Farmer Apprenticeship

As the agricultural landscape continues to evolve, and pressure from industrial scale agriculture makes it increasingly difficult for small scale operations, small farm businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to thrive and differentiate themselves.

At KFH we have a vision of offering multiple layers of farm-based education to students in order to help young people find their place in nature and in community.

In the Spring of 2021, Kearsarge Food Hub had a special opportunity to co-create a new program that’s both exciting and deeply needed. We joined in partnership with Andy and Dorothy Jeffrey and Colby-Sawyer College to bring our first ever Farmer Apprenticeship Program to life.

How do we break down barriers to farming and support young people getting into this critical profession, specifically into organic farming that actively cares for the land and local communities?

Since the very beginning, a goal of ours has always been to not only grow food, but to grow farmers. And we are learning as we grow! Learn how Sweet Beet Farm has grown as we do.

Folks are holding onto their farms longer and having trouble passing them on to the next generation. Young people and other potential farmers face enormous barriers to enter into the profession given the current agricultural landscape. Put simply: We desperately need more farmers.