Maine New Farmers Project: Building Our "Build Your Skills" Website for New Farmers in Maine
Extension Education
Christina Howard
Monmouth
Abstract
The “Equipping New Farmers with Practical Skills and Knowledge” project team established the name Maine New Farmers Project (MNFP) and a media campaign based on the slogan “Build Your Skills!” This slogan denotes our offerings of farm production and farm business educational opportunities for new farmers in Maine. On our webpage, under “Build Your Skills, farmers can choose “Learn with Us” or “Learn on Your Own.” “Learn With Us” is a list of programs that are in-person or virtual and synchronous from many agricultural entities around Maine including UMaine Extension, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DACF), Land For Good, Maine Farmland Trust, and more. “Learn on Your Own” shows our online new farmer resources including recorded webinars, recorded courses, fact sheets, videos, etc. Also, on the MNFP webpage are networking opportunities, a new farmer newsletter sign-up, and many more resources for new farmers looking to start an agricultural business. Our webpage has had 35,821 views since the project started in 2021. 160 participants of this project have started farms in Maine. 246 participants improved their business skills. 445 participants improved their production skills. 52% of the over 400 project participants are women and 10% are Veterans.
Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.
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Authors: Christina Howard, David Handley, Colt Knight
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Howard, C. Beginning Farmer Project Manager, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Maine, 04259
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Handley, D. Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist and a Cooperating Professor of Horticulture, UMaine Cooperative Extension, Maine, 04259
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Knight, C. Associate Extension Professor and State Livestock Specialist, UMaine Cooperative Extension, Maine, 04469