Chapter 1: Welcome to Mentoring: What it is, what it asks of you, what skills and attributes are needed Resources: these are found throughout these notes and are also listed here for ease of reference: ● Zoom recording from fall 2020 call on mentoring and site descriptions ● Are you a Good Fit? ● Mentor Skill Assessment and Plan ● Motivations for becoming a Mentor (MOFGA) ● Prior Teaching, Training and Coaching Experience(NESFI) ● Mentor Self Assessment (RFC) ● On-Farm Mentor Self-Evaluation Questionnaire (small farm.org) NAP contributed to the National Ag Apprenticeship Learning Network (now known as F.I.E.L.D. School) Mentor Toolkit and Ag Apprenticeship Toolkit. Some material in the NAP Mentor Toolkit was originally published in these national creative commons publications. We encourage you to look over these resources, which bring together insights and best practices from apprenticeship programs throughout North America. ● Supporting Mentors to Teach Next Generation Agrarians ● Ag Apprenticeship Toolkit
“There are many reasons for wanting to mentor. Cheap labor isn't on the list. One has to commit to the idea of practical education both for the apprentice and yourself. Remember, you are learning at least as much as the person you are teaching, just at different levels. These people will: ● Pester you with endless questions ● Break your shovel handles ● Burn up your clutch ● Spoil your dog They will also: ● Give you their heart and soul ● Make you a much better manager ● Teach you how to turn anger into teachable moments ● Add to your life in ways that will astonish you
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