Resources to Keep in Mind:

Making decisions as a young, beginning or small farmer can be intimidating if you aren’t armed with the correct knowledge. In addition to the grants and mentorship opportunities offered through GreenStone’s CultivateGrowth program, the online course below could be a valuable asset to your ongoing learning:

Mikayla Bowen, an animal science major at Michigan State University, is currently participating in the program as a mentee in hopes of learning alongside someone who is well-established in the industry. After transitioning to online courses during the COVID-19 pandemic, she started a goat operation in 2020. With this new endeavor, Mikayla turned to GreenStone’s mentorship program to learn the steps needed to expand and operate her business, and to create business plans that help organize her goals and manage finances. She was paired with mentor Tony Boughton, who conveniently works at Michigan State University managing the Farm Service Center and owns and operates a 700-acre farm where he grows corn, soybeans, and hay. He also raises lambs and goats to sell to the Eastern Market. Tony’s years of farming, industry knowledge and vast connections through both the university and his operation are already coming in handy for Mikayla.

As for the next couple of months, Tony and Mikayla will continue to meet and will soon visit each other’s farms – something that is highly encouraged in the CultivateGrowth mentorship. The next class of mentees and mentors will kick off Fall 2024 but interested future participants can apply online now. Visit greenstonefcs. com/mentorship to learn more!

Read the full article at: greenstonefcs.com/ openfieldsblog ■

Farm Pulse: Financial Management and Analysis. Offered by University of Wisconsin- Madison, this self-paced online course educates farmers on the important financial documents they need to understand and keep in mind when making business decisions. This course will help farmers evaluate their finances, take the pulse of their farm business, and set goals for the future of their operation.

Interested in learning more? Visit farms.extension. wisc.edu/programs/farmpulse/ ■