Matt says. “It’s refreshing!” Even after the program concludes, the foundation and trust built through the program will allow Zac and Matt to continue to meet and lean on one another for support, leading to a longlasting friendship. For more information on GreenStone’s Farm Forward Mentorship, visit www.GreenStoneFCS.com/ YBSF. ■

GROW FORWARD GRANT

GreenStone recognizes the importance of young, beginning, and small farmers and the role they play in sustaining rural communities and agriculture. To provide this pivotal cohort of producers with the educational opportunities and support necessary for success, GreenStone once again is committing up to $40,000 to young, beginning, and small farmers through the cooperative’s 2021 Grow Forward Grant program.

Since launching the Grow Forward Grant program in 2018, individuals have taken advantage of the opportunities this grant provides by participating in a variety of programs. From forestry management, on-farm consultations, and even workshops to educate farmers on effectively communicating with consumers, each grant provides farmers a chance to gain valuable knowledge and personal growth. After purchasing 160 acres to expand on his family’s original 40-acre tree farm in the upper peninsula, Cameron Morford took advantage of GreenStone’s grant to expand his knowledge and set his up his land as a qualified forest. Using the money from the grant, he was able to work with Grossman Forestry and a consultant to formulate a forest plan. Dollars from the grant enabled Cameron to build upon the knowledge he already possessed from growing up around logging and learn through hands-on experience with experts. When asked about advice he would give to someone thinking of applying for the Grow Forward Grant, Cameron said, “Definitely do it because it is a huge benefit and you learn a lot.” The grant provides up to $1,000 to current customers and up to $500 to non-GreenStone customers. Farmers, producers and loggers like Cameron who qualify as a young, beginning or small farmer are encouraged to apply for the grant today: www. greenstonefcs.com/ybsf. Eligibility: • Young, beginning or small farmer – 18-35 years of age, or – Farming for less than 10 years, or – Sustain annual gross sales from agricultural production of less than $250,000 • Must be eligible to be a member of

GreenStone by residing in Michigan or northeast Wisconsin Intended grant use must fall within one of the following categories: • Agricultural programs/events: educational course/program (on-site or online), conference fees, etc. • GreenStone resources: first time use of accounting and tax services, technology support, etc. • Non-GreenStone services: business and farm consultants, etc. For complete guidelines and the application, visit www.greenstonefcs. com/ybsf. ■

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KNOW MORE...

Knowing where or who to turn to when you have questions about your operation is critical when it comes to making decisions– especially as a young, beginning or small farmer. In addition to the grants and mentorship opportunities offered through GreenStone’s Young, Beginning and Small Farmer program, the resources below could be a valuable asset to your ongoing learning: • Beginning Farmers. Focused on educating new and beginning farmers, BeginningFarmers.org provides a high-level overview on farming practices for those who are just getting started or looking to broaden their current streams of revenue. Check out their weeklyupdated content here: www. beginningfarmers.org. • Michigan State University Extension.

Dedicated to providing updated and relevant information to beginning and small farmers, the vast online resources from MSU-Extension are categorized by commodity and updated often by local field experts. Find their articles, podcasts, publications, videos and updated events on their website: www.canr. msu.edu/agriculture. • AgriVision Podcast. Developed by the University of Wisconsin

Extension, the Farm Management

AgriVision podcast interviews extension experts and captures their insight on how farmers can better their management skills.

Each episode takes a deep dive into common obstacles farmers face and are available for free here: www. farms.extension.wisc.edu/programs/ agrivision-podcast. ■